ORGANISERS are keeping their fingers crossed that Prince William will be playing a starring role at Rhyl Air Show next month.
The search and rescue helicopter team from RAF Valley, on Anglesey, where he is based will be one of the main attractions at the event on Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7.
The Prince is now back on duty and St James’ Palace have let it be known that the royal couple now want to avoid the limelight and go “under the radar”.
Virtually every day a Sea King helicopter from RAF Valley or the Rhyl lifeboat will be in action either in the waters or mountains of North Wales. They will be combining their skills off the promenade demonstrating how they rescue someone from the sea.
For operational reasons there can be no confirmation about the appearance or otherwise of a certain Flt Lt William Wales, so visitors will just have to bring binoculars, to see if Prince William is in the crew.
In just three years the Rhyl Airshow has grown to be the biggest event in North Wales with last year’s attendance approaching 90,000.
Martin Jones coxswain of Rhyl lifeboat said: “We will be carrying out search and rescue operation using the all-weather lifeboat hopefully in sight of the crowd off the prom’ but that will depend on the helicopter and the winds.
“The helicopter will steer a course towards us and will airlift a person probably from our decks after lowering a winch man down onto the boat. We work quite closely with RAF Valley.”
The launch, depending on weather conditions, will be Saturday, August 6, after 4pm.
On Sunday as well as the RAF Red Arrows, the skies above Rhyl will be filled by the Breitling Wing Walkers, a solo aerobatic display, a Strikemaster, a Pitts Special, the Royal Artillery Black Knights Parachute Display Team and the Matador display team.