Best of British Show at Cotswold Airport (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Best of British Show at Cotswold Airport

8:39am Friday 24th August 2012 in What's On

THE 2012 RAF Hawk Display Pilot, Flight Lieutenant Phil Bird, is coming home to display at Cotswold Airport's Best of British Show on August Bank Holiday weekend, Sunday and Monday, August 26 and 27.

Phil grew up in Gloucestershire; he has been coming to Kemble Airshow since his teens and flew some of his first flights there when learning to fly on his PPL course aged 17.

The RAF's Hawk Display Team is supporting the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (RAFBF), the RAF's leading welfare charity, throughout the airshow season this year and will display at the Best of British Show at Cotswold Airport which has chosen the RAFBF as one of its chosen charitable partners for its inaugural show.

"I feel honoured to fly such an iconic RAF aircraft in a stunning patriotic theme bearing the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Heart Roundel logo - it's the perfect way to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year," said Flt Lt Bird.

"We need to support our wider RAF family and flying the Heart Roundel logo at airshows such as the Best of British Show helps raise awareness of the great work the charity does."

Flt Lt Bird went to Meysey Hampton Primary School before attending Farmor's Secondary School, Fairford and had an interest in flying from an early age, not surprisingly as his father John was also an RAF pilot.

"I can remember seeing all kinds of aircraft flying from Kemble and the airshow has always been a highlight of the year for me.

"I am very excited about Cotswold Airport's brand new event the Best of British Show to celebrate everything iconic about Britain and I am truly honoured that the Hawk display will be a part of it.

"I am very much looking forward to putting the jet through its paces in a display more dynamic than many people have seen from the Hawk before," he added.

Cerys Truman, regional fundraiser for the RAF Benevolent Fund said: "Every penny raised by the RAF Hawk Display Team at the Best of British Show will go right back into our work supporting serving and former RAF personnel and their families." www.bestofbritishshow.com Follow the show on Facebook www.facebook.com/cotswoldairportshow and Twitter @CotswoldBoBshow For more information on the RAF Benevolent Fund visit: www.rafbf.org