Grab your tickets now for the Stow Maries Air Show!

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The countdown has begun for The Stow Maries Air Show on Saturday 23 August, one of the most exciting events on the calendar at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, and tickets are selling fast.

Weather permitting, an impressive range of historic aircraft will take to the skies above Stow, including a Mk9 Spitfire, the only one of its kind still flying that was originally painted in desert camouflage, and the only Spitfire flying in the world with a Rolls Royce Merlin 63 engine. This immaculately restored World War Two fighter only started displaying in 2025, and this will be its first visit to an Essex air show.

Even more of a coup for Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome is the planned visit from the only airworthy Airco DH-9 in the world, E8894/G-CDLI. This World War One bomber is truly one-of-a-kind – carefully restored to its former glory after being found in a dilapidated state in 2000 hidden in an elephant stable at the Imperial Fort and Royal Palace in Bikaner, India. Weather permitting, the DH-9 will take to the air for a formation display with a collection of other celebrated WW1 warbirds, including a Nieuport 17, an Albatros D.Va, a Fokker Dr.1 and an SE-5a – a truly thrilling sight for lovers of Great War aviation.

Also planned are nail-biting classic barnstorming displays including The Stampe Team in their open cockpit, aerobatic biplanes; The Turbulent Display Team recreating the flying circus acts that toured Europe in the 1920s and 1930s, with the single-seater D31Turbulents flying metres from the ground to perform flour-bombing, balloon-bursting and limbo-flying manoeuvres; and the formidable Tiger Nine group piloting their nine Tiger Moth aircraft in formation. Also invited to appear are aerobatic motorised glider the Redhawk RF4D, plus a Fairey Swordfish biplane on static display.

Aviation enthusiasts will relish the chance to get within touching distance of some of the amazing aircraft in the show with our Flight Line Walks. Led by our resident experts, they will get you up-close-and-personal with some of the rarest aircraft in Britain, sharing their history and marvelling at their engineering. Flight Line Walks can only be booked on the day and are first come first served, so get there early if you want to be sure of a slot!

Ian Flint, Chief Executive Officer of Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, comments: "We have invited a really exciting selection of historic aircraft to take part in our Air Show, including the last remaining airworthy DH-9, and we are looking forward to a fabulous day celebrating all things aviation. Tickets are selling fast and we are confident of a sell-out."

In between enjoying the ground and air activities, visitors can enjoy bacon rolls, burgers and hotdogs from the barbecue, washed down with a cold beer from Datum Attitude brewery, which specialises in aviation-themed craft beers, or take a breather in The Airmen’s Mess café for hot and cold meals, snacks and cakes throughout the day. Plus, all the Museum’s hangars and exhibition spaces will be open, along with the gift shop. (Please note, some of the exhibitions and hangars are escorted viewings).

Tickets to The Stow Maries Air Show are available from www.stowmaries.org.uk/events and should be purchased in advance. Adults: £21.98, Child 6-15: £11.29, Infant 0-5: free, Family ticket (2+2): £54.05. Flight Line Walks tickets cost £7.50 bookable only on the morning of the Air Show.

On non-event days, Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, Hackman’s Lane, Purleigh CM3 6RN is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 4pm, until 7 December, with fascinating exhibition halls, historic aircraft, interactive flight simulators, pedal planes and more, to keep every member of the family happy.