VISITORS to next weekend’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford will be treated to a memorable massed flypast of vintage warbirds plus thrilling displays by a range of the world’s most exciting aircraft.

Those who are lucky enough to have already secured their tickets will be able to sit back and enjoy the sight and sound of an evocative mass flypast featuring around 20 historic fighter aircraft as part of commemorations marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Joining the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s (BBMF) Spitfires and Hurricanes will be a number of rare civilian-operated warbirds including the world’s only flying Bristol Blenheim; a Seafire XVII and a Hispano Buchon (a Rolls-Royce Merlin-engined Messerschmitt Bf109 built in Spain after WW2).

As well as looking back, airshow organisers will draw a parallel between the aerial conflict that took place in 1940 and current aircraft from around the globe whose primary role is to protect their nations’ skies, be it in support of combat missions, intelligence gathering, providing an airlift capability or delivering humanitarian aid.

Among them will be the world’s leading Top Guns which will take part in an action-packed eight-hour flying display (four hours on Friday) demonstrating skills in a range of impressive fighter jets such as the Typhoon, Tornado, Gripen, F-18 and MiG-29.

Renowned for attracting aviation ‘firsts’, this summer’s Air Tattoo will be no different with the UK display debuts of both the Hellenic Air Force’s F-16 demo team Zeus and the French Air Force’s dynamic Mirage 2000N tactical display team Ramex Delta. There will also be the first ever appearance of a military aircraft from Qatar: a Qatar Emiri Air Force C-130 Hercules.

Other exciting aircraft already confirmed include the world’s only airworthy Vulcan bomber, which will be making its final ever Air Tattoo appearance; a Russian-built Mil Mi-24V/Mi-35 helicopter from the Czech Air Force, a Sukhoi Su-22M-4 from the Polish Air Force and, of course, the legendary Red Arrows.

As well as enjoying more than 200 aircraft in the air and on the ground, visitors will be entertained by a wide range of attractions on the Showground, including the Adrenalin Zone, ideal for thrill-seekers of all ages; the Techno Zone, which brings engineering to life with demonstrations and hands-on activities designed to engage young minds, the new Autodrome and the nostalgic Vintage Village.

Tickets for the Royal International Air Tattoo are sold out on Saturday and Sunday but a limited number of £36 Friday Pit Day tickets are available in advance, from airtattoo.com or by calling 0800 107 1940. All under-16s go free. Free parking.