Chocks away!

A trio of rock and roll pilots will today join air display legends the Red Arrows and some of the latest military aircraft in the British arsenal in a fly past over London to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Air Force. The move is intended to raise awareness of the work the RAF has done in urban planning and sporting a stiff moustache against impossible odds among today's young people.

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, who has been a qualified pilot for many years, will lead the flight of rockers in a two seater Spitfire trainer. He will be joined as wingman by Blur drummer Dave Rowntree, space enthusiast and owner of a Lysander transport aircraft, which in the Second World War was used to land secret agents behind enemy lines. Former stunt ace Gary Numan will be the final pop pilot taking part, taking up tail end charlie position in one of the few remaining airworthy De Haviland Mosquito aircraft.

Chief of the Defence staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup said he was thrilled to have the three pop heroes taking to the skies along with the boys of the RAF. "It's a jolly good show, what?" he told The Daily Telegraph. "Hopefully the presence of these stapping young cavaliers of the sky will stop our boys getting thumped in the streets for sporting their sky blues and a goodly measure of moustache wax." He added he was especially looking forward to a special cheese made for the veterans dinner that follows the fly past by Rowntree's good chum Alex James. "It'll certainly make a change from ham and eggs," Sir Stirrup chortled.

The aircraft will rendezvouse over London City Airport before flying down the Thames to roar over the London Eye at 13.00 sharp.