Old Buckenham Airfield is today announcing a change to the dates for its award-winning Airshow. Planned for the 1st and 2nd August, the event will now take place in 2021, over the weekend of the 31st July and 1st August. In addition, and for the first time ever, the Airshow will take place over three days with an Air Display on the afternoon of Friday 30th July. 

Unsurprisingly, this decision has been made in light of the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. With no date (understandably) being given for mass gatherings to once again be permitted, allied to the lack of certainty as to what precautions and actions would be required, it would not be feasible for the Airshow to still go ahead as planned. Not least, the event is of such a size that it requires six weeks to build. The airfield, working with two of its tenants, Kevin Woods Joinery and Martin Collier Engineering, is currently manufacturing hand sanitiser dispensers which will be a feature of all future events, some of a host of measures which have been worked on whilst the crisis has unfolded.

All ticket holders, exhibitors and traders have been informed via email; their bookings will remain valid for the event on its new dates of 30th & 31st July and 1st August. Those with passes and tickets need do nothing save for presenting the tickets at the gate in 2021.

The planned Battle of Britain Air Display, scheduled for the 3rd October remains under review. In the intervening period the Airfield will be pressing ahead with an ambitious restoration and renewal of over 12 acres of land and buildings, all dating back to WWII and part of a project consented by Breckland Council early in 2020. This project will include the creation of a new Memorial Park, restoring and renewing of over 30,000 ft2 of WWII building and the opening up, for the first time in 70 years, of four perfectly preserved blast shelters. More information will be released in due course- likely in early 2021 when the project completes.

Matt Wilkins, Airshow Event Organiser “If in doubt, there can be no doubt when it comes to enormous undertakings like the Airshow; we have never compromised on safety and certainly won’t do so now. We’ve been overwhelmed by the messages of support over the last few weeks and months. The decision to change the dates of the Airshow and make it better in the process has been led by the great many customers who’ve suggested we do just that.”