Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the organisers of the county’s newest airshow on a ‘behind-the-scenes’ networking opportunity for members and other businesses.
The inaugural Hampshire Air Festival is an aviation-themed, family-friendly weekend designed to celebrate ‘The Age of Flight’ through flying displays, static and heritage aircraft, pyro aerobatics, drone displays, fireworks and a STEM learning area.
It takes place at Thruxton Aerodrome near Andover on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026.
On the eve of the show, Friday 11 September, Hampshire Chamber will host a behind-the-scenes networking day at the aerodrome starting at 11am.
Ross McNally, Chief Executive and Executive Chair of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is a prime opportunity for representatives from our members and other businesses to meet, connect, have fun and potentially collaborate on business ideas in an atmosphere that breaks away from the usual.
“It is networking with a real difference, bringing the business community together in a unique aviation setting. We’ll be surrounded by aircraft, equipment and aviation industry themes that reflect the power of engineering, scientific insight and innovation. There will be a keynote speech, topical business presentations, scope to ask questions of pilots and other aviation experts and the chance to see aircraft landing. We hope it will inspire fresh thinking and new connections.”
Festival organiser Jonathan Moore, founder and Chief Executive of owner Montserrat Events, said: “Thanks to our exciting new partnership with Hampshire Chamber, we anticipate business professionals from across the region will attend what promises to be a meaningful and enjoyable networking day.”
Tickets for the networking event are free to supporters of the festival’s Founding 200 initiative which aims to encourage businesses and individuals to come on board and support its development as an annual show.
Jonathan added: “Founding 200 reflects a shift in how events of this scale are funded and supported. It aims to open access to a wider range of organisations and individuals who want to play an early role in building something new.”
Joining members from Hampshire Chamber for the networking day will be representatives from fellow event partners Omni Business Development Network and Total Business Network.
Located on part of the old Thruxton Manor Estate and requisitioned by the Air Ministry in 1940 for the war effort, the airfield opened for military purposes in 1942 and operated as RAF Thruxton. Two years after the end of the war, it was taken over by the Wiltshire School of Flying, paving the way for generations of private and club flying operations that continue today.
The aerodrome has a Civil Aviation Authority licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction. Many air cadets trained on flying scholarships at Thruxton have gone on to gain their private pilot licences.
For more information on the Hampshire Air Festival, Founding 200 and Montserrat Events, visit www.hampshireairfestival.co.uk.
Tickets for the business networking event can be booked here.
Picture credit: Paul Johnson, Flightline Uk
About Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is the independent voice of local business across the county and one of the largest regional business networks in the UK. With a strategic vision to ‘unlock Hampshire’s potential’, Hampshire Chamber brings together the combined influence, strength and expertise of the county’s three former major chambers. It works with over 2,000 individual firms spanning all sectors and sizes of business. Member services include training, advice, international trade documentation, events, networking opportunities and lobbying to policymakers on issues affecting business. Hampshire Chamber’s business network is designed to help any employer to grow and thrive irrespective of their stage on the enterprise journey.