Another great addition for the Torbay Airshow flying line-up was announced today – the BAC 167 Strikemaster.

With a breathtaking military and civilian flying programme planned and exciting on the ground activities for all the family on Friday 10 June, 2pm to 10pm, Saturday 11 June, 10am to 10pm, and Sunday 12 June, 10am to 6pm - this is an event you will not want to miss!

The BAC Strikemaster will be piloted by Mark Petrie, a former RAF pilot who also now flies the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with British Airways.

A British jet-powered training and light-attack aircraft, the Strikemaster is a development of the Hunting Jet Provost trainer, a jet engineered version of the Percival Provost, which originally flew in 1950 with a radial piston engine.

The Strikemaster is an armed version of the Jet Provost trainer aircraft and is operated by NWMAS (North Wales Military Aviation Services Ltd). Modified with an uprated engine, wing hardpoints, a strengthened airframe, new communication and navigation gear, uprated ejection seats, a revised fuel system, and shortened landing gear.

First flown in 1967, the aircraft was marketed as a light attack or counter-insurgency aircraft, but most large-scale purchasers were air forces wanting an advanced trainer although Ecuador, Oman and Yemen have used their aircraft in combat. A total of 146 were built.

NWMAS Ltd was formed to meet a requirement for maintenance of military aircraft and flying training in ex military aircraft. Staff at NWMAS Ltd combine the skills of pilots and ex-military engineers, supported by highly skilled licensed aircraft engineers.

The military aircraft flying programme for the weekend includes the world’s premier aerobatic team The Red Arrows, as well as the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4, King Air B200, and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft - the Hawker Hurricane, Avro Lancaster and The Spitfire as well as The Tigers Freefall Parachute Display Team, the flagship team for the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

Visitors to the airshow will also be able to see The Blades aerobatic display team. Made up entirely of former RAF Red Arrows pilots, the team is renowned worldwide for flying close formation aerobatics in a dynamic and cutting edge display – they currently hold a world record in formation looping.

A brand new aerobatic team with pyrotechnic formation flying team AeroSPARX. AeroSPARX, unique in airshow circles as it has special clearance to fly at night with pyrotechnics will also be taking to the skies.

The Gyro flying display, also known as a Gyrocopter or Gyroplane, can also be seen over the weekend. This unusual aircraft is great to watch and is described by the pilots as fun to fly. The rotor blades of the gyro are completely freewheeling in flight, being driven solely by the air going up through the rotor disk.

This year will be the first time Torbay has held an air show and over 150,000 visitors are expected to watch the action unfold over the weekend.

To date, Bristol Street Motors, Devonshire Windows, Hyundai Torbay, Our Garage, Inter-Line Building Supplies, Francis Clark, Budget and TDA have been signed up as official sponsors by the official event commercial team Rocket Fuel Media.

Bristol Street Motors is sponsoring the Hurricane Hangout hospitality marquee and Devonshire Windows the VIP hospitality marquee. Francis Clark has sponsored the night flying element of the airshow.

Hyundai Torbay and Our Garage have shared sponsorship of the Fly-by Family Fun hospitality marquee and Inter-Line Building Supplies is sponsoring the Airshow Live Stage.

The Coastal Communities Fund has provided a start up grant to part-fund the cost of the airshow. Other income is being generated by Rocket Fuel Media, from the sale of sponsorship, concessions and exhibitor space.

Sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities are still available, to find out more visit www.torbayairshow.com

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