Flying Comrades to bring close-formation aerobatics to Clacton Airshow 2026
30th July 2026
A new display team is set to make its Clacton Airshow debut this summer, bringing close-formation flying, smoke trails and aerobatic skill to the Essex Sunshine Coast.
The Flying Comrades, a Duxford-based three-ship Yak display team, will join the line-up for the 33rd Clacton Airshow, staged by Tendring District Council (TDC) on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 August.
Now in their fifth year together, the team is made up of friends brought together by a shared love of flying, with the word ‘comrade’ meaning friend at the heart of their name.
Their display will feature one Yak-18T and two Yak-52 aircraft, combining disciplined close-formation work with smoke-filled aerobatic manoeuvres in a distinctive routine over Clacton seafront.
The team has previously displayed at events including Blackpool, Old Buckenham and IWM Duxford, and will add another fresh element to this year’s flying programme.
Councillor Ivan Henderson, TDC Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “It is fantastic to welcome the Flying Comrades to Clacton Airshow for the first time, adding another exciting new act to what is shaping up to be a brilliant programme.
“Their display is all about teamwork, precision and the joy of flying, and I am sure visitors will enjoy seeing these three distinctive aircraft working together above our seafront.
“Clacton Airshow is always about giving residents and visitors something memorable to enjoy, and this new display will help bring even more colour, variety and atmosphere to the Essex Sunshine Coast this August.”
Leading the formation will be Phil Hardisty in the Yak-18T G-HAHU, supported by Alex Lewton in the yellow and black Yak-52 G-BXJB and Tom Turner in the silver and red Yak-52 G-YAKF.
Phil, who established the Flying Comrades, is a professional pilot who has been flying since childhood and has several years of display flying experience, including with Clive Denney’s Red Sparrows team.
Alex, also a commercial pilot, first flew a Yak-52 in 2007 and is now in his fourth year of display flying, while Tom, Head of Airfield and Flying Display Director at Duxford, began flying at the age of 13 with the Air Training Corps and is now in his fifth year as a display pilot.
The new flight adds to an already impressive flying line-up, including the world-famous RAF Red Arrows, performing across both days, as well as the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – appearing in the year of the Spitfire’s 90th anniversary – and the ever-popular twilight flights.
The Clacton Airshow is one of the biggest events on the Essex Sunshine Coast calendar, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year. Alongside the flying displays, visitors can enjoy ground-based attractions, food stalls and family-friendly entertainment along the seafront.
For updates and more information about the 2026 Clacton Airshow, visit the Clacton Airshow website, follow essexsunshinecoast on Instagram, or go to the official Facebook event.