AUGUST Bank Holiday will be a proud weekend for Andre Tempest when he shows off his beloved Lusty Lindy at the Great Yorkshire Air Show.

But when Andre parades his lovely lady in front of the crowds at the show, which is sponsored by the Evening Press, he will not be showing off his girlfriend, but rather a 57-tonne Handley Page Victor tanker, known to many as the V-bomber.

The enormous aircraft, a present from his father eight years ago, has a 117ft wingspan and a length of 114ft and Rolls Royce engines which create an incredible roar.

Because of Lusty Lindy's age, all regulations allow Andre to do is to taxi along the two-mile runway at the former Second World War bomber base at Elvington.

Lusty Lindy, crewed by Andre and an ex-air and V-bomber ground crew, will be put through her paces at the air show on August 26 and 27.

Said Andre: "Although it can't fly, it is still an incredible feeling to be in such an enormous aircraft when it reaches a speed of around 80 or 90 knots, which is about 100 miles per hour."

In addition to Lusty Lindy, visitors to the Great Yorkshire Air Show will be treated to a three-and-a-half hour air display each day featuring, among others, the Red Arrows, RAF Falcon Sky Divers, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Utterley Butterley Wing Walkers.

Other family attractions include a fairground, vintage car display, trade stands and helicopter rides.

For more information, call 01759 305851.

Updated: 11:02 Saturday, August 04, 2001