All set for take-off at Cosford Air Show

The first aircraft have been arriving, while the exhibition and stalls were being put in place.

Hundreds of families from across the West Midlands are expected to flock to the air base for the annual spectacle – with a total of 50,000 people likely to attend.

Amanda Butcher, spokeswoman for the air show, said: "With one day to go, the site build for RAF Cosford Air Show is ahead of schedule."

Organisers have also confirmed that the Belgian Red Devils display team has now got the stamp of approval from the show's flying control committee.

The Red Devils fly four SF.260M training aircraft and bring the number of display teams at this year's show to four.

The aircraft have an exciting red paint scheme featuring the Belgian flag and this will be one of only two UK performances by the team this year.

Air Show spokesman Group Captain Mark Manwaring, chairman of the flying control committee, said: "This is a fantastic display with some very exciting manoeuvres.

"As this is their first UK display this season it fell to us to ensure it adheres to the strict rules applied to UK air displays. "

Other aircraft appearing at the show as part of the five and half hour flying display include the Red Arrows, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Blades.

The ground attractions include an arena featuring the field gun teams and the RAF Combined Pipes and Drums as well as a craft hangar and a wide display of other attractions.

This year will also see the Royal Navy Sea Harrier joining the display for the first time.

The aircraft joins three other Harriers on display, a GR3 and two GR9s.

The exhibit is part of a special display to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the Kestrel, the prototype for the Harrier. The original Kestrel is part of the RAF Museum collection and will also be part of this year's line-up.

The Boeing C17 and Voyager planes will also be coming to Cosford for the first time.

Following on from last year's popular Medical Emergency Response Team demonstration, which saw Prince Harry in his first air show appearance, the RAF Chinook and Army Apache will return to Cosford as part of the planned six-hour flying display.

Other helicopters taking part include the Royal Navy Lynx, with its Black Cat solo routine.

The Navy is also represented by the Royal Navy Historic Flight which will display the Swordfish and Sea Fury.

These will be among a number of historic aircraft already scheduled for the show including the Typhoon and the Hurricane, Spitfire and Dakota of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as well as the Great War Team.

On the ground, a number of military aircraft will join the resident Jaguar fleet, with an Army Air Corps Defender and RAF King Air the latest additions to the static displays.