THOSE arriving for the first day of this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival are in for a night time spectacular.

New for this year is a dusk air display on the first night, Thursday, August 19.

Due to take place from around 8pm, the dazzling display will make for an extra special start to the third annual festival.

The line-up for the evening includes the Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Parachute Regiment Freefall Team – the Red Devils – and war bird hunter jet Miss Demeanour.

Organisers are also hopeful of confirming the attendance of the flamboyant Italian Pioneer display team, who perform with colour smoke and explosive pyrotechnic effects.

Jon Weaver, air festival director, said: “We always said that this summer we wanted to give people more reason to stay longer and see more of the resort; the evening display certainly achieves this.

“As the UK’s leading aviation festival, we have worked hard to create something distinctive and dynamic.”

In addition to the dusk display, the Night Air events, taking place on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings of the festival, will also include street entertainers, the Royal Marines Band Collingwood, Royal Marines Combat Display Team, hot air balloon glows, outdoor films and food stalls.

On Saturday, August 21, there will be a firework display.

This year will be the third Bournemouth Air Festival, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to descend on the town to witness four days of display over the seafront between Boscombe and Bournemouth Piers.

Airborne attractions already confirmed include the Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Breitling Wingwalkers, plus many more.