Thank you for joining us at RIAT25 – it was another fantastic event with over 175,000 people visiting us here at RAF Fairford over the weekend.
Visitors enjoyed aircraft from all over the world, with 224 aircraft from 27 different nations touching down over the weekend including Egypt, who were participating in the show for the very first time! We’ll be sharing our top moments over the coming weeks.
RIAT returns in 2026 on 17th, 18th and 19th July. We have frozen 2025 prices for Saturday and Sunday General Admission! Friday and Sunday are also currently at super early bird prices, and Saturday at early bird, so now is the best time to get your tickets at the best price.
Want to experience an enclosure at the next show? Enclosures are currently up to 15% off on Friday and Sunday, and up to 10% off on Saturday. Tickets won’t stay at these prices for long, so book now!
Make your RIAT26 experience truly unforgettable and stay overnight with us too. With direct access to the showground through a private entrance, along with the comfort of free parking for one vehicle per booking, flushing toilets, proper shower facilities, and evening entertainment. Book your camping spot today. This is what memories are made of!
A spectacular festival of motoring and aviation not only brought a fabulous array of vehicles and aircraft from across the country roaring into the Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop, Hampshire last Saturday (12 July), but also saw a magnificent air display programme which wowed yet another sell-out crowd.
The Army Flying Museum, and the adjacent Army Air Corps airfield, saw its highest number of aircraft, motorcycles, classic and super cars descend on an extremely hot day for the fifth Wallop, Wheels and Wings event, attracting over 5000 visitors. The event, which was sponsored by GKN Aerospace and Airbus, was undoubtedly the biggest and best it has hosted, and the air displays began in style with a stunning fly-past from the Red Arrows. The afternoon saw a number of displays including the RAF Falcons Parachute Team, Rolls-Royce Heritage Flight’s Spitfire PR.XIX along with a stunning display from the Aerosuperbatics Wing Walkers and culminated with a breathtaking finale from the Army Air Corps Display Team.
On the ground there were over 400 classic and super car clubs in attendance, spanning over one hundred years of motoring including the Morgan Club, Aston Martin Owners’ Club, the MX5 Owners Club and the Austin Healey Club, along with a wide range of superbikes and vintage motorcycles, with a very special display by Andover Norton International.
Visitors were able to view the new Boeing AH-64E Apache AH1 which was especially brought out of the hangar for visitors to see, along with the Army Air Corps recruiting team’s Gazelle helicopter. TV personality Henry Cole also made a very special appearance, bringing along his partially restored Bell Sioux Helicopter for crowds to see.
The event showcased a number of interactive STEM activities in its Discovery Den, with hands on activities from GKN Aerospace, Airbus, Boeing and Leonardos with lots to keep young minds buzzing, including GKN’s very own robot.
A shopping village showcased many local traders and visitors were treated to lots of great delights from local businesses including Saxnot Meadery, New Forest Shortbread, Hornet Chilli and many more.
Lucy Johnson, Army Flying Museum CEO, said: We are so thrilled to have welcomed over 5000 people to our biggest and best-ever Wallop Wheels & Wings – what a finale we gave the crowds this year, huge thanks to the Army Air Corps Display Team. This is the key event in the Museum’s fundraising calendar, and it is so important in helping to raise the profile of the Museum and the work that we do. It was fantastic to see so many happy, smiling faces despite the heat, and to see a record-breaking number of cars, bikes and aircraft join us on the day. Increasing our air display programme was a particular highlight and it was great to see the delight on our visitors faces as they watched the spectacular displays taking place. Roll on 2026!”
Wallop Wheels and Wings 2026 is set to take place on Saturday 11 July, more info at www.armyflying.com
We are back for our final aircraft announcement as we put the finishing touches to this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo.
With less than a week to go until aircraft from all over the world touch down at RAF Fairford, we still have exciting new additions to this year’s line-up.
Starting with the Pakistan Air Force, they will be bringing their JF-17 Thunder to RIAT for the first time! There will be a pair of them on static display alongside a C-130E Hercules, supported by their IL-78 tanker. These rare Pakistani aircraft will be a highlight for many aviation enthusiasts.
