Jersey International Air Display

Jersey International
Air Display

Red Arrows in 2004

The skies above Jersey have enjoyed an annual air display for over 62 years, delighting and attracting many tens of thousands of local residents and visitors to enjoy one of the most eagerly anticipated events in Jersey’s summer programme of activities. Coupled with the fact that it is also arguably one of the finest free air shows in Europe

Two Lancasters on the ground for an air display

Annual event

First staged in 1952 the ‘Battle of Britain Air Display’, has taken place every year, with the exception of 1954. Alongside the air display itself the event has also featured two major static displays of aircraft, one at Jersey Airport and the other in Peoples Park, St Helier, adjacent to the ‘arena area’ along Victoria Avenue, which for many spectators is the favoured vantage point.

In 1997 the event was renamed to become the Jersey International Air Display, reflecting a move by the organisers to include a number of international aircraft alongside its traditional RAF participants. Along with the participation of many RAF aircraft the display now welcomes aircraft from further afield from as far afield as Sweden, Poland and Canada.

The annual air display is organised by a not-for-profit company, which strives to raise money for British service charities and to support the Island’s tourism industry. As a result, organisers receive a grant from Jersey’s Economic Development Department, the government department responsible for tourism in Jersey.

The pictures below include a selection from the Official website of the air display chosen to show aircraft with a Jersey background. The website contains a large selection of photographs of the display from 2003 to 2017

Red Arrow over St Helier. Victoria College is just above the nose cone

Low flying over the runway by a pair of Red Arrows in 1979

Red Arrow overshoots

This member of the Red Arrows display team overshot the runway in 2003 when its brakes failed