Weekend days out 10 highlights to see at the Scottish International Airshow

FOR four successful years the Scottish International Air Show has been bringing spectacular flight displays and plenty of other entertainment to

Ayr. The 2018 event, running next weekend (September 1 and 2), has a full programme of displays and international aircraft. For aviation enthusiasts it will probably feel like Christmas morning, but the airshow is also a great day out for families and newcomers.

To help you make the most of the event, we’ve rounded up the 10 best things to see.

1. THE RED ARROWS

The undoubted stars of the show, the famous RAF Red Arrows display team are the closest thing to celebrities in the airshow world. The instantly recognisable red, white and blue smoke trails from their Hawk jets add a touch of class as they perform a series of gravity-defying manoeuvres. They have been displaying since 1965, and the pilots have all flown operationally and served in the RAF. The Red Arrows’ displays change from year to year, but for the Scottish International Airshow they are likely to perform a tornado loop, the classic diamond nine and even a special heart-shaped manoeuvre.

2. WEE DRAM CESSNA 172 SEA PLANE

This reasonably small, light seaplane is recognisable for its propeller nose and the floaters that rest on the water, with the one displaying at the airshow based in nearby Prestwick. The single-engine, high-wing plane has been around since 1956 and is still going today, with more than 43,000 having been built around the world. Fans of the Cessna are in for a treat, as the plane is expected to do a sea landing right in front of spectators – provided that the wave conditions are suitable.

3. SWISS HORNET DISPLAY TEAM The twin-engine, supersonic Airforce F/A-18C is a lethal combat jet, designed to carry out air-to-air missions and attack ground targets (the F/A stands for fighter/attack). Originally designed for the mountainous regions of Switzerland, the Ayrshire coast presents slightly less challenging terrain – but the sheer strength of the Hornet is just as apparent. Visitors can watch as the jet powers through the skies, leaving a trail of smoke in its wake as it performs seemingly impossible manoeuvres for a machine of its size. Expect to see twists, turns, loops and the aircraft flying on its back for an impressively long period.

One of the newest groups on the air display circuit, this British team are steadily building a reputation around

the world, and are attending the airshow fresh from a tour of the Far East. Led by renowned aerobatic pilot Mark Jefferies – who is also flying a solo display on both days – the team fly just feet apart in what is a really exciting display. They have different aircraft that they use across their performances, but whichever they choose for the Ayr event you can be sure to see the skills of their pilots.

5. ROYAL NAVY SEA FURY The propeller-driven Hawker Sea Fury was developed by the RAF during the Second World War, but it was the Royal Navy that ended up using it in service, with the aircraft featuring prominently during the Korean War and the Bay of Pigs invasion. It was initially scheduled to fly at the 2014 show, but was badly damaged when its undercarriage failed to lower on landing after a display at another airshow. There were fears that the Sea Fury might have to be scrapped altogether, but after hard work to repair it the plane took to the air last summer.

6. RAF FALCONS PARACHUTE DISPLAY TEAM

Similar to their RAF Red Arrows colleagues, the Falcon parachuters leave trails of smoke behind them throughout their display, making it that bit more special for the crowds