Staying with the flying display, we are delighted to confirm a number of unique flypasts courtesy of both the Royal Air Force and United States Air Force, with a number of aircraft participating across the weekend, such as B-1B Lancer, F-35B Lightning II, RC-135W Rivet Joint, P-8A Poseidon and C-17 Globemaster. Check the listings on the website, or our new app, to see which aircraft will be appearing on each day.
Last but not least, we have some more additions to the static aircraft in the shape of an F-15E Strike Eagle and Airbus A400M, plus aircraft from Airtask as part of our ‘Eyes in the Skies’ theme with their Cessna F406 Vigilant.
We can guarantee that we’ll be taking calls next week from people who are desperate for tickets to the this summer’s RIAT extravaganza. Buy your tickets today or you’ll be disappointed.
Friday general admission is sold out. Only way in now for Friday is with an enclosure upgrade package.
Saturday general admission is sold out. Only way in now for Saturday is with an Altitude enclosure upgrade package.
Sunday is almost sold out. You will need to buy your tickets NOW to assure your place at the world’s greatest airshow.
If you want to make your day extra special and enjoy the flying display in a relaxed and sophisticated environment, then the First Class Lounge is the perfect spot. But you’ll have to be super quick as there are now less than ten tickets left for Sunday. Whichever option you choose, just make sure you act today!
Saturday 26 July will see yet another spectacular air show at Shuttleworth (Old Warden) Aerodrome near Biggleswade, Bedford. The Summer Air Show promises fantastic family entertainment and a stellar line up of aircraft for Shuttleworth’s latest display.
From 9am to 9pm, the site at Shuttleworth will come to life with a huge range of free ground attractions around the star attraction – two incredible flying displays at 2pm and 7.30pm. From a fun fair to vintage bus rides, a vehicle parade to an interview with a pilot, and interactive Discovery Zones with exciting educational activities for budding pilots and engineers, there’s enough to keep the whole family entertained from dawn until dusk. And best of all… these activities are included in the price of your ticket.
Looking to the skies, the flying displays will offer a chance to see some truly remarkable aircraft as close as you can get in the UK. With an unparalleled flightline view, Shuttleworth’s Summer Air Show sees the return of the Nieuport 23 (which made its UK debut at the venue’s Festival of Flight last month) and a full display from the audience favourite Avro Lancaster. The Canadair F-86 Sabre will appear for the first time at Shuttleworth along with a return visit from the RAF Eurofighter Typhoon. Two visiting spitfires are also on the bill, as well as the Shuttleworth Collection’s own genuine Mk Vc Spitfire – just one of the Collection’s airworthy aircraft appearing. Then, for something a little different, visitors can enjoy the Jet Pitts: a classic piston engine propellor aircraft enhanced with two jet turbines on either side of the fuselage – making for a fun and unique display. Be sure to check out the full line up online.
Shuttleworth’s new split flying display format also offers visitors a much greater chance of seeing the Collection’s airworthy Edwardian aircraft. Dating back as far as 1909, these aircraft need very specific weather conditions to make an appearance. Last year, only one was seen throughout the entire season. So far, the new split flying displays for 2025 have already seen all five aircraft appear – and an Edwardian aircraft has appeared at two out of the three shows to date this season.
If you’re looking for something extra special, visitors can book flightline tours where you can step foot on the airfield itself, getting within touching distance of the aircraft. Various operators also offer flight experiences at an additional charge.
The Summer Air Show takes place almost a month to the day after Shuttleworth’s biggest show of the season, Festival of Flight, which saw record-breaking attendance back in June.
Marc Boult, Head of Visitor Operations, said, “Following the overwhelming success of Festival of Flight last month we’re excited to being yet another air show to audiences this summer. For the enthusiast, there are plenty of incredible displays to enjoy and for families, we’ve got a brilliant range of entertainment to keep you busy for the entire day! If you’ve not been to a Shuttleworth air show, I’d recommend this one as the perfect introduction to what we do.”
Shuttleworth’s Summer Air Show takes place on Saturday 26 July. Tickets start from £36.00 and children go free. You can book yours via www.shuttleworth.org
With it being US Independence Day tomorrow we are pleased to unveil a plethora of aircraft from the United States Air Force.
Starting with our theme of ‘Eyes in the Skies’, we are delighted to confirm there will be two U-2 aircraft on display, with one taking part in the flying programme on both Saturday and Sunday, while the second will feature on static alongside a RC-135 Rivet Joint.
