MEET the stars of Weymouth’s 2012 Carnival.

The Aerostars are a show-stopping aerobatic team which are set to wow the crowds.

A few minutes into their performance and carnival organisers hope that all thoughts of a certain aerial act will be erased from the minds of spectators.

As reported in the Echo, the world famous Red Arrows and carnival favourites will not be at the event this year as they will be returning from an air show overseas.

Carnival organisers from the Rotary Club of Melcombe Regis are not dwelling on that and are instead looking forward to a bumper event which they hope will be a hit with families and raise lots of money for local charities.

A spokesman for Weymouth Carnival said: “We’re delighted to confirm the Aerostars for this year’s carnival.

“We have no doubt they will be a favourite with families.

“It is planned the Aerostars will perform later in the afternoon before the grand procession.”

The Aerostars are billed as Europe’s largest and most spectacular aerobatic formation display team.

The six ex-Russian military Yak 50 aircraft will use the airspace over Weymouth Bay to dramatic effect with their twists and turns and death-defying head-to-head stunts.

Team manager Dave Boardman said the team were used to being compared with the Red Arrows because the style is similar. As they are jets they have more thrust and can do things we can’t but basically it’s the same sort of routine,” said Mr Boardman.

He added: “We’re used to being compared with the Red Arrows, in a nice way.

“Depending on cost and availability, if you want a big team of aircraft it’s us or them.”

For more details see weymouthcarnival2012.co.uk

Festival sponsors big event

THE sponsor of Weymouth Carnival’s air events has been confirmed as the Weymouth Bayside Festival.

Scheduled to run concurrently with the Olympic sailing events in Weymouth and Portland, the festival will take place in an arena behind the Pavilion from July 27 to August 12.

The ticketed event promises something for all the family with vibrant displays, live entertainment, retailers, bars and Dorset foods.

Managing director of event organisers Mainsail Ltd, Joe Hall, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support the carnival. It’s the right thing to do having imposed ourselves on Weymouth for the Olympic period.

“We saw this opportunity as a way of putting something back into the town to say thank you.”

As well as the Aerostars, other aerial events at Weymouth Carnival are the Red Devils parachute display team who will drop in after the carnival queen is crowned, and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the RAF’s tribute to the aviators of the Second World War.

Mr Hall said the Bayside Festival and Weymouth Carnival are a ‘perfect match’ because of a similar target audience. For more information see weymouth baysidefestival.co.uk