Ref. 25744-91The Royal International Air Tattoo has been officially launched, despite the wet and windy weather.

Opening the show at RAF Fair-ford was BBC Treasure Hunt star and superbike celebrity Suzi Perry.

She arrived aboard a No 33 Squadron Puma, and said: "It was a bumpy flight because of the weather but it was extremely exciting.

"I'm very pleased to open this year's Air Tattoo. It is the first time I've been here and I am honoured to have been asked.

"I would love to stay for the weekend's events, but I can't make it because I have to go to a friend's wedding."

She added: "The helicopter crew were great but I would have loved to come in on a fast jet. I have also flown with the Red Arrows and that is an experience I will never forget. It just feels all very Top Gun."

Aircraft are now arriving at the Gloucestershire airbase and by the time the show starts tomorrow, there will be around 500 aircraft on the base and by its end on Monday, air traffic controllers expect to have dealt with around 1,500 movements.

RIAT director Paul Bowen said: "This is the biggest show we have put on in our 30 years. The organisation has gone extremely well. We are just hoping the weather changes for the weekend."

"This show will offer a unique opportunity to visitors to experience the full 100 years of flight.

"We have aircraft here from every year since 1903 from a replica Wright Flyer to the modern day Eurofighter Typhoon.

"There will be around 186 aircraft in the 100 years of flight celebration alone. That is more than any other air show, and aircraft will be attending from 44 different countries.

"For the aircraft enthusiasts, I think the highlights will be the first display by an RAF Typhoon and also the displays by large aircraft like the Boeing 757 of the New Zealand Air Force."

Also at the launch were several wartime veterans and test pilots.

Among them was Italian Eurofighter test pilot and former astronaut Maurizio Cheli, who will display the aircraft at Fairford.

He said: "This aircraft is awesome and once I began flying it I left my job as a astronaut. It is that good.

"I have flown 250 flights in the aircraft and I never tire of it. I am looking forward to displaying the Typhoon here."

Today around 20,000 children from schools across the country will get a free sneak preview of the show, to get students and children interested in a possible career in the armed forces.

RIAT runs tomorrow and Sun-day. Gates open at 7.30am and close at 9pm. Flying begins at 10am and finishes at 6pm. Tickets in advance are £27.95 or £33 on the day. More information on where to get tickets is available on the website at www.airtattoo.com

n Residents in Ashton Keynes and South Cerney and people visiting Cotswold Water Park may be caught up in the heavy RIAT traffic.

A new route for this will direct people going to RIAT off the M4 through Malmesbury and Ashton Keynes and onto the Spine Road where they will join the A419.