Saturday is the day Great Yarmouth is put firmly on the aviation map.

From 1pm the two day Haven Great Yarmouth Air Show will spring into life as Red Arrows, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and a whole host of other top aerial displays take to the skies throughout tomorrow and Sunday.

Today one of the show’s acts The Blades took to the air over the resort to help promote the weekend of aerial stunts.

The Blades’s four Extra 3A 300 aircraft will be performing eye-catching stunts on both days with former Red Arrows pilots at the controls of the planes.

This afternoon pilots Andy Evans and James McMillan took off from Seething Airfield and headed to the town to perform some stunts.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Shots of the Blades in flight. Picture: ANNIE STONEShots of the Blades in flight. Picture: ANNIE STONE (Image: ANNIE STONE)

Mr Evans is the lead pilot and has promised to put on a display the large crowds on both days will enjoy.

He said: “We will be showing off the aircraft and its capabilities.

“It is quite a privilege and a honour to come and fly at Yarmouth for its first air show.

“The town is big, the seafront is huge and we expect to see it packed. The weather looks fantastic.”

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Shots of the Blades in flight. Picture: ANNIE STONEShots of the Blades in flight. Picture: ANNIE STONE (Image: ANNIE STONE)

Mr McMillan is new to the Blades and the former Typhoon pilot and Royal New Zealand Air force member is looking forward to his first public display with the team.

He said: “We have done a lot of practicing to make this show as spectacular as possible.

“We will hopefully are going to put on a good show for the crowds.

“The first half of the show we fly very, very close together, a bit like the Red Arrows.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Shots of the Blades in flight. Picture: ANNIE STONEShots of the Blades in flight. Picture: ANNIE STONE (Image: ANNIE STONE)

But then we split up and so some dynamic things, such as opposition passes down to 100 feet and we do some really wacky things with this aeroplane you can’t do with a fast jet.”

Yesterday also saw stands and information points set up with, side roads off Marine Parade closed off and a commentary booth firmly in place overlooking the promenade.

Air show brochures costing £5 are available from an Archant stall by the Marina Centre and vendors will be selling them at other locations and at the park and ride sites.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Shots of the Blades in flight. Picture: ANNIE STONEShots of the Blades in flight. Picture: ANNIE STONE (Image: ANNIE STONE)

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Shots of the Blades in flight. Picture: ANNIE STONEShots of the Blades in flight. Picture: ANNIE STONE (Image: ANNIE STONE)