THE last flying Vulcan Bomber is among a bumper selection of aircraft taking to the skies at the Windermere Airshow this weekend.

Flying on Saturday, the newly restored cold war relic has been specially hired for the event. Famed for its earth-shaking roar, the aircraft’s huge 34-metre delta wingspan will allow it to fly at low speed over spectators gathered on The Glebe. The XH558 Avro Vulcan will be flown by Martin Withers, the pilot who successfully bombed the runway at Port Stanley during the Falklands War in 1982 – at the time the longest bombing raid in history.

Costing £7 million to restore, and needing £1.7m every year to keep flying, the Vulcan will be the star attraction during a weekend of flying that includes a Red Arrows display on Sunday. The Royal Air Force’s world famous aerobatic display team are expected to perform a brand new routine as part of their annual display over Windermere.

Flying starts on Saturday lunchtime with the acclaimed Yakovlevs aerobatic display team kicking off the Windermere Rotary Club-organised event. There will also be aerial displays by a BAE Hawk, Chinook helicopter and the USA’s legendary Second World War fighter, the P-51 Mustang.

Elsewhere the event will boast static aircraft and helicopter displays, model aircrafts and steam locomotives, brass bands, sheep dog and falconry displays and a funfair.

Windermere Rotary Club president, Alan Katz said 2009 would be “the biggest airshow Cumbria has ever seen,” “The icing on the cake is that not only does everyone have a great time, but 100 per cent of all the money raised goes to charity, which includes the pride of Cumbria Air Ambulance,” he added.

A family ticket for the airshow costs £10. Tickets are on sale in advance at Tourist Information in Kendal, Ambleside, Windermere and Bowness and by post via www.windermereairshow.co.uk