Saturday at the ENGLISH RIVIERA AIRSHOW! + 60007 on English Riviera and 5043 on the Whistling Ghost!

A fantastic and varied day of transport action today, with aviation, railways, maritime interest, and more combining for a superb Saturday out. We begin at Exeter Airport, where several participants in this year's English Riviera Airshow were parked and being prepared by their crews ahead of a packed day of flying. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, were being readied for what would be their first public displays of the 2026 season at both the English Riviera Airshow and the Midlands Air Festival at Ragley Hall, ahead of their planned transit to the USA later this year. The team has reduced to a seven aircraft formation this season, and there has been much speculation surrounding their future. Following the loss of the contract for the aircraft intended to replace the ageing Hawk fleet, rumours continue to circulate that the team could be disbanded by 2030 as part of further defence spending cuts. Hopefully that does not come to pass, especially given the enthusiasm shown by the crowds in Paignton later in the day. Also present at Exeter were the Typhoon Display Team, a Jet Provost, Royal Navy Wildcat, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Spitfire and Hurricane (with the Dakota absent), and Rich Goodwin's spectacular Jet Pitts Special. From there, we headed to Paignton, which was already beginning to fill up as Red 10 arrived in the RAF Juno. After a look around the various stalls, we settled in for the flying programme, which began with a high energy display from the Red Arrows at midday. The flying display programme featured: • Rich Goodwin Airshows Jet Pitts Special • Jet Provost • Battle of Britain Memorial Flight: Hurricane & Spitfire (no Dakota) • RAF Tutor • Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers • Navy Wings: Westland Wasp • Royal Navy Black Cats • The Firebirds • Navy Wings: Harvard • The Starlings • RAF Typhoon Display Team • Plus a supporting cast of countless seagulls! Between the Jet Pitts and Jet Provost displays, I caught today's inbound English Riviera Express, headed by 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' with 47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' on the rear. The train arrived at Paignton before continuing onto the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway. Also featured are scenes of today's heritage railway locomotive, 7827 'Lydham Manor', running round at Paignton Queen's Park Station. A couple of breaks in the flying programme provided an opportunity to explore the bay and take in some of the wider sights. One notable visitor was the luxury cruise ship Oceania Marina, operated by Oceania Cruises, anchored in Tor Bay and providing a magnificent backdrop to the displays. After the RAF Typhoon brought the airshow to a dramatic close with its breathtaking display over the coastline, we began the journey home, stopping at Bishops Lydeard to catch the second railtour of the day. Vintage Trains' Whistling Ghost was returning from Minehead behind double headed Manor Class locomotives 7812 'Erlestoke Manor' and 7828 'Odney Manor' , preparing to hand over to 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' and Transrail liveried 37240 for the return journey to Birmingham Snow Hill. We see the locomotive changeover taking place before departure. The final scenes show 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and 37240 departing the Minehead Branch at Norton Fitzwarren, followed shortly afterwards by 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley returning to Fairwater Yard to hand over to 47810 before returning to the West Somerset Railway, at one point it almost looked like they might briefly meet! A fitting end to a cracking day of aviation and railway action with perfect weather for all events. | 30.05.2026 I hope you enjoy this video and thank you for watching! If you like what you've seen, please head over to Instagram   / brunelheritage   and Tik Tok   / brunel.heritage   for more and please feel free to leave comments, ratings, and subscribe to the channel. #EnglishRivieraAirshow #RedArrows #EnglishRiviera #EnglishRivieraExpress #Airshow #AirDisplay #WhistlingGhost #WestSomersetRailway #GWR #Aviation #Aircraft #Spitfire #Hawk #RedArrows #JetPitts #Typhoon #FighterJet #AviationPhotography #CoastalAirshow #UKAirshows #RoyalNavy #Torbay #Paignton #SirNigelGresley #SteamTrain #Railtour #HeritageRailway #ExeterAirport #BBMF #RAFTyphoon