THE committee behind the Viking Festival have made a flying start to plans for this year's event - after securing the only air display of its kind in Scotland.

A Battle of Britain Memorial display will see Spitfires and Hurricanes re-enact the iconic conflict in the skies above Largs.

A seaplane will also fly-by in tribute to the town's long connections with the flying Catalinas during the Second World War.

Organisers this week declared they plan to press ahead with this year's spectacular after coronavirus claimed the 2020 event.

Chairman Alex Gallagher told the News: "The board of the Largs Viking Festival has decided that, if at all possible, the festival will go ahead in some form this year.

"We thought long and hard about having a live festival this year and we are taking a twin-track approach, with preparations for an online event and a live one if possible.

"Obviously if the Covid-19 situation worsens again than we will have decisions to make, but at present we are hopeful.

"The health of our participants and the public is our number one priority, so we will be monitoring the pandemic closely and keeping our fingers crossed that we can go ahead without any risk to public health."

Mr Gallagher revealed they have secured a display by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Display Team, pictured, and another a visit from a seaplane.

Viking Festival board director John Dobbie explained: "The Battle of Britain display will last approximately 18 minutes.

"The expectation is that we will get a couple of fly-pasts as a formation, separate sections and then a spectacular final fly-by.

"We have been informed by the authorities that this flying display at the Viking Festival will be the only air display in Scotland this year due to the effects of Covid-19 on flight training and display pilot certification."

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Display Team is based at RAF Coningsby in Lincoln – an active RAF airfield where Typhoons are stationed.

Barrfields Theatre played a key role in World War Two, serving as a RAF base and workshop, with the putting greens at the front a staging post.

RAF personnel would serve on attachment to the seaplane base nearby, which was run by soon-to-be Opportunities Knocks presenter Hughie Greene, father of late tv presenter Paula Yates.

Mr Greene served as a ferry pilot and his flying log book records are held by Largs Heritage Centre within St Columba’s Parish Church.

The concrete slip which was built for them across from Barrfields Pavilion is still in use today by Largs Lifeboat.

It played major part in World War Two as a flying boat reception facility, allowing Consolidated Catalinas to land and be fitted with specialist equipment or serviced to help win the Battle of the Atlantic.

In 2010, The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust unveiled a memorial dedicated to 'Largs Airfield' close to the famous slipway.