THE official launch of the Royal International Air Tattoo proved to be a ginger-free event today when Chris Evans failed to turn up.

The celebrity and his wife Natasha Shishmanian were supposed to mark the official opening of this year's airshow but Mr Evans, who pilots his own helicopter, put in a no-show.

An Air Tattoo spokesman said: "Mr Evans was unavoidably detained for personal reasons.

A planned flypast by a Rolls-Royce Spitfire also had to be cancelled due to torrential rainfall but a Chinook helicopter from RAF Odiham was able to bring in a line-up of RAF heroes past and present to mark the 90th anniversary of the Royal Air Force.

They included 90-year-old former Spitfire pilot Sqn Ldr Ian Blair, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in 1940. He was joined by Flt Lt Craig Wilson DFC who won the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantry while serving in Afghanistan last year, and Sqn Ldr Jason Sutton OBE who was honoured in March this year for "outstanding leadership" on deployment in Iraq.

Tim Prince, Director of RIAT, said: "The Air Tattoo takes place on July 12-13 this year, and we're gearing up for a very special event marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the RAF.

"We're delighted to welcome Sqn Ldr Blair together with Flt Lt Wilson and Sqn Ldr Sutton as representatives of the proud tradition and history of the Royal Air Force, which is core to our celebrations at RIAT 2008."