The Battle of Britain Airshow is returning to IWM Duxford this year with a mass flypast of Spitfires and Hurricanes.

Visitors can watch two days of aerial displays on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17.

Royston Crow: Duxford Dancers at the Battle of Britain Air Show in a middle of a swing dance lessonDuxford Dancers at the Battle of Britain Air Show in a middle of a swing dance lesson (Image: IWM)

The event is the second major airshow of Duxford's 50th anniversary flying season, and to mark the occasion children aged 15 and under can go free.

Displays will feature more than 60 vintage and contemporary aircraft, including a flypast of 12 Spitfires and four Hurricanes to commemorate the brave servicemen and women who risked their lives to defend Britain in the summer of 1940.

Royston Crow: Visitors at the Battle of Britain Air Show dressed in period attireVisitors at the Battle of Britain Air Show dressed in period attire (Image: IWM)

The last airworthy B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe - known as 'Sally B' - will be brought together with the RAF's Avro Lancaster for a rare formation of the two most recognisable allied heavy bombers of the Second World War.

This is the first time the two bombers have flown together for more than 20 years, and the first time ever at Duxford.

Royston Crow: Messerschmitt Bf 109s in flying formation at a previous Battle of Britain Air ShowMesserschmitt Bf 109s in flying formation at a previous Battle of Britain Air Show (Image: IWM)

Other crowd-pleasers include the world's only airworthy two-seater Hawker Hurricane in the world, a Hispano HA-112 MIL (Buchon) aircraft replicating a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt fighter, and a North American P51-D Mustang.

READ MORE

The world-famous Red Arrows will take to the skies on both days for a daring display of aerobatics.

Meanwhile on the ground, crowds will be transported to the sights and sounds of the summer of 1940, with a cast of wartime characters recreating the daily life of RAF Duxford as a Battle of Britain Fighter Station.

Royston Crow: Pilots wait for flying displays to start at the 2022 Battle of Britain Air ShowPilots wait for flying displays to start at the 2022 Battle of Britain Air Show (Image: IWM)

Visitors can dress up in vintage attire, dance to wartime music, get their hair done in the style of the era and hear the stories of those who lived and served at the historic base.

The ticket price includes access to IWM's Duxford exhibitions and hangars throughout the day.

Royston Crow: IWM Duxford is marking 50 years of flying displaysIWM Duxford is marking 50 years of flying displays (Image: IWM)

Air show event manager Phil Hood said: "This is a very special year for IWM as we celebrate fifty years of entertaining crowds through aerial displays.

"We’re looking forward to greeting visitors, both old and new, to the show and hope to be entertaining crowds at Duxford for another 50 years to come." 

To book visit https://www.iwm.org.uk/airshows.