The Viking Festival launches on Saturday September 1 with a high flying spectacle.
Chairman Alex Gallagher said: "We are delighted to have the UKs top female airshow pilot, Lauren Richardson (formerly Wilson), flying her modified Pitts Special aerobatic biplane on our opening day - 1 September at 3.00 pm (weather permitting). Her passion is for flying and performing, pushing herself to provide the most exciting, precise and dynamic low level air displays possible."
Lauren said: " I’m 31 years old and one of the top aerobatic display pilots in the UK. I fly a beautiful and iconic modified Pitts Special aerobatic biplane, both as an airshow pilot and as a competitive sport aerobat.
"Unlike many top pilots and airshow stars, I didn’t start out from an aviation family. Neither of my parents were pilots, nor their parents. In fact I’m pretty sure I’m actually the first in the family!
"Pursuing a childhood dream, I started to take flying lessons when I was 19, after saving money working as an engineering apprentice from the age of 16. Once I had eventually saved enough to realistically be able to complete my license, I headed over to my local flying club and joined.
"At the start I never once even considered flying aerobatics. I actually thought it was a pretty mad idea and couldn’t fathom why people would do it. All that changed after I took my first flight in a two seat Pitts S2A…
"I was hooked from the very start – the first time I saw the earth from the top of a loop instantly changed my life. After that first flight I started having aerobatic lessons. I learned the basics, then ended up heading to and winning my first competition…
"In 2012 I became British Female Aerobatic champion and after that gained my Display Authorisation. In 2013 I started airshow flying and found my real passion.
"I consistently push myself further and harder than before, getting fitter, stronger, more experienced and more focused. I am still a competitive aerobatic pilot, however my main focus is on airshow flying. I train and practice hard to make each performance the best it can possibly be, working on designing and tweaking new sequences and constantly, drawing inspiration from wherever I can to make each performance as incredible and as memorable as possible."