The Southern Model Air Show 2009

Welcome to the Southern Model Air Show

2009 Dates Announced

We have now confirmed with the Hop Farm that the Southern Model Airshow 2009 will be
on 19th & 20th September 2009.

The organising team are having a couple of months off but we'll be releasing more
details and start taking trade/pilot bookings from Feb - ish !
For 2009, all general camping will be booked directly with the Hop Farm.

From those visitors that we have spoken to - 99% were in favour of the new layout.
I'll be surprised if we go back to the old way but if anyone has any strong views
and haven't let us know already please do asap.

Hope everyone has a good Christmas and we look forward to seeing you next September.

Thanks to Everyone

Many Thanks to all those who attended the 2008 Southern Model Airshow - we will be posting some stories and pictures on the site as soon as we have recovered from the weekend ?! in the mean time, why not tell us what you though about the show by going to the Your Comments Page ?

The 2008 Southern Model Airshow has officially been the biggest and best ever with record numbers attending, final gate numbers to follow but it was exceptionally high.

I must say a big thanks to all the crew who worked so hard to make it all happen, without these guys (and girls) from the Croydon Airport MFC and all the others working, serving, cooking and organising the show would not be the success it is - Thanks All..
Picture by David Daniels

Saturday 20th September

Unbelievably, as I sit here writing this note, the sun is shining and the thermometer is reading a healthy 21c - the show is in full swing and the unmistakable tones of Dave Bishop are ringing out across the show ground.
This years show is breaking records with 1000's of people milling about. We've already seen displays by the Als Hobbies jets, the ATS Fun fighters and a host of other pilots and types.
The trade area, as ever, is massively popular with most of the big traders present and most giving end of season discounts on a host of items - time to stock up the workshop and plan the Christmas build ? If you're after a second hand bargain, the bring and buy is packed to the doors with items for sale.
One piece of sad news, Dennis Kenyon inspected his helicopter and found a problem with his engine - he has been unable, given the short notice, to find a replacement so will not be showing - on the bright site, we did manage to get a CAP232 display in at short notice and there will be another two full size displays tomorrow !
Saturday has been a great day so far and we look forward to the normally busy Sunday beating today's records.
Tickets are available for Sunday on the door and the weather for Sunday is looking just as good as today - we look forward to welcoming you to the show and, for those who came today, we hope you had a good time and hope to see you again next year..

Preparations are almost complete.. Less than 24 hours to go !

I've just been speaking to a few of the Guys (and Girls) on the set-up crew down at the Hop Farm, and, after a week of hard work, the site is almost ready for what looks to be another record year.

Tom and the runway maintenance crew have been mowing and rolling solidly all week and by all accounts their perseverance has paid off with a nice flying surface along the whole length.

Steve's crew have put up over half a mile of safety fences, erected several marques and are currently putting up the sign posts and doing finishing touches.
The DB sound guys are there setting up the PA and Darren is sorting out Pilot control and communications. Traders are starting to arrive and apparently there are two large HGV trucks delivering supplies for the beer tent and café :o)

Show Director, Roger and Show Manager, Chris have already aged 20 years but both were really please with progress - Chris said “All the guys have put in 110% effort over the last week and it's really paid off, a big thanks goes out to all of them - we look forward to seeing you all at the 2008 Southern Model Airshow...”

Less than a week to go...

Preparations have started at the Hop Farm on what is looking to be the biggest and best show ever. All Trader pitches are sold out, the pilot slots are fully booked, tickets have been selling at a phenomenal rate and the finely oiled machine that is the organisation for the show has been turned up to '11', the count down has started! (BTW, if any booked pilots think they may not be able to make it, please contact Jim@southernmodelairshow.com as the reserve list is now almost as long as the pilot list)

Since our last visit in 2007, the Hop Farm has undergone a bit of a face lift with new attractions including a interactive wax works exhibition, new animal farm, Jumping Pillows and the Terrace Tea Rooms café plus loads more exhibits in the Hop Farm Musium as well as an extensive upgrade of some of the roads, walk-ways and camping areas making the venue even more family friendly then ever - no excuse to leave the rest of the family behind then..
For those of a modelling persuasion, the line up on both days is looking very nice - we have items and slots covering most areas of aero-modelling - jets, gliders, heli's, scale, park, electric etc as well as the cars, boats, tanks, trains and a host of other bits too.

Weather permitting, Both days will have full size aircraft displays (if you can describe the Turbulent Display team or Dennis Kenyons heli as Full Size) as well as the now famous pyro display / mock battle.

Other favourites are back too including the raffle (prizes including a full trainer set up and a new RTF Avicraft Mini-ePanic with AGPower Hi-Power LiPo), 'Bring and Buy' and Lunchtime 'Have a Go' training slots will be running too.. on top of all of that, if we can drag him away from everything else, we will even try to get Darren up with the Toffee bomber to keep the kids happy.

Discounts for advance bookings are still available online offering savings of up to £7.00 so why not come and join us at the last big show of the year, the Southern Model Airshow..'

Trade Line bookings Closed.

Please note Trade line bookings are now closed as we are 100% sold out !

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