KEMBLE airfield, near Swindon, plays host to what has become Europe's premier flying event for vintage and classic light aircraft this weekend.

Around 400 or 500 historic aeroplanes from all over the UK and northern Europe will be gathering for the sixth Great Vintage Flying Weekend.

"Given reasonably good weather at Kemble, and at departure airfields, this could well be the largest meeting for British-built classics ever held," said Terry Booker, the event's operations manager.

The list of aircraft registering their intention to attend reads like a Who's Who of the finest and the oldest aeroplanes from Britain's once-proud light aircraft industry.

They will be joined by equally famous names from American factories as well as from countries such as Belgium, France, Germany and Sweden.

The oldest visitors date from the early 30s, and even newer classics are all pre-1970.

Organisers are delighted with the response from pilots and owners bringing in aeroplanes of which often only one, or a handful, now survive.

A wartime Anson, which is coming in on Sunday, is one of the only two flying examples in the UK remaining from more than 11,000 which were built for the RAF.

The RAF will be paying its own tribute to these civil veterans with a flypast salute on Sunday by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Spitfire and Hurricane.

Unlike other air displays, this one gives a chance for everyone to see in close-up and photograph this unique collection from their aviation heritage.

The air park is open each day at around lunchtime so that enthusiasts and family visitors can have a nostalgic view of our aviation heritage.

There are trade stands and plenty of catering or picnic opportunities.

The event enjoys sponsorship from the Met Office, which will be attending with their state-of-the-art mobile forecasting unit, as well as other famous names such as Shell, Air Total and the major titles from the aviation press.

There will even be the chance of a flight in a vintage light airliner for a "wind in the hair" experience in the world's second-oldest Tiger Moth.

For £15 on the gate (or £10 in advance from most local Tourist Information Centres) the special all-in-car weekend pass is valid for entry today, tomorrow and Sunday. Gates open at 10am each day and visitors are welcome to pop in this afternoon during set-up, when many early arrivals are expected. The entrance will be via the A433 Cirencester-Tetbury road and is well signposted.