CROWDS of locals and visitors alike will descend on RAF Leuchars today for the annual air show.

Around 40,000 people are expected for the show, which promises a feast of action in the skies and on the ground.

The event has extra significance this year as it is the Ministry of Defence’s largest VE and VJ Day commemoration in Scotland.

Over the past few days aircraft of all types have been arriving at the Fife base for the day-long flying programme. Among yesterday’s landings were the Red Arrows display team who rehearsed in the afternoon.

The seven-hour display will feature an unprecedented series of formation fly-pasts by key current aircraft and others from the second world war.

Visitors will be able to see the spectacular contrasts between flying machines such as Spitfires and Typhoons, Hurricanes and Harriers, Lancasters and Tornadoes, Dakotas and Hercules.

The contribution to victory made by the Royal Navy and its Fleet Air Arm will also be remembered with a tribute flown by two Sea Harriers. The aircraft are being withdrawn from Royal Navy service next year and in all likelihood this will be their last appearance at the air show.

An international flavour will be offered with contributions from Belgium, France, Germany and Portugal, and the Irish Air Corps’ new team of four PC-9s will be displaying for the first time in Britain.

Bringing the event to a momentous close will be the home-based Tornado F3 Display Team from 56 (Reserve) Squadron The Firebirds.

This is the first display season for pilot Flt Lt Richard Moyes and navigator Flt Lt Gareth Littlechild.

Richard said he is looking forward to today’s event and performing in front of a home crowd.

He said, “The home show is probably the best of the year and it’s great to be able to display in front of family and friends as well as the people in the squadron.”

As preparations for the event reach their peak, it has been made clear by Fife Council that various temporary traffic restrictions will be in force.

These will include temporary parking arrangements, one-way systems, temporary speed limits and partial closure of the Leuchars Railway Station car park.

In addition Scotrail has made arrangements to lay on extra trains, and is offering joint travel and air show tickets from a number of Scottish railway stations.