THE 50th anniversary of the Gazelle helicopter is going to be celebrated this weekend in Middle Wallop as a whole host of aircraft descend on the area.

Threshold.aero, supported by the Museum of Army Flying and the Army Air Corps, will be hosting a commemorative fly-in of Gazelle helicopters at AAC Middle Wallop, the Army's home of the Gazelle, on Saturday (April 8).

On April 7, 1967, Aerospatiale SA.340 F-WOFH made its first flight in the hands of test pilot Jean Boulet.

Five decades later, the Aerospatiale Gazelle remains a valued asset to the armed forces of twenty nations worldwide.

The Gazelle 50th Anniversary Commemorative Fly-in will open to the public from 10am, with free parking available in the field to the west of the A343 opposite the Museum of Army Flying available from 8.30am.

A number of aviation, craft and charity stands, as well as helicopters on static display, will be present in addition to the aircraft flying in.

Attendees will be able to see the helicopters arriving and departing, at either end of the day, and will have an opportunity to get up close to the aircraft when the airfield is opened to the public.

For tickets go to armyflying.com