A last minute swap has taken place ahead of this evening’s Battle of Britain air display, which is due to light up the Guernsey skies from 18.30. 

The line-up had been planned to include the RAF Red Arrows, a Navy Wings Harvard, the RAF Typhoon, the Jet Pitts, a pyrotechnic display by Airborne Pyrotechnics, and a Hawker Hurricane, which has now been replaced.

In the Hurricane’s stead Guernsey residents and visitors will be treated to two different WW2 era fighter planes, with the CAC Boomerang, and the Yak3 taking part in the display for the first time. 

  • Hurricane_Hawker.jpg
    Pictured: The Hawker Hurricane is out…
  • …and in its place features the Yak3, (Left) and the Boomerang, (Right).

The CAC Boomerang was a fighter aircraft designed and built in Australia during World War II. While not as fast as the Spitfire or Mustang, it was heavily armed and proved to be excellent in a ground support role. It saw action in the Pacific and was particularly effective in low-level army cooperation missions in the jungles of New Guinea.

Whilst the Yakovlev Yak-3 was a Soviet fighter aircraft. It was designed to be smaller, lighter, and faster than the earlier Yak-1 and was highly regarded for its excellent performance as a low-altitude dogfighter. 

A full timetable of events is available below.

  • Pictured: The Air Display will still feature Rich Goodwin in the Jet Pitts plane…
  • …the Eurofighter Typhoon…
  • …as the lights begin to dim, the Airborne Pyrotechnics Team will light up the sky…
  • …and of course Islanders will be treated to a ‘stalwart’ of the displays, the Red Arrows will once again return for the Battle of Britain.

​The end of Crown Pier will be closed to the public from 18.00, where a food village and seating will be available.  

​For boat owners, there is a restricted zone in place. All vessels in the QEII marina and harbour are required to clear this area by 6.25pm to ensure the safety of the display.

There’s also been a warning that any drone activity in the Bailiwick will result in the immediate suspension of the display and a report to Guernsey Police. 

Organisers have warned this could also lead to a cancellation of display items, as the show must finish by 20.00.

The full running order for this evening’s show is as follows:

18.30 Yak3 and Boomerang

18.45 RAF Red Arrows

19.12 Navy Wings Harvard

19.22 RAF Typhoon

19.33 Pitts

19.46 Airborne Pyrotechnics