FLYING fans are being promised a rare treat at Bournemouth Air Festival.

The event, which takes to the skies on Thursday, will see a classic jet flypast as the weekend draws to a close on Sunday afternoon.

The plan is for the English Electric PR9 Canberra to join the eye-catching Miss Demeanour Hunter jet for the first time.

Celebrating the classic British aircraft of times gone by, the fly past is sure to thrill the audience.

The Canberra joined the RAF in 1951 as the first jet-powered bomber and is believed to be the world’s longest-serving bomber.

After being retired from active duty in 2006, the Canberra is now fully restored and flying again and is the only airworthy example of its type in the world.

Miss Demeanour has established herself as a favourite with the air festival crowds thanks to her speed, noise and unusual colour scheme.

Jon Weaver, air festival director, said: “Bigger than ever this year, our unsurpassed collection of heritage and vintage aircraft are set to wow over the weekend. Such iconic aircraft includes the Hunter Jet: Miss Demeanour, XH558 AVRO Vulcan and English Electric PR9 Canberra, not forgetting the evocative nostalgia of the B-17 Sally-B Flying Fortress with the rare chance to see the Canadian and British Lancaster fly together as part of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – not to be missed!”

The heritage flypast is one of several firsts at this year’s show, with the world’s only two airworthy Lancaster bombers flying together, four days of the Red Arrows and record-breaking 94-year-old Tom Lackey opening the festival by wing-walking on a plane flying between the two piers.

n The air festival brochure is on sale now and is available from Daily Echo offices, shops around the area and the Bournemouth Tourism Information Centre in advance and around the festival site over the event, between August 28-31.

The Daily Echo’s book celebrating the first five years of the festival is also still on sale. Visit bournemouthecho.co.uk/books and follow the links, or call the subscriptions department on 01305 830924 to order by credit or debit card.

Read lots more in our air festival section online at bournemouthecho.co.uk/air and, for mobile users, at bit.ly/bmthair