All eyes were on the skies at air fair

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Sunday, July 05, 2009
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This is Kent

CROWDS flocked to this year's Biggin Hill Air Fair to enjoy flying displays in the summer sunshine.

The air show was packed with spectators, with 45,000 on Saturday and 65,000 on Sunday enjoying the show.

Simon Ames, spokesman for Air Displays International, which organises the event, said: "The weather blessed us.

"There was lots of sun cream and lots of happy people enjoying picnics.

"I think the mood was really good."

Ice-creams were the perfect accessory for a day spent watching the planes, with the vans dotted around the site doing a roaring trade.

However, the heat proved too much for some spectators, with medical centres on the site reporting people suffering from sunburn and heat stroke.

Organisers said there was no repeat of last year's traffic jams, with the new system to get cars on to the site working well.

Mr Ames said queues had been reduced, with traffic driving straight in at times, due to an improved payment system.

Advance ticket-holders were also given signs to put on their cars enabling attendants to direct them into a fast lane to parking spaces.

The day's displays began with a Spitfire soaring through the blue skies.

Other nods to the airfield's Battle of Britain past included a dogfight display between a Messerschmitt and a Spitfire and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The wingwalkers from Team Guinot dazzled the crowd with their death-defying antics, climbing out of their harnesses to sit on the front of the wing as it flew overhead.

On the Sunday, the Red Arrows, who performed tightly co-ordinated displays on both days, were joined by a Virgin Atlantic 747-400 for a historic flypast to celebrate the company's 25th birthday.

Mr Ames said: "It was just amazing to see this 747 at low level, with the Red Arrows tight on each wing.

"There was a hush that descended on the entire 65,000 people. A lot of mouths were open."

Another highlight of the show was the return of the Vulcan bomber, which flew on Saturday.

The Cold War aircraft has been restored by the Vulcan to the Skies Trust.

Click here for a gallery of pictures from this year's show

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