Also joining us this year, and for the first time in over a decade will be the huge C-5 Galaxy, the largest aircraft in the USAF inventory! Other assets from the Americans include B-1B Lancer, which we’ve not seen since 2017, plus their C-21A, F-35A, KC-46A, KC-135R and MC-130J. In addition to the USAF aircraft this week, we can also confirm that the Italian Army will be in attendance at RIAT25, with their UH-169B helicopter on static display. Plus, aircraft from Gulfstream and Pilatus as part of our commercial showcases.
New for RIAT25 is the RIAT app. Available now on the Apple iOS and Google Play stores!
Download the app before you come to the show (signal on an airfield can be intermittent). The app will be updated with new content once the show starts, so make sure you go into the app again before you come to the showground.Click here to find out more about what’s on the app.
With barely two weeks to go until the show, tickets are flying and if you’re planning to join us for the world’s greatest airshow, this is your last chance. There are still some Sunday general admission tickets left, but be quick, this won’t be for long.
Only way in now for Saturday is with an Altitude upgrade package. Altitude is located at the heart of the showground and offers a great base to explore the whole RIAT experience from. With cool upper deck viewing spaces and a cool contemporary vibe. The all-inclusive cocktail bar and complimentary food served throughout the day, will make this an experience to remember. Don’t miss out on Saturday at RIAT.
FRIAT: Or if you’re looking for a completely immersive experience, why not book a FRIAT six-day package ticket? Offering a variety of benefits for those who want to see more of the airshow. FRIAT is excellent value, offering the opportunity to see fast jets, aerobatic display teams, historic warbirds, heavy transporters or helicopters alongside other dedicated aviation enthusiasts. But with only just over 100 FRIAT tickets left, you’ll have to be quick!
For our final update of June, we have a pair of additions to this year’s flying programme, plus a cluster of civilian aircraft on static display.
Next month SAAB will be returning to RAF Fairford with their Gripen E taking to the skies across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Back in 2023, the display came away with the Paul Bowen Trophy for Best Solo Jet Demonstration, so we are excited to see what they have planned this summer.
Elsewhere, we are set to welcome the world’s only airworthy FIAT G.91 to Gloucestershire, which will help us celebrate the past, present and future of the Italian Air Force as their iconic display team, Frecce Tricolori, marks their 65th anniversary this year. Further strengthening our Italian contingent, we have two Aermacchi MB-326 aircraft to join the static display.
Rounding off this week, we have more aircraft on the ground as part of our ‘Eyes in the Skies’ theme, including two King Airs from Flight Precision Ltd and Metrea – who are also bringing their new Dash 8 Fireswift. More aircraft to bolster the static lineup include a CASA C-295M from the Spanish Air and Space Force, a privately owned IAR-823, and Twin Otter from De Havilland Canada.
Our special offer on the Altitude enclosure upgrade package ends at midnight on Sunday 29th June. Normal price Friday £200, special offer price just £175. Normal price Saturday and Sunday £225, special offer price just £200. Don’t miss out on this fantastic offer and experience the show from our coolest and newest offering, with delectable food, refreshing drinks and cocktails, all included! As well as live DJ music once the flying display is finished. Buy your tickets today.
Over the weekend of 21st and 22nd June, 2025, Newark Air Museum (NAM) hosted its twenty-fifth (25th) annual Cockpit-Fest event at its site in eastern Nottinghamshire; close to the border with Lincolnshire.
During the Sunday Awards Ceremony, the museum trustees made the sad announcement that this was to be the last time that NAM was hosting Cockpit-Fest. Museum member Bill O’Sullivan originally came up with the Cockpit-Fest idea back in 1999, and was its main organiser for several years; a role eventually taken over by museum trustee, Colin Savill.
Cockpit-Fest became a fixture on the aviation calendar and each year attracted visiting cockpits and associated displays; this year there were more than forty (40) visiting cockpits attending the event, including military jet cockpits, helicopters and civilian aircraft types. In addition, nineteen (19) visiting aviation related exhibits will be displayed inside; with twenty (20) special displays outside in different parts of our 16-acre site. Cockpit-Fest has always provided the owners the chance to display their prized exhibits to their fellow enthusiasts and to the general public.
