Fermanagh Seaplane Festival

On Sunday 24th May the Fermanagh Seaplane Festival was held at the Share Centre on the shores of Lough Erne. Seaplanes from all over the UK and Ireland, as well as a seaplane from the Netherlands, took part in the event.

While Sunday was the main day of the festival, the RNLI held a fund raising event in Enniskillen the day before on Saturday 23rd May. The Irish Coast Guard Sikorsky S-61 and the PSNI Eurocopter EC135 along with other private helicopters were all on static display in a sports field behine Enniskillen Castle and beside the Erne.

The smaller seaplanes landed alongside the RNLI event during the afternoon, helping the RNLI with their fundraising while at the same time advertising the event that was to be held the next day.

While the festival was not an air show it did make for some unique flying (and photography). Its not often that you get the chance to get this close to seaplanes, never mind seeing them operating from water.

The festival also gave the general public the opportunity to fly in the seaplanes as well as experiencing the thrill of taking off from and landing on water. Most of the aircraft present were amphibians which allowed them to operate from the small beach at the Share Centre using their undercarriage.

IrishAirPics would like to thank the organisers and promoters of the event, especially Thomas of Corker Communications, for their help and assistance over the two days that we were present.