16228/5THOUSANDS of visitors wielding umbrellas in one hand and cameras in the other braved the elements for the annual Great Vintage Flying Weekend at RAF Hullavington.

But just 200 vintage and classic planes made it through the torrential rain and thunder clouds for the popular show the largest of its kind in Europe.

Organiser Terry Booker said he was a little disappointed as he'd expected around 700 aircraft.

"As the saying goes even the best laid plans of mice and men can be halted by the weather," he said. "Visitors and aviators alike struggled to cope with the downpours, but it was still a wonderful weekend."

He said all pilots managed to safely dodge the bad weather to make it back to their home airfields.

Highlights included the visit from the mighty Russian Antonov AN-2; the Douglas DC-3, better known as the Dakota during wartime, and the Avro Anson, which could have been seen at Hullavington during the war.

Nostalgic pleasure flights were given in the beautifully-restored de Havilland Dove of Mayfair Aviation and the plane's predecessor, the Dragon Rapide.

Planes from as far afield as Cornwall and Tyneside made it to the event.

However, Mr Booker said visitor numbers to the prestige gathering were down, although he estimated around 2,000 people passed through the gates each day.

"I'd like to pay tribute to the local supporters because they really made the weekend worthwhile," said Mr Booker.

"We have every intention of returning to Hullavington next year."

He thanked the Met Office and its mobile forecasting unit for providing an invaluable aid to pilots.