RNAS Culdrose Air Day: As it happened

1. Weather conditions have delayed air displays at RNAS Culdrose Air Day
2. A mixture of historic aircraft and modern fighter jets are due to take to the skies over Helston this afternoon
3. Thousands of people attend the event in West Cornwall
4. Updates on 28 July 2016

Goodbye from RNAS Culdrose Air Day

No official air displays have flown at Culdrose because of bad weather at this year's Air Day.

However, personnel at the base say they were still glad to be able to throw open the doors for people to see what the base does.

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Commanding officer Captain Alan Orchard said: "I've never worked at a place so knitted to the local community." 

We'll leave you with this shot of one of the aircraft from the aerobatic display crew Team Raven.

Thanks for joining us for our coverage today. The Local Live team will be back with the latest news, sport, weather and travel from 08:00 on Friday.

Little and large: Who'd win in a race?

The variety of size in helicopter can possibly be best demonstrated with this pair.

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So, the big question is, which would win in a race? The big Sea King Mark VII? Or would your money be on the possibly nippier Guimbal Cabri G2?

Where's this Typhoon from?

This Typhoon fighter jet is obviously property of the German Air Force, but I'm sure this is not its combat colours.

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BBC

Keeping it in the family

Air traffic controller Lt Holly Carter has been in the Royal Navy for 11 years, but knew she wanted to be in the service from the age of 15.

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She's hoping the tradition continues in the family, as son Leo's flight suit shows.

Seeing a legend: The Harrier

No aircraft have been flying offically in displays, but crowds have been treated to one of the world's most iconic aircraft in a ground display - the Harrier.

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Culdrose is the only place where the the sea version of the famous vertical take-off aircraft is still in regular use.

Ever wanted to hang around... from a winch?

One attraction offered by a helicopter crew was the chance to hang off a rope attached to the aircraft's winch.

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More media duties for base XO

Base second-in-command and Executive Officer (XO) Commander Ian Fitter is interviewed by BFBS Television, the British Forces Broadcasting Service.

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All the fun of the fair

For those who want a slight diversion from the planes and helicopters, there's a funfair here too.

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Coming in to land...

Some of the Hawk aircraft due to be involved in later displays have landed at Culdrose.

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It's still not known when the six aircraft will be taking part in any displays.

A little music, perhaps?

For those who wanted a little musical interlude, the HMS Seahawk Volunteer Band was playing in the 'Made In Cornwall' hangar.

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Believe it or not, the band's repertoire includes 'Do You Want To Build A Snowman' from the movie Frozen.

Droning on: Police have unmanned aircraft on display

Among the items on display by Devon and Cornwall Police are some of their new drones, which have been used by the force since last November.

Head of the drone unit is Insp Andrew Hamilton, pictured here.

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PC Tom Shainberg said: "These are a big game-changer. It costs £1,000-an-hour to use a police helicopter. These cost £2,000 each, so they've paid for themselves after a couple of flights. They will become a normal part of policing within the next few years."

The Spitfire: Thrilling, even when on the ground

Although flying has been delayed because of bad weather, there are some aircraft that don't need to be in the air to be recognised.

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One of those is this Spitfire MV293 from 1944, which served with the Indian Air Force for most of its career.

Today the sight and sound of this aircraft still thrills crowds and air displays around the world.

Air Station is 'a little town, really'

BBC Radio Cornwall's Debbie McCrory has been talking to Culdrose's Executive Officer and second-in-command, Commander Ian Fitter.

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He said things had been "going very well with the ground activities". 

He also talked about how the base, to him, was more than just a military post. He said: "We're a little town, really. We have our military staff, but we also have dentists, doctors, education personnel."

Flying displays delayed again

Air displays have been delayed again at RNAS Culdrose because of weather concerns.

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A single Gazelle helicopter has taken off, but not as part of any official movement.

It's a fair cop... with flashing lights

The Royal Navy is not the only organisation displaying its equipment at Culdrose Air Day.

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Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police have been showing what vehicles they use, with PC Andy Weir telling four-year-old Jaxon, from Bodmin, how to activate the siren on a police car.

Jaxon said he wanted to become a policeman after the demonstration "because I really like the flashing lights".

Line up to walk on the runway

Wandering around, you may come across this line going down the middle of the walkway. And then you realise it's an airbase runway.

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Thankfully it's not being employed for its usual role today.

Travel warning for Culdrose Air Day visitors

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Motorbiking: Some other arena events

It's not just planes at Culdrose Air Day. 

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The Culdrose Arena, built in the middle of the runway, has its own diary of things happening, including motorcycle stunt displays.

Aircraft get ready for lift-off

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A couple of ways to fly at Air Day

It turns out there are a few ways to fly at Culdrose today. You can either make use of one of the aircraft, such as the Lynx helicopter here in the foreground, or...

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...if you look in the background, can you see people spinning in the air on the Sky Ride at the funfair? 

