Cosford Air Show could be axed under Government plans to shake up defence training, it was claimed today.

A union chief gave the warning over a controversial proposal to move personnel from the base to RAF St Athan’s in South Wales.

But officials said this year’s event was due to take place on June 13 and that plans were already under way for next year’s show.

Robert “H” O’Harney, Cosford branch secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, claimed the move to Wales would leave too few staff to run the air show and this year’s could be the last.

The future of RAF Cosford was put in doubt last year following the awarding of a huge defence training project to RAF St Athan’s in preference to RAF Cosford.

Work started this year to create a £12 billion defence training super site at St Athan’s.Academy. But a final decision by the Government on whether to go ahead with the academy will not be made until after the General Election.

Mr O’Harney said: “If ministers push ahead with the flawed defence training review programme, not only will hundreds of jobs be put at risk but the future of the air show will be in jeopardy.”

Wing Commander Nick Lea, chairman of the RAF Cosford Air Show organising committee, said preparations were under way for the 2011 show and “we see no reason why the event should not take place as planned.”