RAF St Mawgan was proud to return to the Royal Cornwall Show 2026, reaffirming its strong connection with the local community and showcasing the breadth of opportunities available within the Royal Air Force.
Working in partnership with the RAF Recruitment Team, the RAF Town Show tour brought an engaging and interactive presence to one of Cornwall’s flagship events. Across the show, personnel from RAF St Mawgan and other RAF stations came together to highlight the Station’s role, capabilities and the people who make up today’s RAF.
Visitors to the stand were able to experience a wide range of interactive activities and displays. These included the opportunity to handle Survival Equipment and test their aim at the Force Protection Training Flight paintball stand. RAF Air Cadets were on hand to represent the next generation of the Service, while members of the Joint Hospital Group (South West), captivated audiences with highly realistic medical simulations, using expertly applied techniques to create lifelike injuries that drew significant attention and sparked curiosity (and some sympathy)! Personnel from 505 (Wessex) Squadron, based at RAF St Mawgan, provided advice on joining the Reserves and the Air Force Careers team offered guidance on RAF career pathways. Charitable partners, including the RAF Association, RAF Benevolent Fund and SSAFA, were also present throughout the event.
Friday proved to be the standout day, with strong attendance and excellent engagement with members of the public. The RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team were a major highlight, delivering an impressive jump that drew large crowds and added real excitement to the event. The RAF’s replica Chinook helicopter was also a particular crowd favourite, attracting significant interest and providing an opportunity for visitors to learn more about RAF operations and life in Service.
Although the third day of the show was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and high winds, from a Station and RAF perspective the event remained a success in meeting its primary aims: inspiring interest in the RAF, connecting with the next generation and thanking the local community for their on-going support.
The Royal Cornwall Show is an important event for the Station and a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our connection with the local community. It was great to see so many people engaging with our personnel and learning more about what we do at RAF St Mawgan and across the Royal Air Force. Despite the weather curtailing the final day, the enthusiasm and interest shown were extremely encouraging and highlight the value of events like this in inspiring future generations.
Wing Commander Gareth Elliott, Station Commander RAF St Mawgan.
This was a superb team effort. Bringing together personnel, equipment and displays from across RAF St Mawgan, RAF Recruitment and our supporting units required significant coordination, and I am incredibly proud of what we achieved. The level of engagement across the show demonstrates how important it is for us to be visible, approachable and ready to share our story with the public.
Squadron Leader Leroy Hall, Project Officer.
A couple of highlights from the event included the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association President, Mr Michael Tylor, successfully completing the RAF Regiment paintball challenge in record speed! The Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho also attended the RAF Village spending time with the Station Commander and engaging with personnel, reflecting the breadth of activity within the RAF community.
RAF St Mawgan remains committed to supporting major regional events such as the Royal Cornwall Show and will continue to play an active role in promoting the Royal Air Force, its people and its opportunities across Cornwall and the wider South West.
