BOURNEMOUTH Air Festival fans can enjoy three Royal Navy ships moored off the seafront this year.

It is the first time the Navy has brought three vessels to the festival, which organisers say promises another “unmissable” line-up for its fifth year.

Despite tough times – and a busy year – for the armed forces, the Royal Navy and RAF will be present in numbers for the event between August 30 and September 2.

Commodore Gary Sutton, head of Royal Navy communications, said: “Despite the Navy being committed to support the Olympic security plans in London and Weymouth and being involved in operations around the world, we remain committed to supporting this event as strongly as we are able.

“There is no other event in the country where so many people can find out so much about their Navy, its ships, aircraft and, most importantly, its people.”

The Navy is bringing RFA Mounts Bay, HMS Severn and type-42 destroyer HMS York, which will be open to visitors. Also making a welcome return after missing the 2011 event will be the Black Cats helicopter display team.

The RAF is flying the Tutor, Tucano, Hawk jet, King Air, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and, in a demonstration of RAF operations in Afghanistan, two Tornado GR-4s.

And, in what is sure to be an emotional return following the death of Flt Lt Jon Egging last year, the Red Arrows will display on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Head of RAF Recruiting Group, Captain Ian Tolfts OBE, said: “Despite last year’s weather conditions the event was a great success for the RAF and we’re looking forward to this summer’s air festival.”

Event organisers will be releasing details of civilian aircraft soon, as well as un-veiling more of this year’s Night Air entertainments, which includes live music from a seafront stage, street entertainers, fireworks and dusk air displays.

Air festival director Jon Weaver added: “The Night Air programme is going from strength to strength.

“This year for the first time we’ve got the Tiger Freefall Parachute Display Team performing jumps at night, with glow sticks on their jump suits and smoke trails – they look amazing.”

“The content of the dusk air displays and the live music from the seafront stage are being developed to give visitors more reasons to stay in town longer and adding to the overall festival-feel of the event.”