IT’S time for take off.

The third annual Bournemouth Air Festival is here and promises four days of fabulous flying over the seafront between this afternoon and Sunday.

Aircraft will be showing off between the piers from 2pm today and then tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.

Things will take off with a bang today with an all-new addition to the line up – this evening’s Night Air dusk displays, between 8.20 and 9pm.

As the sun sets, Hunter jet Miss Demeanour, the Red Devils parachute team, the Swift glider and the Cap 232 aerobatic aircraft – piloted by Gerald Cooper, the current British aerobatic champion – will all be in the air.

Once again more than one million visitors are expected to descend on Bournemouth across the weekend to witness breathtaking aerobatics and historic aircraft.

Also new for this year are The Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment parachute display team, The Tigers, the Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 and the Pitts Duo team.

On top of that, many favourites from the phenomenally successful 2008 and 2009 events are coming back for more.

They include the Blades, WW2 bomber Sally B, the Matadors, a role demonstration by the Hawk, the Black Cats, Typhoon, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the Breitling Wingwalkers, the Red Devils parachute team and, of course, the Red Arrows.

One appearance that is sure to be a highlight is the unmistakable roar of the Avro Vulcan Cold War bomber, which will soar over the seafront on Saturday and Sunday after arriving at Hurn today.

Away from the skies the armed forces will also be present in large numbers – it will be the Royal Navy’s biggest presence at any UK event this year – and there will be lots going on the ground as well.

There’s more than a mile of stalls and attractions between the piers and new for 2010 is more trading space along the clifftops.

There will also be interactive military villages and regular trips to minehunter HMS Bangor, as well as the Royal Marines Beach Assault on Saturday and Sunday.

Air Festival director Jon Weaver said: “Last year we were bigger and better, but 2010 will see so much more happening to the festival itself – from greater military support to the technological advances, including the Night Air programme with the Thursday night display, Air Festival TV, Radio Solent’s dedicated display frequency, an iPhone app and the new patrons’ scheme.

“We are certainly taking the UK’s biggest free aviation event to new levels of interaction and visitor experience.”

We've got details of what's on when, in the air and on the ground - just click the links below. Or if you've got a question, come and ask us click blog in our Air Festival section.