The latest addition to Britain's air defences will make a spectacular appearance over Oxfordshire with a visit to the Fly To The Past event at Blenheim Palace.

The RAF's 29 Squadron will be demonstrating the capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoon F2, the supersonic combat aircraft.

The Eurofighter, built to replace the RAF's Tornado F3 interceptor aircraft, is about to enter service across the UK, and could be fully operational in just over a year's time.

The arrival of the Euro- fighter at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock on Sunday, July 22, is a coup for the organisers.

It is making only a handful of appearances at air shows this summer. For almost 10 minutes, thousands of spectators will thrill to the sights - and sounds - of pilot Flight Lieutenant Jim Walls putting the aircraft through low-level manoeuvres and aerobatics.

Squadron Leader Andy Pawsey, the RAF Event Team's creative director and commentator for the show, said he expected the arrival of the Eurofighter at Blenheim Palace to be "very spectacular and very noisy".

He said: "Without a doubt, the Eurofighter is the most formidable aircraft of its kind in the world today and it really does represent the future of the RAF for many years to come.

"Its aerobatic capability is extraordinary and I'm sure the crowd at Blenheim will be amazed to see what it can do."

The Eurofighter has a maximum speed of Mach 2 - twice the speed of sound - and a full range of weaponry, including laser-guided bombs and advanced anti-armour weapons.

Sqn Ldr Pawsey said that from July, the Eurofighter would be on quick reaction alert across the South of England, ready to scramble at a moment's notice.

"In a way, the Eurofighter is fulfilling the same role as Spitfires and Hurricanes did during the Battle of Britain, on a moment's stand-by for action," he added.

The Eurofighter's appearance will come towards the end of a four-hour flying show featuring more than 40 aircraft from aviation history.

A First World War dogfight featuring British Sopwiths and German Fokkers will make way for a Second World War flypast of aircraft including the Spitfire, Hurricane and Mustang fighters, along with the Lancaster bomber.

On the ground, there is a range of shows, displays, re-enactment events, fashion and beauty parades and fun events.

Event director Francis Rockliff said: "The appearance of the Eurofighter is a real feather in the cap for the event, and it just proves how highly we are regarded by all those involved in the UK's most unique and exciting air show."

Tickets are available at www.flytothepast.com or by calling 01993 822822.