Get ready for take-off. It's the first day of the 2017 Bournemouth Air Festival today.

Whether you're a first time visitor or a veteran, here's our round-up of what's happening on day one of the annual event.

Highlights

Flying starts from 3pm today with the Red Arrows doing their first ever evening display to mark the festival's 10th anniversary. You can catch the Red Arrows at 6pm with the dusk displays at 8pm. 

Don't miss our story on the park and ride service or our essential guide to this year's Air Festival for more information about this year's event. 

We'll be live blogging all the action over the next four days, plus latest traffic, travel and weather updates.

Please note: the aircraft listed below are subject to availability and weather conditions. Come back for our live blog where we'll be keeping you up to date with any changes.

Thursday, August 31 

Flying takes place at 3pm, 6pm and 8pm

  • Chinook
  • Spitfire
  • Tigers Parachute Display Team
  • Bristol Blenheim 
  • Breitling Wingwalkers 
  • Twister Duo
  • Blades aerobatic team 
  • Red Arrows
  • P-51 Mustang
  • Gerald Cooper
  • Sally B B-17
  • MiG 15
  • Twister aerobatic display team
  • Otto the Helicopter
  • Red Devils Parachute Team

Other entertainment

There will be family entertainment in the Lower Gardens from 6pm to 10pm with bird displays, face painting, Punch and Judy performances and Alice in Wonderland characters. Plus a performance by the HM RM Band Collingwood from the bandstand between 8pm and 9.30pm.

There will also be free music from Rooster at Bournemouth Pier approach at 8.15pm plus the Ed Sheeran Experience will be performing in the Immense Aerobar on Boscombe beach. Entry is £5. 

You can find all our Air Festival coverage at bournemouthecho.co.uk/air or bookmark bit.ly/bmthair