Flying and sailing into history: The Bristol Scout

One of the oldest aircraft on display is a Bristol Scout biplane.

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This was the first type of land-based aircraft ever flown from a ship, back in 1915.

Mist clears at Culdrose

The rain and mist have cleared at RNAS Culdrose and organisers hope to get displays up in the air shortly.

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Appropriately, the PA system is playing "Feeling hot, hot, hot".

Making tracks: Bomb squad robot collects for charity

Here's a novel use for the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal team's robot - carrying a charity collection tin. All done by remote control.

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The squad is raising money for several charities, including prostate and breast cancer organisations.

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Come Fly With Me

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Making a splash: The Catalina flying boat

One of the stars of the static display is the Catalina flying boat.

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The American-built amphibious aircraft was produced in the 1930s and 1940s, and was one of the most widely-used seaplanes of World War Two. They were eventually retired from military use in the late 1950s.

Rain delays displays, but crowds are determined

Poor weather has prevented any flying displays from taking to the sky so far.

Organisers said they hoped that the first display would start at 14:00. 

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The rain and mist has also not deterred many people from making sure they've got a good vantage point beside the runway.

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Made in Cornwall: Local produce at Culdrose Air Day

It's not just all things flying at Culdrose.

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One hangar is hosting "Made In Cornwall", showing off food, drink, as well as arts and crafts made around the county. 

'I want to be a Navy pilot now!'

Earlier we showed you five-year-old Haydn getting to grips with the controls of a Gazelle helicopter. It's helped him set his career ambitions.

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He said: "I wanted to be an Army person, but now I want to be a Navy pilot."

Talking tactics and aircraft carrier landings

BBC Cornwall's Debbie McCrory and Kath Peters get a lesson in tactics and how to land planes on an aircraft carrier from Lt Chris Luke.

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The picture on the board is representing the new aircraft carrier the HMS Queen Elizabeth. Debbie asks: "Where will Tom Cruise stand?" She is in full Top Gun mode.

January 2016: RNAS Culdrose hands search and rescue to Bristow Helicopters

In January the Cornwall-based Navy air rescue team handed over search and rescue operations to a private company.

Crews from 771 squadron carried out more than 40 years of rescue operations from RNAS Culdrose near Helston, saving thousands of lives.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency contractor Bristow Helicopters now runs the service from Newquay airport.

The US-based company won a 10-year, £1.6bn contract to run rescue services around the UK.

Royal Navy

Man dies after being pulled from sea

A man who was rescued from the sea off Cornwall has died, the RNLI says.

Lifeguards and members of the public rescued the unconscious man from the waters off Perranporth Beach on Monday.

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Look back: Culdrose Air Day 2015

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Getty Images

Who works at RNAS Culdrose?

About 3,000 people are based at Culdrose – those who fly and many more who help them to get airborne.

These include:

• Teams of engineers who maintain the aircraft and keep them in the air
• Air Traffic Controllers who manage 45,000 aircraft movements a year
• A Bird Control Unit to keep the airfield clear of birds and limit the threat of bird strikes
• Meteorologists who predict and monitor the weather to aid flight safety
• Fire crews who provide emergency support
• The chaplaincy team to administer to the spiritual and emotional needs of our people
• Security, police, catering and other behind-the-scenes support services

RNAS Culdrose

The mist is clearing at Culdrose Air Day

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As the morning has progressed, the mist and fog has cleared a bit. It's a lot easier to see some of the static displays now.

Latest travel in Cornwall: Crash near Culdrose Air Day site

• In West Cornwall we've got reports of a collision on the A3083 between The Square and B3296 Meaver Road
• In Saltash, Callington Road is partially blocked, busy but moving due to a collision near Burraton Road  

Haydn gets hands-on with a helicopter

One of the things Culdrose Air Day encourages is getting people to literally be hands-on with some of the aircraft and equipment.

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Base commander Captain Alan Orchard says: "So many people see just an airbase with wires around it. We want to get people into it so they can understand what it is the taxpayer is paying for."

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Here, five-year-old Haydn sits in the cockpit of a Gazelle helicopter, assisted by Groundcrew Ray Evans.

Culdrose Air Day: Debbie McCrory will be broadcasting live 15:00

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The aviators get younger every year!

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Young Ava shows her aviation ambitions, complete with flight suit and Air Day flag.

BBC Radio Cornwall's Hannah Stacey joins final rehearsal

BBC Radio Cornwall's Hannah Stacey joined the final rehearsal - on Wednesday - for the finale of Culdrose Air Day 2016. 

The iconic Sea Harrier will lead the last fly past with Merlin helicopters to wow the crowds at Helston later.  

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An early start for Culdrose Air Day

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Despite initial inclement weather, people have been keen to get to Culdrose early.

"We had the first person arrive at the site just before 07:30," one commander said.