MORE than 60,000 people celebrated 100 years of flight at this year’s Biggin Hill International Air Fair.

The weekend’s events, sponsored by News Shopper, saw a packed programme of flying displays including the Red Arrows and a replica of the Wright Flyer flown 100 years ago by the Wright brothers. Another star attraction was the Bleriot Monoplane which famously carried Louis Bleriot on the first aeroplane flight all the way across the English Channel in 1909. And the Lancaster had pride of place in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight fly-past alongside the Spitfire and Hurricane.

This year was also the air fair’s 40th anniversary. A spokesman for the airshow said: “There was great variation at the airshow from the Bleriot to the first class Red Arrows, showing the utmost technological advances we have seen in the last 100 years. “It was also a great pleasure to work with the News Shopper.” News Shopper publisher Martyn Willis, who led efforts to save the show from extinction, said: “After nine months of discussion, planning, worry and organisation, it was a fantastic relief to see the thousands of people enjoying some of the finest flying ever seen at Biggin Hill. Let’s hope we can do it again next year.” For more on the fun-filled event, visit www.newsshopper.co.uk VIRGIN chief Sir Richard Branson flew into the Biggin Hill Air Fair at the weekend and praised News Shopper for saving the show.

Sir Richard, who arrived at the event in a helicopter, said he had always been a big fan of the show and it was virgin on the ridiculous it had faced closure.

Sir Richard said News Shopper deserved great praise for saving the event.

He said: “It is a fantastic achievement saving the show and I would like to congratulate you for it.