Aviation enthusiasts will be treated to RAF and civilian display teams and aircraft, including the Red Arrows and the Typhoon, as well as family entertainment, pier-to-pier trading, night air flying and outdoor films. It will be one of only a handful of large free non-ticketed outdoor events taking place this summer.

Air Festival director, Jon Weaver, said: “Trying to organise this event has been incredibly challenging for everyone involved – across the council, service and stakeholders and it’s a huge thank you to those people who have worked so hard to bring this iconic festival back to the town. Last year, as with all major events, we missed the 2020 Air Festival, but with all the hard work that has gone into it, this is just the boost we need, we can’t wait to welcome everyone.”

Covid measures are in place for the weekend including one-way systems for more popular trading areas and sanitiser stations and festival goers can even get walk-in Covid vaccinations at Bournemouth International Centre, which is open across the four days of the festival. Organisers have requested that people do not go to the festival if they have Covid symptoms.

Jon said: “As is done every year a robust event management plan has been developed by the Council working with Public Health Dorset and emergency service partners. We are ready and prepared for eventualities and have planned for the festival based on previous statistics, research and intelligence. The beach replenishment scheme means we have more beach to accommodate people and we ask they download the BeachCheck app in advance so when they get here they know where to find their perfect spot of beach.”

Displays include the Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Typhoon displaying on all four days. The RAF Chinook, the Blades, Fireflies, the Tigers Freefall Parachute Display Team, Rich Goodwin, Ultimate Warbirds, Royal Navy Black Cat, SuperAeroBatics Wingwalkers and Rolls Royce Spitfire can also be seen. Night Air entertainment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday includes Royal Navy Beat Retreat Sunset Ceremony and Royal Marines unarmed combat demonstration, followed by dusk flying from 7.20pm. The big screen in the Lower Gardens will be showing films from 8pm. The Friday and Saturday evening’s entertainment will finish with fireworks from Bournemouth Pier at 10pm.

Armed forces villages will once again be in place, as will a new Atlas Elektronik STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) marquee on the East Overcliff.