RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day 2009 - Press Release

The centrepiece of RNAS Yeovilton's commemoration of 100 Years of Naval Aviation will be a spectacular mass flypast of up to 50 current and historic naval aircraft – one of the real highlights of the station's Air Day on July 11th.

The Fly Navy 100 Flypast will showcase the evolution of aircraft technology, and the succession of British designs which have been phased in and out of Fleet Air Arm service over the years. It will include aircraft like the legendary Fairey Swordfish – famed for its heroic World War Two actions against the German Battleship Bismarck – the fast and powerful Korean War-era Hawker Sea Fury and the modern-day, V-STOL Harrier, examples of which are presently deployed in Afghanistan.

The flypast will also feature a number of unique historic types such as the Hawker Sea Hawk and De Havilland Sea Vixen - both of which represent the only flying survivors of their breeds - along with examples of all contemporary Fleet Air Arm and FAA-affiliated defence training types currently based at RNAS Yeovilton and RNAS Culdrose, including the Westland Lynx and Sea King helicopters, and Grob and Firefly trainers.

While, visually, the Flypast will be a feast for the eyes, it will also produce an extraordinary accompanying soundtrack – a fusion of jet, piston and rotary-engined sounds that will resonate majestically through the air as the aircraft form up, pass overhead and break to land.

Linking together and coordinating so many disparate and historically-separated aircraft into a single, seamless chronological collage is no easy task. The fact that the Fleet Air Arm has elected to not only put on such a spectacle over London on anniversary day itself, May 7th, but to replicate it at a limited number of airshows, including Air Day, is testament to the service's enduring spirit and tenacity, and reflects the stoic way in which it has defended our shores over the past ten decades.

Besides the Fly Navy 100 Flypast, Air Day 2009's six-hour Flying Display will feature four world class international display teams, sizzling solo fast jet routines and dazzling helicopter performances. The current list of participating aircraft can be viewed at www.yeoviltonairday.co.uk. Tickets are available online or via the ticketline on 08445 781 781.