Past, present and future met 900 feet up in the sky yesterday afternoon as a vintage Spitfire and an Air Malta plane featuring new livery performed a flypast, bringing the 20th Malta International Airshow to an emotional end.

The authentic World War II bird, one of Malta’s guardian angels, tucked itself under the tail of the Air Malta jetliner – the Pride of Malta – to the cheers of hundreds of people who travelled to Luqa for the airshow.

The Spitfire, owned by the Old Flying Machine Company, was in Malta to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the George Cross award.

Over the weekend, the single-engined aircraft thrilled hundreds of aviation enthusiasts and plane spotters, the sound of its Merlin engine echoing across the island recalling how it tipped Malta’s air battle in favour of the Allies in 1942.

The unplanned flypast was held to make up for the absence of the Red Arrows, who could not make it to the show due to technical difficulties.

On Saturday, Malta Aviation Society president Joe Ciliberti said six of the jets had problems with their oxygen systems, which was making it difficult for the pilots to breathe.

In another additional treat, a Libyan Air Force Chinook helicopter took to the skies for a full display yesterday.

Among the 60 aircraft on static display were RAF Typhoons and Tornados, a NATO AWAC and a Hercules from the Qatar Emiri Air Force.