IT IS one of the highlights of the festival calendar in the south. 

Thousands of people are expected to head to the prime viewing spots to get a glimpse of the mechanical angels gracing the Bournemouth Air Festival.

Glorious veterans of the skies will be gliding over crowds while nimble aircraft will perform dazzling displays as they criss-cross beneath the clouds.

No doubt the highlight of the weekend will be the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which will see a Lancaster Bomber – one of only two airworthy craft of their kind – passing over Bournemouth with other Second World War craft.

Today's flight has had to be cancelled due to high winds.

The pair were also due to be flying tomorrow but one has had to be hangered due to enging problems. Tomorrow's flight, minus one aircraft, is still expected to go ahead.

It is the RAF’s tribute to those brave few aviators who protected our skies against an enemy assault.

Regardless of the history and the loss of one of the planes, everyone watching this will be moved and awed by the demonstration as the planes drone over the south.

Yesterday saw another veteran lift off.

Ninety-four year old wingwalker Tom Lackey stood on a while a Sea Vixen performed manoeuvres
as part of the HMS Illustrious decommissioning ceremony in Portsmouth.

Royal Marines abseiled into action as part of the launch of the programme and last night saw a
Rolls-Royce Spitfire ignite flames of pride.

The Midair Squadron Canberra XH134, which joined the RAF in 1951 as the first jet-powered bomber will also be flying on Sunday.
It is believed to be the world’s longest-serving bomber and retired from active duty only in 2006.
Cold War-era bomber, Vulcan, will be in the air from 2pm tomorrow.

As ever the Red Arrows will be showing off their skills in the air and spraying red, white and blue
smoke as they dance in the air over the next three days.

Headlining the aviation action at the event, which is supported by Mouchel and City Fibre, the Red Arrows will represent the incredible speed, agility and precision of the Royal Air Force, at 3pm today, 4.35pm on Saturday and 12.10pm on Sunday.

The RAF will also be displaying the Eurofighter Typhoon and Tutor and Tucano training aircraft on all three days.

The Royal Navy have also provided a Merlin helicopter and for the first time there will be a Lynx and Wildcat pairing.

Bournemouth Pier is the centre of attention at night with rappers Rizzle Kicks, pop and R&B group Rixton and drum and bass duo Sigma on the Boscombe Wave 105 and Corona stage.

Tomorrow night sees disco diva, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Welsh rockers, The Struts and Jack Savoretti on stage.

On the free Bournemouth Stage, confirmed so far are Bootleg Blondie, the Silver Beatles and Abba Chique.

Night Air kicks off at 6.15pm each evening on the East Cliff with the Royal Marine’s band Beating Retreat. The Night Air flying displays start at 7.15pm each evening.

Flying begins today and tomorrow at 12.30pm and at 11.45am on Sunday and there is plenty taking place on the ground and on the waves too.

Rapping duo Rizzle Kicks are getting on stage as is Sophie Ellis-Bextor along with other artists and tribute acts tonight and tomorrow night.

 

 

What's on at the Bournemouth Air Show this weekend

 

Friday

Flying starts at 12.30pm

Flying Scholarships for Disabled People

Army Air Corps Lynx

Royal air Force Falcons

Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter Display Team

Royal Air Force Tutor T1

Royal Air Force Tucano T1

RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

RAF BBMF Dakota C-47

Red Arrows

Royal Air Force Chinook

Rolls Royce Spitfire

B-17 Sally-B Flying Fortress

Hunter Jet: Miss Demeanour

Royal Navy Merlin HM1

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4

Night Air

RR Spitfire & The Blades

OBrien’s Flying Circus

Solo Twister and Red Devils Parachute

Display Team

 

Bournemouth Pier live music stage

8.30pm-10pm

Bootleg Blondie

tribute act

 

Boscombe Pier live music stage

Entry from 6pm

Rizzle Kicks

Sigma

Rixton

Loveable Rogues

Alexa Goddard

 

Saturday

Flying starts at 12.30pm

Flying Scholarship For Disabled People

Royal Marines Beach Commando Assault

Royal Air Force

Typhoon FGR4

Rolls Royce Spitfire

Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter Display

Team

Royal Air Force Tutor T1

Royal Air Force

Tucano T1

RAF BBMF Memorial Flight & Canadian Lancaster

RAF BBMF Dakota C-47

Royal Air Force Chinook

Army Air Corps Lynx

The Tigers

B-17 Sally-B F

lying Fortress

Miss Demeanour

Royal Navy Merlin HM1

The Vulcan

Red Arrows

 

Night Air

RR Spitfire

The Blades

O’Brien’s Flying Circus

Solo Twister

The Red Devils

 

Bournemouth Pier live music stage

8.30pm-10pm

ABBA Chique tribute act

 

Boscombe Pier live music stage

Entry from 6pm

Tony Hadley

Sophie Ellis Bextor

The Struts

Nell Bryden

Jack Savoretti

 

Sunday

Flying starts at 11.45am

Flying Scholarship For Disabled People

Red Arrows

Royal Marines Commando Assault

The Blades Extra 300

RAF BBMF Memorial Flight & Canadian Lancaster

RAF BBMF Dakota C-47

Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter Display

Team

Royal Navy Merlin HM1

B-17 Sally-B Flying Fortress

The Tigers

Royal Air Force Tutor T1

Royal Air force Tucano T1

Rolls Royce Spitfire

Royal Air Force Chinook

Sea Vixen

Hunter Jet: Miss Demeanour

Heritage Flypast: Canberra, Miss Demeanour and Sea Vixen

Canberra PR9

Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4