THE Royal Air Force have pledged their allegiance to the Lowestoft Air Festival after confirming plans this week to send a full contingent of planes to the town this summer.

THE Royal Air Force have pledged their allegiance to the Lowestoft Air Festival after confirming plans this week to send a full contingent of planes to the town this summer.

The long awaited news was strengthened by the announcement that the Red Arrows will be heading up the display team with their aerobatic rolls and loops.

Appearing with the nine-jet formation crew on both Thursday and Friday, July 23 and 24, will be the Eurofighter Tyhoon, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a BAe Hawk solo jet, a Grob Tutor training aircraft and a Sea King search and rescue helicopter.

Paul Bayfield, the festival company's manager director said they had been waiting since September to find out if they would receive an RAF allocation this year.

'I'm pleased to say that we have got everything that the RAF is displaying this summer. It means we can now go ahead and complete the planning of our four-hour flying display programme. We are fairly confident that the festival is going to be equally as exciting and spectacular as last year,' Mr Bayfield added.

He also said they also hoped to include the world's only flying Vulcan in the programme, which contributed to a record-breaking air show last year, watched by crowds of up to 440,000.

Aside from the action in the sky, Lowestoft is one of only five UK venues to feature the Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat Grand Prix this year, which begins immediately after the air show on Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26.

Up to 45 boats will compete in the offshore powerboat championships.

Admission to all four days will be free, although voluntary donations will again be invited to help meet the �300,000 costs.

To become a Friend of the air show go to their website www.lowestoftairfestival.co.uk and download the coupon.