EVENTS
Skylive organisers Steve Davies (left) and Chris
Petty say they were delighted with the 2017
event, which attracted 18,000 spectators.
Tees air show
Tees Life co-editor Martin
Walker attended the 2017
Skylive air show at Durham
Tees Valley Airport, with
1990s hit group Livin’ Joy
entertaining guests in the
VIP tent...
Female vocalist Luzahnn performed with 1990s
group Livin’ Joy in the VIP tent at SkyLive.
L
ocal businessmen Chris Petty and
Steve Davies have certainly proved
they’re no dreamers.
They weren’t deterred when cynics scoffed
at their blue-sky idea to rekindle an air show
that once attracted more than 50,000 people,
but had been grounded for 30 years.
The ambitious pair pulled it off, and this
summer they built on the successful relaunch
with an improved second Skylive event, held
at Durham Tees Valley Airport.
won’t stop movin’
They had promised it would be bigger
and better than they’re first attempt in
2016 – and they didn’t disappoint, as 18,000
people were wowed by a string of high-flying
demonstrations and death-defying air stunts,
despite a spell of torrential rain.
Spectators of all ages marvelled as state-
of-the-art fighter jets like the Eurofighter
Typhoon growled across the Teesside skyline.
One of the highlights of this year’s show
was a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
There were also military displays from a
“Huey” Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter.
As well as impressive aircraft, parachutists
and aerobatic teams thrilled the audience
with a series of jaw-dropping performances.
And in the hospitality tent, around 350
VIPs – including new Tees Valley Mayor Ben
Houchen and ex-Boro stars Craig Hignett
and Neil Maddison – were entertained by
1990s group Livin’ Joy, featuring lead female
vocalist Luzahnn, who brought back happy
‘90s memories for some of the guests as they
sang along – and danced, badly – to Livin’
Joy’s UK chart hits Don’t Stop Movin’ and
Dreamer.
“We’re delighted with this year’s event, it
was a huge success,” said Chris.
“We have a long-term plan. The first event
in 2016 was about literally getting it off
the ground. The second event was better, we
learned from the first one and we improved
on it.
“The turnout proves there’s a huge demand
on Teesside for events like this.”
The Skylive partnership between Steve and
Chris is an unlikely, but successful one.
Steve is a music events expert who also
owns the new pie-making company Upex – so
he’s no stranger to phoenix from the flames-
style ventures – while Chris is the managing
director of the fast-growing Stockton-based IT
specialists Cornerstone Business Solutions.
“I met Steve at a Boro game years ago and
we hit it off straight away,” says Chris. “He’s
involved in music events and I’d had an idea
about an air show for a while, so I put the idea
to him and it went from there.
“I do the nice stuff up front, like the media
interviews, Steve is the ‘doer’ behind the
scenes and looks after everything, all the little
things I’d forget about. And it works. We have
a fantastic understanding.”
The pair want Skylive to eventually attract
more than 50,000 spectators every year.
Steve added: “We get better connections
every year. We’re already planning the 2018
event and the main thing is getting high-
profile attractions to pull people in – not just
air enthusiasts, but everyone.”
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