Berlin prepares for supersonic display featuring world's fastest aircraft

Thousands of visitors will arrive in Berlin for the city's 2016 airshow which will feature some of the most advanced military and civilian aircraft currently available. 

More than 200 aircraft will be on display, many of them performing test flights above the crowds, including Second World War-era  Messerschmitt Me 109 fighter and an Me 262, the first production jet aircraft.

Vintage aircraft fans will also see a DC-3 'candy bomber' which took part in the Berlin Airlift and helped save the city from starvation. 

Airbus will be displaying its A400M heavy-lift aircraft tat the Berlin Air Show, pictured today practicing its routine at Schoenefeld.
Massive transport aircraft can carry up to 25 tonnes of cargo or more than 100 paratoopers and operate out of rough landing strips 

Airbus will also be demonstrating their new A350-XWB, which is a twin-engined, wide-bodied long-haul aircraft 

Already in Berlin is the Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet dubbed 'Ed Force One' flown by Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickenson. The band are playing tonight before departing the airport tomorrow - during the middle of the air show. 

Dickenson will take off with his band and 12 tonnes of equipment tomorrow at around 2pm. 

According to the organisers, the first two days of the airshow are for industry insiders while Friday and Saturday are open to the public. 

Volker Thum of the German Aerospace Industries Association said: 'We are eagerly anticipating a highly innovative and forward-looking ILA 2016 that will enable all visitors to experience the fascination of aviation and space flight at first hand. 

Iron Maiden's Boeing 747-400, will take off tomorrow afternoon after the band plays Berlin tonight with Bruce Dickenson in command

As well as manned aircraft, there will be a number of unmanned drones, such as this Heron TP created by IAI and Airbus Defence 

The German Bundesweher helicopters, pictured, will be on display during the four-day air show starting tomorrow morning in Berlin

'Once again the programme of flying displays is an integral part of the ILA, and as usual there will be plenty to see this year, with 200 aircraft on the ground and in the air. We are expecting more than 1,000 exhibitors from 37 countries. 

'The ILA is already established as one of the world’s largest and most important trade shows for the aerospace industry. It is synonymous with innovation, and it also takes an in-depth look at a number of issues of vital importance for the future success of our industry in the face of worldwide competition, such as sustainability, digitalisation, Industry 4.0 and 3D printing.'

Airbus will be promoting its new twin-engined, long-haul, wide-bodied A350 XWB at the show. The aircraft contains a greater proportion of carbon fibre components than any other passenger jet. 

The A320neo will also be seen, which Airbus claim is the quietest jet in the Lufthansa fleet. 

Several display teams will also take part including the Royal Navy's Black Cats helicopter display team.  

Among the jets taking part in the displays later this week will be this pair of German Eurofighter attack jets 

The airshow is only open to trade delegates for the first two days, but members of the public can visit on Friday and Saturday 

These German Eurofighters were being prepared in advance of several displays planned above Schoenfeld airport over the next four days

Among the aircraft on display over the next four days is this massive  Antonov 178 jet transport from Ukraine

Members of the German Bundeswehr, pictured, will be involved in displays involving the various aircraft during the air show

One of the displays will show how quickly the A400m can be loaded and unloaded with troops and equipment to demonstrate flexibility

More than 200 aircraft including military and civilian will be displayed between Wednesday morning and Saturday afternoon

German Bundeswehr soldiers were practicing a rescue and evacuation mission involving a CH-53 helicopter at the airport earlier today