Alasdair McGregorThe line-up for this summer's Lowestoft Air Festival is beginning to take shape with modern jets from foreign air forces set to play a major role.Delighted organisers said old favourites like the Red Arrows, Lancaster and Spitfire look likelyto be joined by overseas aircraft, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon from the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the giant KC-135 Stratotanker from the United States Air Force.Alasdair McGregor

The line-up for this summer's Lowestoft Air Festival is beginning to take shape with modern jets from foreign air forces set to play a major role.

Delighted organisers said old favourites like the Red Arrows, Lancaster and Spitfire look likely

to be joined by overseas aircraft, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon from the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the giant KC-135 Stratotanker from the United States Air Force.

An air festival spokesman said: 'All the flights are still to be confirmed in writing, but if they do display it will be the first time for several years that foreign air forces have accepted invitations to participate in the Lowestoft airshow.

However, there is one disappointment for spectators with the RAF announcing it would not

be sending the �60m Eurofighter Typhoon because of an apparent cutback in its display.

The spokesman added: 'In spite of this setback, the RAF will still be playing a major role in the 13th Lowestoft Air Festival, with pride of place being taken by the Red Arrows aerobatic team, which will be displaying on both days.

This year's event takes place on Thursday and Friday July 23 and 24, and other RAF aircraft lined up to take part include the three second world war legends of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and a

Sea King search and rescue helicopter. The former RAF atomic bomb- carrying aircraft, the Avro Vulcan, is also set to make a return appearance to Lowestoft.

The air festival spokesman said: 'The display by the world's only airworthy Vulcan at Lowestoft last July was thought to be largely responsible for the record two-day attendance of almost half a million people.

'Other aircraft taking part this year will be announced as soon as they are confirmed, but a busy four-hour programme on each day is being lined up.'

The Honda 4-stroke Powerboat grand prix will again take place on the weekend after the air festival, and the Eastern Lights Motorcycle Cavalcade will raise money for charity by riding from Norwich to Lowestoft on the Sunday.

All the events are free, but the public is asked to make donations towards future airshows.

For more information, visit www.lowestoftairfestival.co.uk. Anyone interested in sponsorship should contact Keith Moughton

on 01502 523398 or e-mail keith.moughton@waveney.gov.uk