MX-5 Day Out – Gransden Airshow August 2026
I’ve only had my MX-5 for a short while, and part of buying it was wanting to find out what the whole MX-5 thing is actually about. Not just the car itself, but the clubs, the meets, the days out and the people who seem to be so enthusiastic about these little cars. So, when I saw that the MX-5 Owners Club ‘Eastern’ were heading to Gransden Airshow, I thought it would be a good opportunity to join them. It was also my first ever airshow, so this was going to be a new experience on two fronts.
We met up with the club at the services on Sunday morning, where we bumped into Barry, one of the organisers from the Eastern Region. After introducing ourselves, we grabbed a coffee, a matcha and a sausage wrap and had a wander around the cars.
Meet up at the services for coffee and sausage bap…
Being new to MX-5s, it was interesting seeing the different generations together and how owners have made them their own. You can quickly see why these little cars have such an enthusiastic following.
A short while later, we set off in convoy for the drive to the airfield. The Sunday morning sun was out, everyone had their roofs down and I had my eldest daughter in the passenger seat. Driving along in a convoy of MX-5s with the roof down and the wind blowing through our hair, life was feeling pretty good. Arriving at the airfield involved driving across a slightly damp and muddy field and past some of the aircraft that would be flying later in the day.
We were directed towards the club parking area, passing plenty of other car clubs along the way. There were old Series Land Rovers, Ford RS Cosworths and Escorts ranging from Mk1s onwards, plus some lovely older BMWs including M3s and M5s.
Eventually we reached the MX-5 area, where there were around 40 cars lined up. Everyone was really welcoming and, as you’d expect, more than happy to talk about their cars. I got chatting to Rob, who owns a Mk3 Sport Venture in Crystal Blue Metallic. He talked me through some of the different Mk3 variations, including the Roadster Coupe with its retractable hardtop. I have to say, though, it was the colour of his car that really caught my attention. Crystal Blue Metallic looks absolutely gorgeous in the sunshine.
The flying wasn’t due to start until after lunch, so we spent the morning wandering around the show. There were local craft and art stalls, model aircraft and toys, plenty of food vendors and, slightly unexpectedly, a Star Wars stand complete with Stormtroopers walking around. Then at around 1pm, the airshow started.
One of the early displays was the Hawker Hurricane, one of the RAF’s most important fighters during the Second World War and a major part of the Battle of Britain. We also got to see the RAF Typhoon. It’s a completely different experience seeing a modern fighter aircraft being demonstrated properly rather than just seeing one in photographs or on television. The speed, noise and manoeuvrability are seriously impressive.
Aircraft display at Gransden
Having never been to an airshow before, I was really impressed. Seeing these aircraft flying so low, hearing them as they came past and being able to actually see the detail of them in the air was quite something. It was the whole day that made the experience, for me. Meeting up in the morning, driving there in convoy with the roof down, looking around all the different MX-5s and spending the day talking to people who clearly just enjoy owning and driving their cars. And spending it with my wonderful daughter.
We bought our MX-5 because I wanted a small, fun car that we could actually get out and do things in. This was exactly that. A sunny Sunday, around 40 MX-5s, my daughter in the passenger seat and an afternoon watching some incredible aircraft. I’m beginning to understand what all the MX-5 fuss is about.
Gransden Airshow will definitely be going back on the calendar next year.
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Gransden Airshow is an annual airshow held at Little Gransden Airfield in Cambridgeshire. The event brings together historic and modern aircraft displays alongside classic and enthusiast car clubs, local stalls, food vendors and other attractions.
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Yes. The MX-5 Owners Club attends Gransden Airshow, with members displaying different generations and versions of the Mazda MX-5. At the 2026 event, around 40 MX-5s were gathered together in the club display area.
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We joined members of the MX-5 Owners Club Eastern Region for the drive to Gransden Airshow. Members met beforehand before driving to Little Gransden Airfield together in convoy.
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One of the interesting things about an MX-5 Owners Club gathering is seeing different generations of the car together, from early MX-5s through to later models. There are also numerous special editions and variations, including cars such as the Mk3 Sport Venture and Roadster Coupe with its retractable hardtop.
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Yes. As well as aircraft, Gransden Airshow attracts a variety of owners' clubs and interesting cars. At the 2026 event we saw classic Land Rovers, Ford Escorts, RS Cosworths, BMW M3s and M5s alongside the large Mazda MX-5 display.
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Gransden Airshow features a mixture of historic and more modern aircraft. During our visit we saw aircraft including the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire and the RAF Typhoon, together with numerous other historic aircraft throughout the afternoon.
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For us, definitely. It was our first visit to an airshow and there was plenty to see throughout the day. The combination of flying displays, historic aircraft, car clubs, stalls and food vendors makes it an enjoyable day out even if you aren't a serious aviation enthusiast.
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Our first experience was certainly a positive one. We had only recently bought our MX-5 and found the club members friendly, welcoming and very knowledgeable about the different generations of Mazda MX-5. Club drives and events are also a good excuse to get the roof down, meet other owners and actually get out and enjoy the car.
