Late wartime fighter ace Johnnie Johnson is being commemorated

Good weather is forecast over both days of the show, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and it is estimated that more than 200,000 aviation fans could attend.

Tim Prince, 52, director of operations for the Air Tattoo, said: "The show is phenomenal. The aircraft are in the right places and looking pretty and the show pilots are in excellent form.

"It's too early to report visitor numbers but I can say that we have a lot of very happy people here.

Flying tribute

"As far as numbers for the weekend I would say we will be much higher than last year, but then again it was very cold on that occasion."

There are 400 aircraft, from 47 nations, on display at this year's event, which also pays tribute to Women in Aviation.

David Jason was among those attending

On both days of the tattoo flying tributes will be paid to Britain's greatest wartime fighter ace, Johnnie Johnson, who died earlier this year.

He is credited with shooting down 38 enemy planes.

Leicestershire Police reported traffic heading to RAF Cottesmore was "heavy and continuing to build up" but said a number of diversions had been set up to ease any hold-ups.

AA to rescue

However, it advised anyone not coming to the event should consider avoiding the A1 in Rutland or to allow extra time for their journeys.

Show organisers had a last-minute headache when they found an aircraft parked in the wrong spot, threatening to disrupt the start.

AA patrolman Terry Kirton, 47, from Peterborough, Cambs, used a modified hacksaw to open the lock of the Maltese Air Force BN2 Islander.

Mr Prince said: "We're very grateful. Terry said he'd never had a call like that in his life and it's certainly the first time I've asked them for this sort of help since I joined at the age of 17."

The air tattoo switched to RAF Cottesmore last year while work is carried out at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.