A NATION ravaged by natural disaster last year has become the 50th country to appear at the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Since 1971, organisers of the show, held annually at RAF Fairford, have managed to attract aircraft from 49 different countries, ranging from Sweden to Saudi Arabia, Austria to Australia.

But now Pakistan has been added to the list marking that country's first appearance at the world's largest military airshow and possibly the country's first appearance at a British air show.

The Pakistani Air Force will be bringing along a Hercules transport plane similar to those based at RAF Lyneham to the event on July 15 and 16.

It will be kitted out to demonstrate its medical evacuation abilities, used during the Asian earthquake last October.

For enthusiasts, the plane is likely to be one of the star attractions, as Pakistani Air Force aircraft are rarely seen in Europe or in the United Kingdom, although one did make a visit to RAF Lyneham last year.

The visit is part of the Air Arm's way of saying thank you to the many armed forces which helped in the aid effort shortly after the earthquake disaster.

Tattoo director Tim Prince said the Pakistan Air Force's gesture was unprecedented.

He said: "For the Pakistan Air Force to want to say thank you in this way indicates the impact the Royal Air Force, the US Air Force and others around the world had in relieving the suffering in their country last year.

"I am delighted they will be joining us.

"Not only is the air tattoo a celebration of aviation but it prides itself on bringing nations together to exchange ideas and forge friendships, and I am sure they will make many friends during their visit.

"That Pakistan should become the 50th nation to join us is simply the icing on the cake."

Within days of the earthquake, RAF aircraft, including C-130 Hercules from Lyneham and their heavy lifting counterparts, C-17s, flew tonnes of aid to the affected region.

Hercules crews operated from Turkey flying aid via Azerbaijan and were in the region until just before Christmas.

The Pakistani Hercules is one of just a growing list of aircraft from 20 nations that have already confirmed their attendance at this year's show.