Heavy rain and a chilly breeze put few people off at this year's Classic on the Wing classical music event at RAF Lyneham.

This, the third such event held at the Wiltshire base attracted thousands of people from base personnel to aircraft enthusiasts and fans of classical music to enjoy the delights of music from composers as diverse as Elgar, Puccini and film soundtrack composer John Williams.

Saturday's event was to raise money for the Royal Air Force Association, the Prospect Hospice, the Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation and Wessex Heartbeat.

Many spectators perused the extensive display of static aircraft which included the Sea Harrier and Lyneham's own Hercules.

One of the exhibits, the Wiltshire Constabulary helicopter, had to leave shortly after visitors arrived, no doubt to attend to matters elsewhere.

Among the VIP guests were the Princess Royal and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, and RAF Lyneham's station commander, Group Captain Ray Lock.

Soon the main performance had got underway and the sound of World War II Merlin engines was in the air as the Battle of Britain Memorial flight made up of a Spitfire, Hurricane and a Lancaster flew low over the stage.

The entertainment quickly got underway with 60s music from Eric Haydock from the Hollies and his band.

The English National Orchestra soon took to the stage under the baton of Jae Alexander, who began their performances with the music of Goodwin from the film the Battle of Britain before proceeding on the music from the Dambusters and 633 Squadron.

Much to everyone's surprise, even the German crew of a visiting Luft-waffe aircraft waved their squadron flag to the music of the war films.

Even when the rain started, spirits remained high and as thousands of umbrellas opened, it was cleared that most had prepared for the downpour.

Tenor Tony Mee and soprano, Bethan Dudley did their solo performances.

Then in true Apocalypse Now style, under heavy and dark skies, a Bell helicopter similar in design to the Huey, familiar to watchers of Vietnam War films, took off and lit up the sky over the stage dancing to music of Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries.

The show ended with a true Proms performance with Pomp and Circumstance, Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and a challenge to the audience to see if they could dance to the Hornpipe faster than the Orchestra could perform drawing a close to a night many would remember forever.