The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free

Wings in the Sky
Eyes to the skies, an audience thrill to the spirit and speed of flying at Sunderland Airport.
From the collection of:

Overview
Feet firmly on the ground, plane spotters gather for the noisiest, largest and last Air Day held at Sunderland Airport on Sunday 15 June 1980. Once a favourite subject for the makers of 'interest' films, the romance of flight is still alive in these joyrides in the clouds, recorded by the Chester-le-Street Amateur Cine Club. Vintage planes on show include the Spitfire, Currie Wot and Fairey Firefly, and RAF fighter-bomber aircraft perform thrilling stunts for the crowd.
The Air Day was first held on 28 June 1964 to celebrate RAF Usworth's reincarnation as Sunderland Airport, which finally closed on 31 May 1984. The runways were then lost under the huge expanse of a new Nissan car factory that was built on the site.
Related

Lord Durham at Sunderland (1901) Lord Durham at Sunderland (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 3 mins Silent Location: Sunderland
Durham Light Infantry veterans collect their medals for valour in the Boer War.

The Big Country The Big Country
Promotional 1970 16 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Tuning into the biggest consumer market for television advertising in Britain with Trident TV.

Son of Plain - Advertising Man's Guide to Tyne Tees Television Son of Plain - Advertising Man's Guide to Tyne Tees Television
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1964 11 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Is comedian Clive Dunn the Don Draper of the British advertising world? Watch this imaginative Tyne Tees TV marketing film and decide.

Just Us Just Us
Home movie 1958 9 mins Silent Location: Roker
An intimate portrait of domestic life in 50s Roker featuring family, football and cricket.

Sunderland vs. Swansea Sunderland vs. Swansea
Amateur film 1962 4 mins Silent Location: Sunderland
Football teams from two working class towns face off at Sunderland’s Roker Park in the 60s.

Tommy Steele Returns to the Sunderland Empire Tommy Steele Returns to the Sunderland Empire
Magazine and Review show 1976 7 mins Location: Sunderland
Tommy Steele returns to Sunderland Empire in the 1970s and recalls his early years as Decca's dynamic new star of the rock 'n' roll era.

British Cinema Breaking with Convention British Cinema Breaking with Convention
Inside Film 2010 30 mins
Jonathan Romney and a panel of directors defend the unorthodox and original in modern British cinema.

Rhianna Dhillon introduces I'm Still Here Rhianna Dhillon introduces I'm Still Here
Short documentary 2025 3 mins
Critic and broadcaster Rhianna Dhillon introduces the Oscar-winning Brazilian drama.

180° Rule - BFI LFF 2020 - Q&A 180° Rule - BFI LFF 2020 - Q&A
Inside Film 2020 11 mins
Farnoosh Samadi, the director of 180° Rule, and actor Sahar Dolatshahi in conversation following an online screening at LFF 2020.

Dreams of a Life (Q&A) Dreams of a Life (Q&A)
Inside Film 2011 14 mins
Director turned detective Carol Morley (and actor Zawe Ashton) explain how an anonymous death changed both of their lives.

The Extraordinary Miss Flower - Exclusive Q&A The Extraordinary Miss Flower - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
Directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard talk about their film, which unpacks a suitcase of love letters that inspired an album by Emilíana Torrini.

Afrika Bambaataa on Afrofuturism (Q&A) Afrika Bambaataa on Afrofuturism (Q&A)
Inside Film 2014 45 mins
Afrika Bambaataa and DJ, musician and filmmaker Don Letts discuss the development of Afrofuturism and its key artists.