Spectacular pyrotechnics to be featured at Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2010.

An aerial dogfight in the skies above Biggin Hill between a Supermarine Spitfire, one of two front line fighter of the Royal Air Force in WWII and a Messerschmitt 109, the combative equivalent mount of the Nazi Luftwaffe, will be a key part of a realistic re-enactment of the Battle of Britain era in the summer of 1940. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the historic conflict.

The dogfight is one part of a simulated Battle of Britain scenario that will feature in the daily flying display at the History Biggin Hill International Air Fair (weekend of 26th & 27th June) staged at the heroic former fighter base. The sights and sounds of June 1940 to be re-created will include a 'scramble' by a flight of four Spitfires and four Hurricanes as the alert is sounded, leading into an airfield attack with a wide range of expert pyrotechnics providing simulation of a convincing kind.

As the story builds, giant screens close to the flight line will feature archive film material, including the original narration by Sir Laurence Olivier from the 'World at War' TV series.

Detailed aerial choreography is being planned by Dan Griffiths, a former RAF test pilot who regularly displays warbirds of many different types. Organiser Colin Hitchins of Air Displays International says that Dan is exactly the right man for the task, which calls for deep experience and understanding of performance and attainable flight profiles of the range of aircraft involved.

"Our aim is to build authenticity into the re-enactment with the help of accomplished pilots and the collection of outstanding aircraft that they will be flying at Biggin Hill. Dan Griffith will lead the action and we can expect a unique spectacle for this noteworthy event. I can guarantee that we will have the most impressive pyrotechnics to be seen at any display this year" he says.

The Battle of Britain scenario will be heralded by an aerial parade of types used for training pilots in the years leading up to the Battle of Britain in 1940. British trainers on show are the De Havilland DH82a Tiger Moth, a biplane used as an elementary trainer and the North American AT-6 Harvard advanced trainer.

Equivalent types in use with the pre-war Luftwaffe include the Bucker Bu 131 Jungmann and the Focke-Wulf FW 44 Stieglitz biplanes.