A STUNNING star-studded spectacular takes to the skies over Abingdon for two days this weekend, when the RAF launches the biggest aerial and ground-based event ever staged in the country.

Billed as the "most spectacular air show ever", the Spirit of Adventure at Dalton Barracks - formerly RAF Abingdon - tomorrow and Sunday is described as the ultimate live action event.

It combines the best in military aviation and a host of ground-based activities, including live music, G-force rides and extreme sports.

Organisers are expecting up to 100,000 visitors over the two days. Demand for tickets was so high, the box office telephone system crashed and had to be replaced.

Apart from aerial gymnastics by the famous Red Arrows display team and the pin-point accuracy of the RAF Falcons parachutists from RAF Brize Norton, a major attraction will be the chance to take part in an interactive movie, called Battle for Britain, displayed on huge screens.

The organisers say it will be a fascinating experience, with each scene having three alternative endings which the public decide on - live via text vote or a broadband broadcast.

The plot involves UFOs and shadowy villains who want to take over the world. With the help of the public, the RAF is the first line of defence in the Battle for Britain.

Broken into six, five-minute segments, the fantasy film will feature an official RAF spokesman at each break point, and introduce live display aircraft to reinforce the video messages.

The show will move effortlessly from fiction to fact with the Red Arrows - who will unveil a new display routine, which the team has been practising in Cyprus.

Once the performance is over, crew members will be on the ground to talk to the public about their displays and the work and planning that goes on for months behind the scenes.

Squadron Leader Jas Hawker said it took seven months of training - six times a day, five days a week - to prepare the display sequence.

He said: "The display needs to look as exciting as possible, but within strict safety limits. I hope that people watching it will enjoy themselves as much as we do in the air."

The key themes of adventure, lifestyle, sport and technology will be conveyed through aircraft demonstrations and direct contact between RAF service- men and women and the public on the ground.

In addition to ground displays, fly-pasts, role demonstrations and static exhibits, the event will feature live music, extreme sports, theme park activities, competitions and many other attractions.

Apart from the Red Arrows, there will be displays by Typhoon, Tornado and Harrier attack jets, Merlin helicopters from RAF Benson, a C130 Hercules transport plane and a Second World War Spitfire fighter plane.

Some of the aircraft are based a short distance away at RAF Brize Norton and will fly to Abingdon to perform their displays.

Among the attractions down on the ground will be the JCB DieselMax car, which holds the world land speed record for a diesel-powered vehicle, set last August, of 350mph.

The car's driver, RAF Wing Commander Andy Green, who also holds the absolute land speed record of 763mph, set in the jet-powered Thrust SSC car in 1997, will be on hand to talk about his exploits.

Group Captain Andrew Turner said the Spirit of Adventure would "cut past" all previous air shows the country had seen and would place the RAF at the centre of activities.

He said: "Mixing high-quality film with flying, and blending ground demonstrations with demolitions in the movie, the event will showcase the RAF, our people and the role we deliver for the country."

For more details of the event, see www.spiritofadventure.info

BOX OFFICE

TICKETS cost £25 for adults, and £10 for children under 15. A family ticket for two adults and two children costs £60. Children under five get in free. For tickets, see www.lastminute.com or www.stargreen.com or call 0207 734 8932.

Tickets are also on sale over the counter at the following outlets: Abingdon: Dawsons Music, High Street.

Banbury: Tourist Information Centre.

Witney: West Oxfordshire Tourism, Wood Green.