Bournemouth, England – In a highly anticipated addition to this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival, two formidable Swedish fighter jets, the Saab Viggen and Saab Draken, are set to perform a stunning aerial display on Thursday, August 29 and Friday, August 30 of the show. Piloting these iconic aircraft will be Stellan Andersson in the Viggen and Lars Martinsson in the Draken. This marks a historic first for the festival, as these renowned aircraft will be flying together at the event.

The Saab Draken, which previously dazzled audiences at Bournemouth in 2019, will be making its triumphant return. The Draken, a product of Swedish innovation and engineering, was developed in the 1950s and served as a cornerstone of Sweden’s air defense during the Cold War. Its distinctive double-delta wing design, which was revolutionary at the time, allowed for exceptional maneuverability and speed. The Draken could reach speeds of up to Mach 2, making it one of the fastest jets of its era. Its versatility and advanced avionics made it a formidable opponent in the skies, and it remained in service with the Swedish Air Force until the late 1990s. Lars Martinsson, a seasoned pilot with extensive experience flying the Draken, will be showcasing its impressive capabilities and agility during the festival.

Complementing the Draken will be the Saab Viggen, another marvel of Swedish aeronautical engineering. Introduced in the 1970s, the Viggen was designed to replace the Draken and featured several advancements that made it a highly capable multi-role fighter. The Viggen’s design includes a canard configuration, which enhances its aerodynamic performance and short takeoff and landing capabilities. It was equipped with a powerful Volvo RM8B after-burning turbofan engine, enabling it to reach speeds of Mach 2.1. The Viggen was also outfitted with advanced radar and weapons systems, making it a versatile aircraft capable of performing a variety of missions, including air-to-air combat, ground attack, and reconnaissance. Stellan Andersson, an expert pilot with a deep understanding of the Viggen’s capabilities, will be at the controls, demonstrating the aircraft’s impressive performance and versatility.

This year’s Bournemouth Air Festival boasts a strong lineup of air displays, led by the RAF’s Typhoon, which has been repainted to mark 80 years since the D-Day landings, the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944. The Red Devils, the Army’s world-class parachute display team, will also be performing, adding to the historic significance of the event. Festival-goers can look forward to displays from the B-17 “Sally B” Flying Fortress, the last remaining airworthy B-17 in Europe, and crowd favourites such as the AeroSuperBatics WingWalkers and Rich Goodwin in his Jet Pitts Muscle Biplane.

Councillor Millie Earl, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Connected Communities at Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) Council, expressed her excitement about the event: “We are thrilled to have the Saab Viggen and Draken jets at this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival, alongside an exciting lineup of other iconic aircraft. There will be entertainment on the ground, including a bigger interactive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) Village, an Armed Forces village, fairground rides, food stalls, a dive tank, fireworks, and more.”

The Saab Viggen and Saab Draken will be sponsored by Aerobytes, a UK-based flight safety company that will also be supporting Rich Goodwin’s Jet Pitts. Eddie Forrester, Aerobytes director, commented on the unique nature of these aircraft: “These historic jets are quite unlike anything most UK audiences will have seen before. They look like something from Star Wars and are – shall we say – a tad noisy. Bring your earplugs!”

A full list of the sensational aerial displays planned for 2024 will feature in this year’s special souvenir program, available to purchase soon from a wide selection of local retailers, or to pre-order now by clicking here. The Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) Council has worked with the business community to sustainably fund and manage the festival in 2024 and beyond, through a mixture of sponsorship and other commercial activity. The council has made significant progress towards its funding target, having secured South Western Railway as a prime sponsor for this year’s air festival.

The Swedish Air Force Historic Flight operates an impressive fleet consisting of many aircraft including two Drakens and two Viggens - encompassing two single-seat examples of each aircraft, in addition to two twin-seat variants. The element of suspense lies in the anticipation surrounding which specific aircraft selection will grace the skies at the upcoming airshow.

The air festival team is keen to hear from other sponsors, traders, and exhibitors who would like to be part of the 2024 festival. The Bournemouth Air Festival 2024, set to run from Thursday, August 29 to Saturday, August 31, promises to be a spectacular event, showcasing a variety of aerial displays and attractions, and offering an unforgettable experience for aviation enthusiasts and the general public alike.

For more information, visit the Bournemouth Air Festival website by clicking here.