The Rhyl Air Show is back this summer with a spectacular line up, with the Strikemaster being announced for both days across the weekend.

The G-SOAF Strikemaster pair belongs to Strikemaster Flying Club (SFC) based at North Wales Military Aviation Services Ltd (NWMAS), Hawarden, North Wales.

The award winning air show is fast becoming North Wales’s biggest FREE seafront event and the 2023 show will feature spectacular aerial displays and land-based attractions and entertainment on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August 2023.

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, said: “Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, in partnership with Denbighshire County Council and Rhyl Town Council, is thrilled to announce the start of our incredible line up for the now ‘UK renowned’ Rhyl Air Show. It’s going to be an amazing show again this year, with the Rhyl Air show now being considered one of the most spectacular events across the North Wales coast. Rhyl Town Centre and Events Arena are always buzzing with excitement, and to have both the Red Arrows, Battle of Britain memorial flight and now the Strikemaster pair over both days again this year, is just amazing! We can’t wait to welcome visitors and locals to Rhyl and the Denbighshire coast to enjoy this award winning show.”

Graham Boase, Denbighshire’s Chief Executive, said: “This major event provides a significant boost to the economy of Rhyl and wider communities each time it’s staged and the line up for this year is truly amazing. Denbighshire Leisure Ltd has a strong track record of hosting such prestigious events and we are delighted to be working in partnership with them to deliver what will be major crowd-puller in the events calendar. It’s popularity has grown over the years and the Air Show is rightly renowned across the whole of the UK as being one of the leading events of its kind. Visitors to the Air Show will not be disappointed”.

The sequence the Strikemaster pair will fly is very dynamic and will show off the aircraft beautifully, with high energy aerobatics with graceful linking manoeuvres. Because the aircraft has a wide speed range it will be display tight to the crowd so the aircraft is always within easy viewing. Audiences will see this fly over 400mph, with lots of rolls, loops, barrel rolls, clovers and, fast and slow passes. The engine is a RR Viper 535 with 1000 pounds more thrust than the JP5 Viper engine. This extra thrust allowed the aircraft to carry the following armament: 2 x machine guns, up to 4 x 500 pound bombs or 32 Sura rockets or a mix.

The Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has also  been confirmed for aerial displays across both days of the show in August.

Rhyl Town Council Town Clerk said: “Rhyl Town Council has a long standing partnership supporting the town’s spectacular air show. This free first-class renowned event and the superb aerial line up and attractions announced that will be on display this year will be sure to thrill the large crowds of residents and visitors it attracts.  Rhyl will also gain from drawing in a vast number of tourists who can experience the regeneration attractions the town has to offer and provide important growth in our tourism economy. Be sure to make a note of this not to be missed brilliant weekend of entertainment.”

The Air Show will take place over the Bank Holiday in August, with more details to follow about the event in due course. More information can be found on Denbighshire Leisure Ltd Facebook page.