The Red Arrows may grab the headlines but it is seeing aircraft like the Tiger Moth and Spitfire which makes the Combined Ops Military Weekend special. Chris Price reports.

As his biplane manoeuvres in to formation above the Combined Ops Military event, pilot Chris Jesson will smile as he takes a glance down below.

“It is like driving a high-powered sports car but with complete freedom of movement,” said the mastermind behind the flying displays at this weekend’s events at Headcorn Aerodrome. “Aerobatics are a wonderful way to enjoy that freedom. People like seeing something different and most people don’t see this sort of thing very often.”

The Stampe biplane formation is part of a series of displays at the airfield which will include the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on Saturday and Sunday, August 11 and 12.

On the ground there will be a Second World War village to Gulf War scenes and two battle re-enactments each day. More than 6,000 people came to last year’s event. This year visitors can drive a mini tank, before looking at the 60 military and craft stalls.

But it is in the sky where the best of the action takes place, with classic aircrafts such as the Harvard trainer, Tiger Moths, Auster AOP and the Battle of Britain’s Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane. Retired commercial pilot Chris, 65, flies a Stampe aircraft (pronounced stomp), which he describes as “a bit like a Tiger Moth”. The biplane was built before the Second World War but has a more powerful engine and is lighter than the Tiger Moth. Chris will be making a formational flyby with three other Stampe biplanes.

He said: “They are more difficult to fly than modern aircraft, in the same way an older car is more difficult to drive. You might have to pull out the clutch and there is no power steering, for example.

“At the end we do a move called the Bishop’s Break, where all the aircraft fly down towards the crowd and then break in all directions. That looks very good.”

Chris was interested in flying from a very early age, having first flown in 1965 as part of the Air Training Corps. He worked at a gliding school and had wanted to join the RAF but was turned down because he was short sighted in one eye.

He picked up his private pilot licence from 1969 to 1970, becoming a ground engineer for Dan-Air in 1972. He became a commercial pilot for them in 1979 retiring three years ago.

Chris bought his Stampe in 1990 and spent nine years rebuilding it. Then he decided to move to Headcorn so he could get to the airfield more often.

“As a place to fly it is very good,” he said. “They run a very relaxed airfield. You have the ability to do whatever you want to do as far as practice is concerned. There is a very disciplined but free attitude towards flying. Everyone knows the boundaries and operates within them.”

Chris is check pilot for the Tiger Club at the airfield, which specialises in formation flying and aerobatics. Revellers who watched the Torch Relay arrive at Leeds Castle will have seen Chris soaring overhead with them in a Tiger Moth.

Visitors at the Combined Ops Military Weekend can learn how to fly and how to join the club. They take people up for trial lessons, which costs about £180 in a Tiger Moth.

“It is an expensive game but it always has been,” said Chris.

“There are lots of opportunities to learn to fly. People can see you enjoying it and it ticks all the boxes and just grabs you. It just gets you hooked.”

Film secrets uncovered

Life on set of Stephen Spielberg’s movie War Horse will be unveiled at the Combined Ops Military Weekend.

Author and TV presenter Andy Robertshaw acted as military adviser for the film and will talk about his experience working alongside the ET and Jurassic Park director. Andy gave set advice to the production team and even got his own little bit of screen time.

He will also show off some film props. Having appeared on Channel 4’s Time Team, he will have signed copies of his books on sale, including A Soldier’s Life and Tragedy and Triumph. He is on site both days.

The Combined Ops Military Weekend takes place at Headcorn Aerodrome on Saturday and Sunday, August 11 and 12. Open 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday. Tickets £9, seniors and children £6, under 18 months free, families £25. Details atwww.combinedops.co.uk