Flying display at airshow axed over costs

Organisers of an annual airshow say they have "reluctantly" axed its flying display programme.

Abingdon Air and Country Show, which will take place at Abingdon Airfield next to Dalton Barracks on 13 June, will be without the programme this year due to the cost of aircraft, insurance and road closures, organisers have revealed.

A statement posted on social media said this is the first time the display has been cancelled since the show started more than 20 years ago.

Organisers said the decision was made "to keep the show inside its smaller budget to survive".

The show will also be moved back to the west side of the airfield, which organisers say will improve accessibility.

The announcement, made on Thursday, also said that after "much hard work", the show will now be permitted to welcome various civilian aircraft and helicopters to land for static viewing after a two year absence.

These will come and go through the day, and "very limited military aircraft are hoping to support on the ground too", the statement said.

There will also be a series of "predominantly military" flypasts.

In 2024 the show was grounded just days before it was planned to take place.

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