Armed Forces charities concerned about potential loss of donations from air shows in the wake of the recent Shoreham air disaster that killed 11 members of the public are being given false reassurance, along with the public, about the safety record of air displays by those who make money from them.

According to the PR department of the British Air Display Association the last time members of the public were killed at an event was “63 years ago”, a reference to the 1952 Farnborough Air Show tragedy when 29 died.

In fact six members of the public died at the Biggin Hill Air Show in 1980, 35 years ago, when they were being carried on a Douglas Invader which crashed very close to a housing estate attempting a rolling climb stunt.

Fuller story in Event Organisers Update issue 132, September.