ALL eyes will be on the sky this summer as the world’s largest air show puts on a royal display.

The arrival of jet planes and a parachute display marked the launch of this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.

TV’s Blue Peter presenter Barney Harwood flew in as the day’s special guest, arriving in style courtesy of an RAF Hawk flown by Fairford-born display pilot Flt Lt Phil Bird.

Barney delivered a jubilee flag to be displayed at the air base which had a logo on designed by a Blue Peter viewer, and was welcomed by an official fanfare which played the Blue Peter theme tune.

Barney said that being involved in the launch was a dream come true because as a child he loved to make model aircraft and that the RAF’s Hawk was his favourite.

He said: “I’ve got about 30 or 40 model aeroplanes so I have been flying with Hawks for a number of years – just not the big ones. The flight in the plane was awesome, it is a childhood dream come true. My grandfather passed away in 2007 and I think he would have loved to be here so it has been quite emotional for me.

“I will be trying to get the time off work to come down here on the day – it is a great show with some amazing planes on display.”

Barney was flown in from RAF Valley in Anglesey by the RAF’s solo Hawk display pilot Flt Lt Bird, 32, who said he grew up with going to the air show.

He said: “It means a lot for me to be performing at the show. I used to come here when I was a young boy and it is probably where my love for flying came from.

“Living in Fairford we used to see all the planes coming in so being able to perform here is a special thing for me and my family.”

Visitors to the air show, on the weekend of July 7 and 8, will be able to see a repeat of the EIIR flypast, comprising 27 BAE Systems’ Hawk fast jets from RAF Valley and RAF Leeming in Yorkshire.

Other Diamond Jubilee attractions will include specially-painted aircraft, a display of current and historic aircraft with Royal connections and a Diamond Jubilee Lawn featuring a wide variety of themed attractions with a street party atmosphere.

This summer’s Air Tattoo will also feature aircraft from around the world, including South Korea, Russia, Colombia and Saudi Arabia.

Tickets for the Air Tattoo, which is staged in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, cost £39 and are only available in advance from airtattoo.com or by calling 0800 107 1940.

All accompanied under-16s go free and there is free parking.