SUNNY weather and the only Vulcan bomber still flying brought thousands of air show enthusiasts to Abingdon airfield yesterday.

Last year, heavy rain meant the show at Dalton Barracks was almost a washout with many aircraft unable to fly in.

But this year, the 12th annual display was back to full strength.

Other display highlights included the Tigers Parachute Team from the Princess of Wales Regiment in Colchester, and the Osprey formation flying team.

Show spokesman Colin Smith said: “When the rain came on Saturday we all had our head in our hands and were thinking ‘here we go again’.

“But, fortunately, there has been a break in the weather and the place looks packed.

“There were only a few thousand people last year, but there must be at least 5,000 this time.

“The Vulcan is even more popular than the Red Arrows these days and as soon as we confirmed the Vulcan was coming, the ticket sales started to flow.

“People are coming here from Scotland, South Wales, the Midlands and Ireland and from overseas countries including Holland, Austria, Belgium and Japan.

“The Vulcan came out of service after the Falklands War but it is now hugely popular as a display aircraft.”

Yesterday’s Vulcan pilot was Martin Withers, who flew the first raid on Port Stanley in the Falklands War in 1982.

Fellow Vulcan pilot Phill O’Dell, 47, who was at the airfield as part of the Vulcan support team, said: “I joined the RAF purely and simply because I saw the Vulcan at Biggin Hill air show 35 years ago.

“I found my passion for aviation like thousands of kids will here today. The Vulcan is graceful, fluid and beautiful and I think it’s the best display aircraft in the world.”

Steve Maslin, 43, from Worcester, and son Matthew Maslin, 13, met Mr O’Dell and Matthew got the pilot to sign his programme. He said: “We came here to see the Vulcan and it has been great to meet one of the pilots.”

Dick Barton, 49, a HGV driver from Salisbury, visited the show with his son Harry Dewey, six.

He said: “There’s plenty to see on the ground and in the air. I think it’s a great show.”

Hilary Grime, 61, from Cowley, visited the airfield with her grandson Kai Noy, three.

She said: “We had a close look at one of the display aircraft, the Pembroke, and have had a great day.”

Air show veteran Mike Coley, 72, from Birmingham, visited with his wife Margaret, 73.

He said: “Any show that gets the Vulcan has done very well.”