The winning entries this year were announced in a short ceremony on the afternoon of Sunday 22nd June.
Grand Champion (Visitors Cockpit) – Tony Collins’ Air Force (display of 6 cockpits)
Cockpiteers Cockpit Award – Tony Collins’ Air Force (display of 6 cockpits)
Newark Air Museum Special Awards – Bill Fern’s Air Force (display of 18 cockpits)
Visitors Non-Cockpit Award – Scott Bouchard, Lightning interactive display
Cockpiteers Non-Cockpit Award – Martyn Steele, Ian Hodgkiss & Joe Blackburne, control column display
Ken Ellis – Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award – Marcus Cordran, Buccaneer XN979
Ken Ellis – Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award – Bob Sloan, Blackburn Botha
Ken Ellis – Spirit of Cockpit-Fest Award – Matt Gilby, Sea King ZG875
“Firstly, we would like to thank everyone who has supported Cockpit-Fest over the years. It was a conscious decision not to advise in advance, that this year’s event was to be the last.” commented museum trustee, Howard Heeley, he continued. “We are proud to have finished on a high with the most visiting cockpits ever displayed; a record number of visiting displays and with combined visitor figures over the weekend in the top five that we have ever recorded.”
“Various factors have combined to guide us toward deciding to stop running Cockpit-Fest. These include: museum volunteer organisers retiring; indications from some cockpit owners that this was to be their last event; and ever more onerous Event Safety Planning guidelines.”
He concluded, “At the moment the museum’s plan is to continue with single day events like Aeroboots, and perhaps specific aircraft related events and gatherings. However, we are mindful and watchful, that the ever increasing wave of regulations around Organised Events, could impact on plans for future events.”
The Army Flying Museum at Middle Wallop in Hampshire are thrilled to announce a new event taking place at the Museum on 11 August – Walking the UK Coastline with Chris Lewis.
Chris, an ex-paratrooper, had hit rock bottom, suffering with anxiety and depression so severe he would shut himself in his bedroom for weeks. Then, in summer 2017, whilst surfing – his only respite – he cast his eyes along the coast and made an impulsive decision that would change his life.
A few days later, on 1st August 2017, with nothing but a broken tent, a borrowed pair of boots and £10 in his pocket, Chris set off to walk the entire UK coastline raising funds for the veteran’s charity SSAFA. He had no idea how long it would take him or if it was even possible. What followed was the adventure of a lifetime which turned his life around. He adopted his beloved dog, Jet, nine months into the journey who became his devoted companion.
Chris faced serious challenges along the way battling hunger, injury, extreme weather conditions and incredibly challenging terrain in the most remote corners of the UK, spending three months on the uninhabited island of Hildasay with no fresh water, food or electricity. It was in these wildest landscapes that he found happiness, pride and self-respect.
Soon after, his life was to take an unexpected turn once again when he met Kate, a fellow adventurer, at the bottom of a cliff. Kate packed in her former life to join him on the walk full-time and the couple then welcomed their baby son, Magnus along the way. Undeterred, they continued with their newborn baby in tow and finished the walk in July 2023 with an army of followers crossing the line behind them having raised over £500,000 for charity. By the end of his walk, Chris had gained more than he could ever have imagined possible.
Chris and his family, now known as Wilderness Family, have recently embarked on their next big adventure cycling and hiking 8000 miles along the Atlantic Coast of Europe raising funds for the charity, Make A Wish UK.
Join Chris at the Museum for an entertaining, heartwarming and inspiring talk, as he shares stories and reflections from his incredible journey. For more information, visit https://armyflying.com/what-s-on/
This week, we’re thrilled to welcome a new nation to this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo! Making their debut appearance, the Egyptian Air Force becomes our 59th participating nation and will be bringing their Antonov An-74T Coaler to join the static display.
We’re also excited to confirm several new additions to our static lineup. The Royal Netherlands Air Force will also be attending with a pair of Chinooks, while the Spanish Air and Space Force will contribute another C.16 Tifón. From the Army Air Corps, we’re adding a fourth AH-64E Apache to the static display, alongside a Wildcat AH.1.
We’re delighted to welcome the new Army Air Corps Display Team with two Apache’s and a Wildcat to perform in the flying display, accompanied by pyrotechnics. This will be exclusive to the Friday of RIAT.
