Two new displays have been announced for this year's Bournemouth Air Festival - on the morning it is due to begin.

As it is revealed the Queen has given her 'royal blessing' to the event, the organisers say two fresh displays will take place during the four-day event.

This year's show has been re-branded as a special Platinum Jubilee Bournemouth Air Festival. 

What are the two new displays?

The American B-52 bomber is set to make an appearance on Saturday before the Red Arrows take flight with their special formation celebrating the Platinum Jubilee.

Meanwhile the iconic Spitfire, hero of World War II, will be joined in formation by the mighty modern Typhoon for several enthralling passes on Friday.


What has the Queen said about the Air Festival?

The Mayor of Bournemouth Cllr Robert Lawton is celebrating a letter from the Queen giving her good wishes to this year’s festival.

Cllr Lawton wrote to the Queen earlier on in the year inviting her to the festival, which he said was dedicated to her Majesty and aimed to celebrate her 70 years of service.

In a letter back, the Queen’s Diary Secretary Mrs Helen Cross, said the Queen would be unable to attend, but hoped “very much that the Air Festival is a successful and enjoyable one for all those attending.”

Cllr Lawton said: “It’s an enormous privilege to receive this letter from the Queen in her historic Platinum Jubilee year.

“The Bournemouth Air Festival incorporates everything that falls under the Queen in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, so it’s a great honour that she’s acknowledged our mark of respect in this way and I’m very glad that we’ve been able to celebrate this significant year most fittingly."

Is there anything else new for this year?

Sunseeker’s high-performance day boat, the Hawk 38, will be pitted against aerobatic plane G-JPIT, in the new Sea and Sky Sprint.

Daily Echo: A new stunt race is coming to this year's Bournemouth Air Festival. Pictures: Sunseeker International/ Richard GoodwinA new stunt race is coming to this year's Bournemouth Air Festival. Pictures: Sunseeker International/ Richard Goodwin

G-JPIT is a custom-built, highly modified Pitts Biplane that gives it enhanced manoeuvrability and unparalleled power-to-weight ratio.

Meanwhile, the Sunseeker Hawk 38 delivers a top speed of up to 70mph (62kts).

The Sea and Sky Sprint will take place on Saturday, September 3, and Sunday, September 4, of the four-day festival.