Hundreds of thousands of people were today descending on Eastbourne for Sussex's largest free four-day airshow.

More than 70 aerial displays by the world's elite pilots will be performed at the Airbourne 2003 on the seafront until Sunday.

It starts from noon today with opening flights from the aerobatic Jordanian Falcons, owned by King Abdullah of Jordan.

Their appearance is the final leg of a European tour which has taken them to Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Norway and Switzerland.

Past favourites the Red Arrows return with their famous red, white and blue smoke trails and a former Sussex schoolboy among their number.

Flight Lieutenant Antony Parkinson, 38, attended all-boys William Parker School in Parkstone Road, Hastings, before joining the elite RAF Squadron aged 18.

Flt Lt Parkinson's service with the Red Arrows ends this year.

He will make a special landing on the Western Lawns on Sunday to bid farewell to the crowds.

He said: "Eastbourne is always a very special show for me. The Red Arrows always get a very warm reception from the crowds and the whole team is looking forward very much to displaying there."

On the ground are a Eurofighter cockpit, a replica Tornado GR4 and a Red Arrows simulator, plus displays by the RAF dog display team, tactical units and bomb disposal experts.

The RAF Regiment band will perform at the bandstand on the seafront tonight and Sunday night to a Spitfire solo flight from 8.30pm.

Airshow organisers had hoped to secure Concorde for one of its final flights before it is pensioned off in the autumn.

But British Airways bosses refused to allow the supersonic aircraft to put in an appearance, saying it was in too much demand.

However, tourism bosses predict the event will be yet another economy boost for Eastbourne, which was named the South Coast's friendliest resort this year. Last year more than 500,000 people visited Airbourne to help generate more than £3 million for the town's businesses.

AIRBOURNE HIGHLIGHTS:

TODAY Flying displays and Western Lawns arena Royal Jordanian Falcons, Jaguar GR3, Royal Navy Merlin, Sukhoi SU26, Chinook, Fouga Magister, Alpha Jet, csma Extra 300XS, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Nimrod MR2, Yakovlevs, Royal Navy Merlin, Patrouille Reva, Tucano T1, Hawk T1, Tornado F3, Utterly Butterly Wing Walkers, RAF Falcons and Hercules flypast, Spitfire TOMORROW Flying displays and Western Lawns arena RAF Falcons and Hercules flypast, Jaguar GR3, csma Extra 300XS, Fouga Magister, Alpha Jet, Yakovlevs, Royal Navy Merlin, Royal Jordanian Falcons, Sukhoi SU26, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Red 10 arrival, Patrouille Reva, Chinook, Tucano T1, Hawk T1, Tornado F3, Nimrod MR2 , Utterly Butterly Wing Walkers, Red Arrows SATURDAY Flying displays and Western Lawns arena RAF Falcons and Hercules Flypast, 100-year commemorative flight, Spitfire, Tornado F3, csma Extra 300XS, Utterly Butterly Wing Walkers, Fouga Magister, Alpha Jet, Yakovlevs, Nimrod MR2, Patrouille Reva, Vampire and Sea Vixen, Royal Navy Merlin, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Red 10 arrival, Royal Jordanian Falcons, Chinook, Tucano T1, Hawk T1, Jaguar GR3, Sukhoi SU26, Red Arrows SUNDAY Flying displays and Western Lawns arena RAF Falcons and Hercules Flypast, 100-year commemorative flight, Spitfire, Tornado F3, Yakovlevs, Sukhoi SU26, Royal Navy Merlin, Patrouille Reva, Fouga Magister, Alpha Jet, Utterly Butterly Wing Walkers, Vampire and Sea Vixen, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Red 10 arrival, Chinook, Royal Jordanian Falcons, Tucano T1, Hawk T1, Jaguar GR3, Nimrod MR2, csma Extra 300XS, Red Arrows, Spitfire sunset ceremony.