HISTORIC aircraft will be filling the skies at the Chalke Valley History Festival at the end of June with its largest airshow to date.

There will be static models of a Spitfire and Hurricane on show all week outside the main entrance tent and a wide variety of historic aircraft taking to the skies during the air displays on the Saturday and Sunday.

Already confirmed are Spitfires, a Hurricane, a P-51 Mustang and a Catalina as well as the only air-worthy Bristol Blenheim.

While it had been hoped the UK’s only flying Lancaster would be there, festival organisers have said it is now unable to make it but it has been replaced with a Beech 18.

Programme director and co-chairman, James Holland said: "'The Beech 18 was a  highly significant aircraft in the Second World War story, being used for clandestine photo-reconnaissance operations, spy dropping, and carrying the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.  It is a very rare and beautiful aircraft."

The festival, which runs from June 22 to June 28, will also be welcoming Wing Commander Tom Neil, a double-ace of the Battle of Britain, plus there will be a chance to hear from a complete seven-man Lancaster crew, who made up the different roles on the bomber during the Second World War, and including last British Dam Buster, George ‘Johnny’ Johnson.

Over the seven days, more than 140 speakers will take to the stage with over 110 literary talks and debates, in excess of 300 living historians and re-enactors.

The festival will be marking a host of anniversaries from the 800th of Magna Carta and the 600th of Agincourt to the 200th of Waterloo, the 100th of Gallipoli and the 75th of the Battle of Britain.

Among the speakers will be Ian Hislop, Antony Beevor, David Starkey and Dan Snow.

For details visit cvhf.org.uk