Second World War aircraft to take to the skies at Kemble airshow (From Gazette Series)

Second World War aircraft to take to the skies at Kemble airshow

8:30am Monday 14th September 2009 in

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THREE Second World War classic aircraft will take to the skies over Kemble Airport near Cirencester this weekend.

The Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and Avro Lancaster, all belonging to the Royal Air Force, will be taking part in Kemble's annual Battle of Britain Airshow.

The event commemorates the greatest air battle ever fought, when in 1940 a few hundred Spitfires and Hurricanes, flown by courageous young men, many still in their teens, were all that protected Britain from invasion by Hitler's armies.

Later in the war, the four-engined Lancaster was the most successful of the three big bombers which took the offensive against Hitler's war machine. The Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane were all powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin, giving them an evocative and unmistakeable sound.

The short afternoon flying display also features an RAF Hawk trainer, as flown by the Red Arrows; a 1960s Jet Provost training aircraft and a Russian Antonov An-2, the world's largest flying biplane.

"This isn't a major airshow, said organiser Glen Moreman. "We're aiming to give people a pleasant and relaxing day out.

"Alongside the flying display, we will have plenty going on, including hot-air balloons and pleasure flights. We also want to give people the chance to learn more about what goes on here at Kemble, the Cotswolds Airport."

Advance tickets for the show on Saturday and Sunday are now on sale, priced at £10 (£15 on the gate). Phone 08712 301079, visit www.battleofbritainairshow.com or call at local tourist information centres in Cirencester, Malmesbury, Stroud, Swindon and Tetbury. Entry for under 16s is free. Access is from the A433 Cirencester-Tetbury road; gates open at 9am.