Mel hits a high note (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Mel hits a high note

Melinda Messenger at the launch of this year's Royal International Air Tattoo Picture Ref: 77793-244BUBBLY Melinda Messenger brought smiles to the faces of veterans at the launch of this year's Royal International Air Tattoo.

She was lending her support to the show on July 16 and 17 by flying in on board a huge RAF Merlin helicopter, bringing a welcome splash of glamour to Fairford against the drab greens and dark greys of the sophisticated aircraft on display.

"It was fantastic experience, when we took off we had the door open and there was this rushing of air as we were flying, it was a great thrill," said Melinda

"I do love to fly. I spent a bit of time flying with Britannia Airways as a stewardess when I was younger and my brother enjoys paragliding."

She also paid tribute to helicopter pilot, Flt Lt Penny Grayson who flew the massive Merlin to Fairford.

"Hats off to her. It's a huge machine and to fly it she must have guts of steel."

Melinda also told the Advertiser that she would be at the show in July. She is planning to bring husband Wayne, and two of her three sons, three-year-old Flynn and Morgan, five.

Also brightening up the show was world-record holder Edwin Shackleton who arrived at RAF Fairford on the Merlin with Melinda and breaking his record in the process having now flown onboard 814 different types of aircraft.

Already, around 250 aircraft are booked to appear at this year's air show and with just over a month to go and organisers are determined to reach around 360 aircraft.

The 535 aircraft that attended in 2003 was recognised earlier this year as the most ever at a military airshow, and adjudicators from the Guinness World of Records will be on hand at this year's event counting the many jets and helicopters in.

Tim Prince, show director said that everything was looking good for this year's show, even the weather. "The Air Tattoo is a pilgrimage for many pilots and enthusiasts.

"So far the sponsorship is in, the weather is looking good and the excitement is building.

"The number of aircraft coming to the show, and in particular many rare aircraft which simply do not go to other UK airshows, I think shows the relationship that the show has with some of the international air arms,

'But the key for us is to bring as many different people as possible and provide them with as many interesting and exciting things as possible."

Mr Prince said that many of the more 'sexy' aircraft were expected to be confirmed for the show soon, including types such as the world-famous American Nighthawk Stealth Fighter and the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.

Also attending are crowd favourites, the RAF's Red Arrows, the Italian Frecce Tricolori as well as the RAF's latest jet fighter, the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Adding to the excitement will be jets from countries once considered to be the enemy, including Romanian Mig-21 fighters.

Robots will also feature heavily at this year's show with state-of-the-art machines showing off their prowess in front of the crowds in the RobotZone.

Last year's show attracted crowds of around 160,000, up from 2003, which had reduced crowds following problems at the 2002 show, which were caused by new security arrangements.

The show has been held since 1971 and was first held at North Weald, Essex, getting larger and larger it eventually moved to RAF Greenham Common near Newbury. In 1985 when it moved to Fairford which has become the organising team's home.

This year's show takes place on Saturday, July 16 and Sunday, July 17. Tickets are £29.95 in advance or £35 on the day. To find out more about the show visit the website at www.airtattoo.com

Show facts

This year's Air Tattoo will be paying homage to man's earliest use of aviation the role of reconnaissance.

Ever since aircraft were first built in the early years of the 20th century they were designed to give their magnificent men in their flying machines a better view of the battlefield.

Even today with satellites orbiting the globe, aircraft still play this vital role and as a result, the Air Tattoo has Surveillance as its main theme attracting aircraft fitted with sophisticated cameras and electronic sensors designed to listen in on radio frequencies.

Visiting will be aircraft as diverse as the Tornado fighter-bomber, the elderly Canberra, pictured, and more recent unmanned air vehicles, which are slowly taking over from pilots in this potentially dangerous role.

Visitors may also be surprised at the number of brightly painted aircraft as part of the shows Tigers Roar theme inviting aircraft featuring spectacularly painted Tigers, including one RAF helicopter with black and yellow tiger stripes.

It will also mark 60 years of the United Nations and International Co-operation highlighting the vital role aircraft have made in humanitarian missions and peacekeeping across the world.

Organisers hope that several aircraft attending for this part of the show will be painted in the white colours of the UN.

Click HERE for our Melinda Messenger website

Anthony Osborne