Royal Air Force announces renaming of air show

The Royal Air Force (RAF) has announced RAF Cosford Air Show will be renamed from 2027 to reflect it being the only military-run air show in the UK.

Speaking at the air show on Sunday, Sqn Ldr Dave Kerrison said the Shropshire event would be known as The Royal Air Force Air Show going forward.

He said the show would still be based at Cosford, adding: "It's going to be the same people, it's going to be the same activities and it will have the same stuff. It is the one and only, it's going to be amazing.

"It will be the showcase of the Royal Air Force for the whole of the public to see what we do and to generate that enthusiasm from the public."

The 2026 show saw about 50,000 people at the annual event, which saw three new RAF Museum acquisitions make their debuts.

The new Hawk, Reaper and Puma were shown to the public for the first time during the show on Sunday.

Among those taking part as a glider pilot was 22-year-old Bradley Lefley-Kemp, who described the day as a "huge honour", as well as a "dream come true".

"I know it sounds very cliched but these are the things you dream of, you don't actually think it's going to become a reality," he explained.

He said he hoped the display would "showcase what gliders are really capable of, to hopefully encourage, in particular, more young people into gliding".

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