The sky is the limit, and next weekend that will aptly be put to test when the Red Arrows will flirt high up in the sky with a World War II spitfire in a fly-past which is bound to leave aviation fans enthralled.

The International Malta Airshow, organised by the Malta Aviation Society, is this year celebrating its 20th edition, and it promises to do so in style with over 60 aircraft on show from eight countries.

“We held our first show in 1993 and in these 20 years it has grown in numbers and quality. It is one of the biggest crowd-pullers in Malta’s annual calendar,” Malta Aviation Society marketing manager Paul Spiteri Lucas said.

This year Malta is also commemorating 70 years since the presentation of the George Cross, which is the reason behind the presence of the Spitfire.

“It’s a World War II war bird and we saw it fit to commemorate the occasion with an iconic aircraft,” Mr Spiteri Lucas said.

The authentic Spitfire is privately owned by the Old Flying Machine company and is often used in films.

It will be the first time that a Spitfire will perform a fly-past with the Red Arrows in Malta.

Visitors to the air show, which is held at Park 4 at Malta International Airport, will be able to view a Nato E-3 Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft. This was used extensively and successfully last year during the Libyan crisis, as it acts as a control tower and controls the airspace from the air.

As a result of the international cooperation during the Libyan crisis, and the relationship forged between the Qatari and Maltese governments, the Qatar Emiri Air Force will also be a freshman at the show.

It will take part with the C-130 Hercules, which visitors will be able to explore.

Aviation enthusiasts may visit air vehicles of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, the US Air Force and Navy, the Italian Military Mission and the Guardia di Finanza, as well as the German Navy.

After an absence of more than 10 years, Air Malta will also be taking part. Local flying schools will be present to entice members of the public to take a few flying lessons.

Aircraft will be on display from 10am to 5.30pm and the crew will be at hand to answer any queries.

The flying display starts at 1.30pm and closes with the Red Arrows at around 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, visit www.maltairshow.com