This year's Battle of Britain Airshow at Shoreham Airport has been dubbed one of the biggest and best to date.

More than 40,000 people flocked to see a wide range of aircraft put through their paces, from Battle of Britain planes to the latest jets.

Jets roared up into the heavens before plunging earthwards in a tremendous show of speed and skill, while vintage Sopwith and Fokker triplanes flipped in the air during mock dogfights.

Onlookers were thrilled to see Royal Marine Commandos abseil from a Sea King helicopter.

But it was all in a day's work for the crew who were doing it for real a few months ago.

Crewman Steve Baldie told how he and his fellow Sea King pilots had to fly marines into Sierra Leone.

He said: "The display might look dangerous but to us, we're just doing our job. This is what we do every day. In Sierra Leone we were in constant threat of coming under fire - that's when you start to think it's getting dangerous.

"I've a lot of respect for the pilots in the displays, they have got a lot of skill. Even though displays look dangerous, they are well rehearsed and highly choreographed."

The show had special significance for Steve's father Iain Baldie, of West Chiltington, near Storrington.

Mr Baldie, who flies Boeing 747 passenger jets for Singapore Airlines, made his first flight at Shoreham Airport in 1957. He said: "I look at the pilots and wish I was up there with them. I've done a little bit of stunt flying but nothing quite as tricky as this.

"Maybe I should come down next year and do some stunts in a 747 but I don't think the passengers would be too happy!"

The event reminded people of the debt owed to Battle of Britain pilots who kept Nazi Germany at bay in 1940.

Onlookers were treated to flypasts by Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Lancaster Bomber during a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

There were also displays by modern jets, including a Harrier, Jaguar, Royal Danish Air Force Lockheed F16 and a Hawker Hunter.

There was a poignant moment for former RAF jet pilot Dennis Kenyon who performed helicopter tricks. In March his 18-year-old son, Dennis Jnr, was killed in a helicopter crash. Mr Kenyon has set up a flying scholarship in his memory.

Howard and Joan Linton, of Maytree Avenue, Worthing, who have been going to the airshow for four years, took their sons James, three, and Andrew, nine, along.

Joan said: "The fast jets were brilliant. We loved the displays but it's also good for the kids as there is so much to do."

Chris and Danny Butcher, of Storrington, took a picnic and watched every display with their son Stephen, aged ten.

Stephen said: "I love the noise of the jets as they roar past. The Harrier display was probably the best."

Twins Rachel and Lorna Cookson, aged 21, entertained spectators with their amazing wing-walking aerobatics with the Utterly Butterly team.

The identical aerobats took a walk on the wild side as they braved 100mph winds atop specially modified 450bhp Boeing Stearman biplanes.

Both were both students at Liverpool University when they saw an advertisement for wing-walkers. Rachel said: "We thought it would beat other summer jobs."

Pilot Martin Carrington showed off his precision flying skills when he landed his Piper Cub on the back of a truck driven by Robert Grenville at speeds of 50mph to 60mph.

Martin said: "You have got to keep it steady because the platform is only 3ft wider than the plane's wheelbase. I have been flying since I was nine but it is still tricky every time because if you get a crosswind it can be risky."