You may be an Air Festival veteran, or perhaps this is your first time to the event. We've pulled together some handy tips and advice if you're heading down during the festival from August 29-September 1.

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

The East Cliff will be closed off, along with Grove Road and Manor Road and roads in Boscombe and Southbourne are usually very busy by mid-morning.

Use the park and rides at Kings Park if you are bringing your car – it’s £10 per vehicle on Thursday and Sunday and £12 on Friday and Saturday. They run from 9am-11pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from 9am until 7pm on Sunday.

Disabled parking is available but limited. The disabled parking drop-off point is at the bottom of Sea Road at Boscombe Pier. Accessible car-parks are at Sea Road BH5 1BN (70 spaces) and the Winter Gardens BH2 5AQ (250 spaces). There is accessible viewing available at Monkey Island BH1 3EZ (80 car parking spaces).

WHERE TO WATCH:

The central flight line for the festival runs between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers, and there are stands, stalls and activities all along the beach. We recommend arriving early to get a decent spot, particularly at the weekend.

People stake their claim on the best spots on the overcliff and beach from 7am onwards, so if you can’t or don’t want to wait all day, try further up the beach in both directions.

WHO CAN HELP IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

There will be lots of people and volunteers on hand, advising on what’s going on when and where and generally helping people find their way around at this year’s air festival.

WHAT'S NEW FOR THIS YEAR?

The RAF Typhoon will be returning joined by the Saab Draken from Sweden and the Canadair T-33 Silver Star from Norway.

HOW LOUD DOES IT GET? CAN I BRING MY TODDLER?

Obviously, the noise level varies from plane to plane, with the Eurofighter Typhoon the loudest of them all (and that’s really loud). How scared your child will be depends on how they usually react to noise, but we would recommend ear defenders or ear plugs for children and anyone who doesn’t really like loud noise.

WEATHER

Cloud and wind can affect some of the displays or lead to cancellations but we'll keep up-to-date on this in our daily live blogs. We'll be giving an up to date forecast in the days immediately before the big event begins.

THINGS THAT AREN’T PLANES:

There’s lots to do and see away from the flying – from funfairs to falconry and face-painting for the children. There will be entertainment in the Lower Gardens plus, trade stalls, food and drink stands and a funfair on the seafront. There will also be a villages for the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, plus numerous displays going on at the Air Festival Beach Assault Arena.