The launch of the Centenary Event of Britain's First Air Show has really taken off with a staggering response from schools across the whole Yorkshire region.
This unique event, celebrating the first Air Show at Doncaster Racecourse in October 1909, has already attracted over 1000 pupils to attend. This is perhaps the largest ever gathering of Yorkshire regional schools.
Children from Bradford, Leeds,
Doncaster, Sheffield, Goole, Hull, York and Scarborough amongst other towns in the region, will all gather from 10am at the fabulous setting of Doncaster Racecourse, on Thursday 2nd July for the Education & Skills Day. The tremendous support and funding from Yorkshire Forward has enabled this joint initiative between Yorkshire Air Museum, Doncaster Racecourse and Welcome to Yorkshire to take place.
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: "Yorkshire led the way in 1909 and others followed. Well, we are still leading the way with our fantastic tourism offering and events such as these are why people are still flocking to Yorkshire."
Pupils will be involved in over 30 workshops and activities from a diverse and exciting variety of education providers and organisations from across Britain. These include the Cre8ate Maths unit from Sheffield Hallam University; Space Connections with their Spacebus; the STAR Centre from Keighley; the Vulcan to the Sky Trust whose tremendous activity will see the 'formation' of four Vulcan 'aircraft' made up of pupils; Regional Business & Education Partnerships, the Royal Air Force with team building activities, the Royal British Legion Spitfire static display and the Government's "Primary Engineer" organisation with much more from other educators, museums and organisations.
One of the most colourful characters to have taken part in that first air show in October 1909, was Samuel Franklin Cody, the American born former Wild West Showman, who developed an interest in man carrying kites and hot air balloons shortly after coming to Britain and demonstrated his idea of a man carrying kite for military purposes to the War Ministry at Holbeck Moor, Leeds, in 1901. Developing his ideas further, after the Wright Brothers made the first powered flight, Cody produced Army Aeroplane No. 1 and became the first man to officially fly a powered aircraft in Britain on 16th October, 1908.
Cody and his great machine, known as the Flying Cathedral, was a great attraction for that first air show and to reflect this historical aspect, we are delighted that the Kite Society, keen enthusiasts of Cody, are also joining us and this will be enhanced by a 'Wild West Show' provided by Mark Atkinson of Action Horses, providing a fantastic spectacle.
'Col'. Cody will himself make an appearance in the form of the ever versatile Chris Cade of Platform 4 Theatre, York, in a live interpretation, along with an 'Edwardian Lady' and of course his horse!
The Yorkshire Air Museum will be mounting a brand new exhibition depicting that very first Air Show with illustrative panels, augmented by the 1903 Wright Flyer and other artefacts from our collections. These will be on display for the Edwardian themed public Race day that follows the Education & Skills Day, on Friday 3rd July, a colourful addition to Doncaster's racing calendar.
Museum Director Ian Reed, said "This unique commission by Yorkshire Forward has enabled the Yorkshire Air Museum to bring together education partnerships and organisations from right across Britain into Yorkshire and to show just what we are capable of in this Region".
