A young boy gazes at planes from the Italian aerobatic Pioneer Team.A young boy gazes at planes from the Italian aerobatic Pioneer Team.

Thousands flocked to the airport grounds yesterday for the 21st annual air show, whose grand finale was a display by the famous Red Arrows.

But for one couple in love it was more like a beginning. As the RAF aerobatic team left a smoky trail in the shape of a heart, with an arrow through the middle, Paul Spiteri Lucas got on his knees and proposed to his girlfriend Emanda Farrugia. She said yes.

The Red Arrows commentator dedicated the “special heart” to Mr Spiteri Lucas, one of the air show organisers with the Malta Aviation Society. Malta was the venue of the jets’ last demonstration for the summer and they are planning to leave Malta today at around 10am.

The show was this year rebranded Air X Malta International Air Show 2013 and it usually lures about 15,000 families.

Earlier, as they waited for the Red Arrows, long queues formed at the Qatar Emiri Air Force C-130J-30 Hercules and the Nato Boeing E-3A Sentry parked on the tarmac, with people posing for pictures in the aircraft’s cockpit.

Another crowd-puller was the Armed Forces of Malta static display including the Hawker Beechcraft B200 King Air Maritime Patrol Aircraft and the Alouette III helicopter, and their simulated rescue.

This year the programme also included a colourful display by the Italian aerobatic Pioneer Team.

Next year’s air show will be held on September 27 and 28.

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