In a change to the lineup, the Whirlwind is unfortunately unable to attend. However, we’re pleased to announce that Historic Helicopters will instead be bringing their Sea King HAR.3 for the static display. Further additions include an RAF F-35B Lightning II, which will be on static display, along with a King Air 350 and a Leonardo AW139 from QinetiQ. With less than one month to go until this year’s Air Tattoo, the excitement is building fast – and there are still plenty more aircraft announcements to come in the weeks ahead!
Time is running out to secure your spot at RIAT25, with Friday and Saturday general admission sold out! Sunday is now hot on its heels. The only way in now for Friday is with an enclosure upgrade package and for Saturday is with an Altitude upgrade package. Altitude is our newest enclosure and it’s currently on special offer. Normal price Friday £200, special offer price just £175. Normal price Saturday and Sunday £225, special offer price just £200. We know how disappointed you’ll be if you don’t buy your tickets now and miss out on all the fun. Consider this a friendly reminder, buy your tickets today, before Sunday sells out too. And be a part of the world’s greatest airshow.
The Royal Air Force Museum is on a mission to relocate over 50,000 historic objects to a new Collections Hub in the Midlands.
To achieve this monumental move, the Museum is inviting the public and companies to join The Crate Escape, an ambitious fundraising campaign set to unlock over a century of incredible stories from RAF history.
The RAF Museum is the guardian of a national collection, capturing every aspect of RAF life. Currently, less than 1% of the Museum’s rich collection is on public display, with many of the remaining treasures hidden away in a vast storage facility at MOD Stafford. This Aladdin’s cave of aviation heritage holds everything from aircraft and ejector seats to uniforms, medals and memorabilia, each item with its own remarkable story.
Now, in a bold new mission, the Museum will relocate these hidden treasures to a new purpose-built Collections Hub at the RAF Museum Midlands, where they will become accessible to the public for the very first time.
Ewen Cameron, Curator (Stored Collection) at the RAF Museum, said:
‘The move from Stafford to our Midlands site is no small feat. Behind the scenes, our specialist staff and dedicated volunteers are busy preparing to move more than 50,000 objects. This equates to over 31,000 hours of work identifying and cataloguing each individual object, assessing its condition, carrying out essential conservation work, and carefully cleaning and packing the objects, ready for their final journey to the Museum.’
This enormous logistical operation marks a key phase in the wider transformation of the Museum’s Midlands site. Due for completion in summer 2027, the transformation will also include a new permanent exhibition that explores the role of the RAF from 1980 through to space and cyber defence, along with a state-of-the-art Learning Centre and expanded green spaces for visitors to enjoy. The project has been made possible with the support of funders including The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Royal Air Force, as well as the RAF Museum’s own investment.
Ella Hewitt, Individual Giving Manager at the RAF Museum, said:
‘The Crate Escape isn’t just about moving objects, it’s about bringing hidden RAF stories of bravery, innovation and sacrifice to light. By sponsoring a box, supporters are helping to preserve these powerful stories and make them accessible for future generations. With your support, we can deliver history to its new home and bring our vision for a transformed RAF Museum Midlands to life, one box at a time.’
Support the RAF Museum’s mission today by visiting rafmuseum.org. Every box tells a story. Every donation makes a difference. Choose your support tier, Bronze, Silver, or Gold, and sponsor a box used in the move.
Bronze £30 – Be one of four names on a box, receive a digital certificate, and see your name added to The Crate Escape virtual wall
Silver £100 – Your name will exclusively be added to a box, receive a special thank you and pin badge through the post, and see your name added to The Crate Escape virtual wall
Gold from £1000 – Large object sponsorships are available. Choose the object you wish to sponsor, receive personalised recognition on protective coverings, and enjoy the opportunity to visit the team in action at MOD Stafford, even get hands-on and help pack!
Whatever your sponsorship tier, supporters will receive a unique box number, exclusive behind-the-scenes project updates, and the thrilling reveal of what’s inside your sponsored box, be it boots, buttons, logbooks, or even a piece of an aircraft, when it moves to its new home.To find out more about the RAF Museum’s redevelopment project and how you can get involved in The Crate Escape, visit rafmuseum.org. The Museum is open daily from 10.00am and admission is free.
