30,000 people to see one of world's rarest aircraft at Duxford air show
It's the only one of its kind in Europe
One of the world's rarest wartime aircraft is set to take to the Cambridgeshire skies this weekend.
The P-38 Lightning - part of the Flying Bulls fleet - is the only one of its kind in Europe and will be on display for this year's summer air show at Imperial War Museum Duxford.
It comes as this year's theme marks the 250th anniversary of American independence with a focus on Duxford's connection to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 78th Fighter Group, based at the airfield during the Second World War.
"It's a true privilege because there are only two of us who fly this," Eskil Amdal, CEO of the Flying Bulls who'll be flying the P-38 Lightning in Duxford, said.
"At the same time, I've been lucky to fly more modern planes and these are the opposite; they give you feedback in everything that you do, so to fly these (requires) a different skill."
Eskil - who began flying warbird planes around 18 years ago - said there are seven P-38 Lightning aircraft in the world that still fly.
He said the P-38 can reach a top speed of 400mph and can run for at least four-and-a-half hours on a full tank of fuel.
Royal Jordanian Falcons will be on show at Duxford for the first time, as well as typhoons, with organisers expecting more than 30,000 visitors across the weekend.
"We've got bands, birds of prey people can hold, classic cars, living history groups, but the crucial thing is kids go free to our events," Adam Kendall, head of commercial services at IWM Duxford, said.
"There's a variety of warbirds and more modern aircraft, (as) a nod to the USAAF that flew out of Britain in the Second World War.
"Duxford was not just RAF base but also a American air force base so we think it's a great place to celebrate that link between the two nations."