EXCITEMENT was building today ahead of an aeronautical spectacular that is set to light up the skies above Suffolk.
EXCITEMENT was building today ahead of an aeronautical spectacular that is set to light up the skies above Suffolk.
The 13th Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival will take off tomorrow with an eye-widening array of aircraft past and present.
As the final touches are being added to the two-day land, sea and air show, the extensive programme of events has now been released.
The highlight will be the appearance of the world famous Avro Vulcan bomber, which was given the thumbs-up to fly just nine days before the event.
The Vulcan XH558 had been grounded due to difficulties renewing its permit, but the Civil Aviation Authority has now allowed the RAF's atomic bomb-carrying aircraft to repeat last year's performance when it amazed crowds for the first time.
Other old favourites like the Red Arrows will be joined by overseas aircraft, including the giant KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft re-fueller from the United States Air Force at RAF Mildenhall.
Crowds of around 400,000 will also be dazzled by a Westland Lynx military helicopter and a parachute display.
Legendary Second World War fighters including the Lancaster and the Hurricane will delight spectators with a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Meanwhile, other engineering feats from the ages will be celebrated with flights from a Hawker Sea Hawk, Supermarine Spitfire Mk iX and a Gloster Meteor.
Paul Bayfield, festival managing director, said: “It is the best display we have ever had. It will be a fantastic, fun family day out. Obviously the weather is going to be key.”
Since its launch in 1997, the air show has exploded in popularity, but it has been hit by a funding crisis this year which has threatened to send the event into a nose dive.
Organisers have revealed a drop of �40,000 in sponsorship due to the credit crunch.
The show is free to visitors, who have traditionally been asked to donate �1 in collecting buckets, but now people are being urged to double figure.
Mr Bayfield said: “If people don't donate their �2, the 2010 event won't go happen. It's as profound as that. If people don't support the event this year, we don't know what we can do.”
For more information, visit www.lowestoftairfestival.co.uk
TRAIN services on the East Suffolk line between Ipswich and Lowestoft will run as per the scheduled timetable, although some additional supplementary bus services will operate from Halesworth and Beccles.
Alternatively, passengers can go via Norwich, where extra trains will run in addition to the scheduled services.
There will be services on both days at 9.30am, 9.45am, 11.10am and 11.55am from Norwich to Lowestoft and at 6pm and 7.57pm from Lowestoft to Norwich.
Passengers can obtain further information on train services to the air show by visiting www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com, calling 08457 48 49 50, or by referring to the posters displayed at local stations.
For people travelling by car, there are two park and ride services - one at Kessingland Zoo and another north of the town at Dip Farm near Corton.
A park and walk will also operate from Asda in Waveney Drive, Lowestoft. All services will be clearly signposted.
THURSDAY
12.45 Parachute Display
13.08 Extra 300 x 4 The Blades
13.25 Supermarine Spitfire Mk iX
13.36 BA Hawk
13.47 Westland Lynx
14.10 Hawker Sea Hawk
14.27 Lockheed KC-135
14.35 Gloster Meteor
14.46 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
15.02 Swift Aerobatic Team
15.13 Hawker Hunter
15.24 Stearman x 2 Team Guinot
15.38 Avro Vulcan
15.49 Bolkow BK-117
16.00 DH Venom
16.11 Grob Tutor
16.21 Gen Dynamics F-16
16.32 Hunting Jet Provost
16.43 Sea King SAR / Lifeboat
17.10 RAF Red Arrows
FRIDAY
11.30 Red Arrows
12.40 Westland Lynx
12.50 DH Venom
13.00 Grob Tutor
13.12 Hawker Sea Hawk
13.24 Hunting Jet Provost
13.36 BAe Hawk
13.48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk lX
14.00 Lockheed KC-135
14.07 Hawker Hunter
14.18 Bolkow B-17
14.20 Sea King SAR / Lifeboat
14.40 Honda powerboats display
15.00 Battle of Britain Flight
15.17 Avro Vulcan
15.28 Swift Aerobatic Team
15.40 Gloster Meteor
15.50 Gen Dynamics F-16
16.00 2 x Stearman Team Guinot
16.15 Extra 300 x 4 The Blades
16.32 Parachute Display - The Tigers
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