by Angela Cole

acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

The inspiring spectacle of a Second World War Spitfire flying low over the crowd will be among the highlights of next weekend's Kent County Show.

Jointly sponsored by Kent Crisps and Shepherd Neame, the Spitfire from the Historic Aircraft Collection is due to entertain the crowds at the Kent Showground in Detling around midday on the first day of the show - Friday, July 13 - and about 4pm the next day.

The Spitfire Mark Vb BM597 will be piloted by experienced aviator Dave Harvey who fell in love with Spitfires at the age of eight when his father took him to see The Battle of Britain at the cinema.

He said: "I was fascinated and decided that I wanted to be a fighter pilot and fly Spitfires and Hurricanes. I learned to fly when I was 18 and was lucky to join the Royal Air Force as a pilot at the age of 20. After RAF pilot training on the Jet Provost and Hawk I flew the F4 Phantom and the Tornado F3 on front line fighter squadrons."

In a nod to the aircraft's historic role, Dave will be putting the Spitfire through its paces above the site of RAF Detling, the Battle of Britain airfield on which part of the showground is built.

Roger Moore, executive manager at the showground, said: "This is wonderful news. We originally hoped to offer helicopter flights in tandem with a Spitfire in association with a specialist company but flying restrictions imposed by the Olympics did not make this viable. However, the Spitfire operators were still keen to take part in the show if a sponsor could be found.

"Jonathan Neame of Shepherd Neame and Anthony Curwen from Kent Crisps have stepped in and made it possible."

Kent Crisps and Shepherd Neame have recently worked together to produce a new crisp flavour, Roast Beef and Spitfire Ale, which will be available to sample at the show.

The Historic Aircraft Collection was formed to restore and fly a number of piston-engined military aircraft including a Spitfire, a Hurricane, a Hawker Nimrod and a Hawker Fury. The planes fly in front of more than a million people a year and all fees, sponsorships and donations go towards keeping these rare aircraft in the air. For more details visit http://www.historicaircraftcollection.ltd.uk/

For more information on the Kent County Show, which will be held on Friday, July 13, Saturday, July 14, and Sunday, July 15, visit http://www.kentshowground.co.uk/