Cowes Week’s Thursday is Royal Navy day, and traditionally closes with an evening air display over the harbour. Last year, the Royal Navy sent a Wildcat from the Black Cats team and Navy Wings’ Fairey Swordfish took part.
This year, the only Navy scheduled participant was the Swordfish. It cancelled, leaving two civilian displays: the Pitts Special of the Invicta Aero Club and a single RV-4 of the Firebirds Display Team. Both extended their sets to make up for the shortfall, and its powerful LEDs made the Firebird sequence particularly dramatic in the falling light.
It was a worthwhile twenty minutes, but no Navy flying on Royal Navy day seems rather hollow.
Cowes Week 2026 – my photos
Radio frequencies
The following frequency was in use:
| Display | 127.108 |
| Cowes Harbour | 156.475 (FM) |
Orientation
The display was in front of the Esplanade and The Parade, over Cowes Harbour.