Cosford Air Show could be two-day event - with video

About 60,000 people are expected to flock to this year's event on June 11, when there will be an array of aircraft on show along with a vintage village and a host of other attractions.

During the official launch yesterday, Wing Commander Chris Jones, chairman of Cosford Air Show, said: "We do have aspirations in the future to do a two-day show. We will be posing that after this year's air show."

He added: "Our aim is to improve public understanding of the service in order to maximise support for the RAF and its activities. It is an amazing show.

"We have four themes this year. I'm really looking forward to seeing smiley faces. I'm really keen for the public to see our young trainees who will be our best ambassadors on the day."

A huge amount of planning has been put into this year's event, with 2,000 people having a role to play.

There will be a series of displays including the world famous Red Arrows flying their nine Hawk jets, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Breitling Wingwalkers.

The RAF Falcons and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will also form part of the six-hour flying display.

Meanwhile, the Tucano T1 and Squirrel HT1 will be among the aircraft on static display.

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) hangar will once again be a focal point of the show and bosses say it will also become a permanent feature at RAF Cosford.

Group Captain Mark Hunt, station commander at RAF Cosford, said: "The STEM experience at the air show is superbly interactive. Members of the public can get hand-on experience of state-of-the-art military technologies and learn more about exciting education and career opportunities. Expect a spectacular show, better than last year."

Space will be one of four themes for the show, with a hangar displaying the advancement of space technology.

Battlefield support will be another theme and a special ground display will showcase assets from the RAF in a mock-up forward operating base.

Support helicopters will also be on display, including the Belgian Air Force's NH90 tactical transport helicopter, which is capable of carrying up to 20 fully equipped soldiers and their equipment. Air show operations manager, Peter Reoch, said: "The new forward operating base display is shaping up really well and we think it'll be a must-see attraction for all our visitors on the day. We are still talking with a number of overseas Air Arms who hope to provide helicopters."