World record-holders Blades at Wings & Wheels

The display team performed no less than 26 formation loops in a row to fly their way into the record books.

The Blades are a leading aerobatic display team of former Red Arrows pilots.

Some of the country’s most experienced display pilots, they are renowned for flying precision close formation aerobatics and will be bringing their display to Dunsfold once again this year.

The display contains a variety of very different aerobatic stunts flown just feet apart demonstrating the great skills of the pilots and the incredible versatility of the Extra 300. From high rising looping manoeuvres and dynamic 10g formation breaks, to high-speed opposition passes the display also includes some pair work and solo display flying.

2012 is the team’s seventh consecutive display season.

There’s double delight for the Wings and Wheels Airshow organisers.

Following his two celebrated showcase events this year, Olympics opening ceremony aerial stuntman Gary Connery will make an exclusive appearance at Dunsfold on Monday (August 26).

Plus, the Guinness World Record for the longest line of toy cars, completed at a special media event last week with Horsham and South Downs air cadets taking part, has been officially ratified.

Gary will combine his wing-suit world record achievement with a deployment by canopy in front of a thrilled audience.

Arriving in a James Bond-esque pursuit in an AC Cobra, Gary will make good his escape by helicopter, before exiting to make his trademark wing-suit flight, deploying the canopy just in time to make a target landing in front of the audience. He’ll then return to the wheel of the Cobra before joining the crowd for meet and greets and photographs.

Garry Connery comments: “I have always had a passion for flying and cars. To be involved in a show that brings the two together is wonderful and I can’t wait to share my wingsuit flight with so many people in one day at Wings & Wheels. The visual experience will be awesome.”

More than one billion people worldwide watched Gary’s last performance as he stood in for the skydiving ‘Queen’s’ dramatic arrival at the Olympics Opening Ceremony with James Bond. It was the most talked-about sequence of Danny Boyle’s stunning three hour ceremony.

The Wings & Wheels team is thrilled to announce they have successfully set the new Guinness World Records title for ’Longest line of toy cars’ and the certificate is winging its way to Dunsfold Aerodrome.

The world record attempt, which saw 3,737 cars lined up over 258.2 metres, was completed on the Top Gear track with help from Hawk pilots Flt Lt Phil Bird and Flt Lt Bruce Poole, volunteers from Help for Heroes, Brooklands Museum, Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance and Cranleigh Village Hospital Trust, as well as 14 Sussex Wing Air Cadets and 17 families and fans of Wings & Wheels.

Two independent officials, Richard Newsam of Curchod & Co and Lt Col. Bill Carling were also on hand to oversee proceedings and make sure everything was in order.

The Wings & Wheels team have beaten the current world record of 3,001 cars and a length of 239.1 metres.

Nancy Edwards, Wings & Wheels Event Manager comments; “We are over the moon we’ve succeeded in our Guinness World Records attempt and really proud to be able to display cars from the record at Wings & Wheels on Sunday 26th & Monday 27th August 2012. We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped, enabling us to enter the very select club of Guinness World Records title holders.”

Britain’s 2012 Rally for Heroes departed from Dunsfold Park on Saturday 18th August 18, waved on their way by over 100 family and friends as well as legendary commentator Murray Walker.

The Rally for Heroes is a unique event in Britain, attracting support from people across the country and from all walks of life in order to raise funds to assist two key charities - Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion. The Rally has so far exceeded their fundraising target and raised £104,000.

The event is limited to 50 key drivers who are subjecting their valuable and vintage cars to an extraordinary rally across Europe.

Former F1 commentator Murray Walker OBE started the rally from Dunsfold Park where the drivers set off to embark on a scenic and challenging route in five countries across Europe. On the rally they’ll be taking in top driving tracks including Monaco, Selvio National Park in Italy and the challenging Nurburging Circuit in Germany. The route includes a five mile drive for every serving soldier who has lost his or her life on duty in Afghanistan.

The cars will be heading back and arriving in England just in time for a triumphant return to Wings & Wheels on Sunday (August 26). The official cheque presentation will be made to the rally’s nominated charities at the airshow, but last minute donations can still be given; every 50p, every £1 and every £5 is vitally needed.

Nancy Edwards. Wings & Wheels Event Manager said: “It was an honour to be a part of the Rally for Heroes launch and we are really excited that they’ll also be ending their epic journey here at our annual airshow, Wings & Wheels, on Sunday 26th August. I’d encourage all our visitors to visit them in the Wheels Zone to hear all about their amazing journey and cheer their fantastic fundraising efforts.”

Rally for Heroes will be displaying in the motoring demonstration, Stunt Zone and Wheels Zone at where visitors can talk to the drivers, look at their interesting cars - and cheer them on during the cheque presentation.

Donations can be made to the team today and will also still be accepted for a few more days through their website on http://www.rallyforheroes.com/h4h2012.htm The 8th annual Wings and Wheels will be held over the August Bank holiday weekend; Sunday 26th & Monday 27th August 2012, at Dunsfold Park near Guildford, Surrey, and is open to spectators from 9am until 6pm.

Tickets start from £18 for adults, £40 for a family (2 adults and 3 children aged 5 – 15yrs), £5 for children aged between 5 and 15yrs and under 5s are free. Hospitality packages start from £65 per person, weekend passes, grandstand tickets and camping are also available. For more information visit www.wingsandwheels.net or to book tickets call 08712 305572.

Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited to help raise funds for nominated charities: Brooklands Museum Trust, Cranleigh Village Hospital Trust, Help for Heroes and Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance.