It wouldn’t be RIAT without the Royal Jordanian Falcons and we’re thrilled to announce they’re soaring back to RAF Fairford with their four vibrant Extra 330LX aircraft. They’re officially our first international display team confirmed for this year’s flying display, it’s set to be spectacular!
Behind the scenes, talks continue worldwide, with interest building from Kuwait and South Africa for static displays.
Stay tuned for more announcements, more aircraft, and more reasons to get excited.
The Midlands Air Festival is extremely pleased to announce that the Grumman Turbo Firecat will be appearing at the festival with an amazing display and role demonstration of water bombing.
This aircraft started life as a Grumman Tracker, built for the Canadian Navy. It was then sold to be converted into a firefighting air tanker. It went on to Conair who upgraded it by removing the Wright Cyclone piston engines and replacing them with twin Pratt & Whitney turbine engines and five bladed props, giving the aircraft a better rate of climb and a combined power of 2040hp.
Flown by Nikash Coffin from France, who will be showing us what a Firetracker does best by dropping 3,395litres of water in a simulated firebombing run. Few of us will have seen an air tanker in operation and in the intimate surroundings of the Ragley Hall estate, we are all in for an unforgettable and spectacular experience. The Firetracker retains its Conair livery and operating number T15.
We run special evening events at numerous times throughout the year. Bike Nights, Classic Car nights, Clubs, Interest Groups etc.
New dates for the 2026 Season…
Classic Car Nights: 28/05, 25/06, 30/07, 27/08, 17/09 Bike Nights: 20/05, 17/06, 22/07, 19/08, 23/09
Everyone welcome to attend these free evening events. Come and see our Wing Hangar No 1 exhibits and our new MOZA Jet Provost Flight Simulator. All donations gratefully accepted.
It’s less than six months until RAF Fairford is transformed into a world-famous aviation showcase, and event organisers have announced the first participating aircraft.
A Finnish Air Force F-18 is the first aircraft to be confirmed for this year’s flying display, where the show will be highlighting the aircraft used throughout the last century for air-to-air combat and modern fighter aircraft used across the globe under its ‘Fighter Meet’ theme.
In addition, 2026 also marks 30 years since Royal status was granted to the event, and in recognition of this, the aviation showcase will have a sub-theme of Royal Flight, which will be marked with a gathering of aircraft for VIP transportation.
Head of Air Operations, Peter Reoch said: “We are delighted to unveil the Finnish Hornet as our first participant for RIAT26 – this display is always well flown and is the perfect introduction to our Fighter Meet theme.
We are very busy working with Air Arms from around the world to attract an exciting assortment of aircraft to the show and we’re excited to start announcing these weekly as these are confirmed.”
In recent years the event has seen huge demand for tickets, with tickets being sold at record speed for three consecutive years.
This year, the event has already sold over 70,000 tickets and all proceeds are donated to its parent charity, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, which aims to inspire young people and RAF personnel to reach their full potential in STEM, air and space.
Head of Charity Development, Hannah Langford said: “Every ticket purchased for the Royal International Air Tattoo plays a direct and powerful role in shaping young futures.
“Thanks to this support, we’re able to fund inspiring STEM experiences and skills development that open doors for young people aged 5 to 25 — especially those who might never otherwise see themselves in air, space or technology.
“When people come to RIAT, they’re not only enjoying an extraordinary aviation event; they’re helping us spark curiosity, build essential skills, and create opportunities for the next generation.” To buy tickets for this year’s show, visit www.airtattoo.com.
We think it’s time for the Midlands Air Festival to announce some rolling thunder of its own, so we are pleased to welcome the first appearance of the MiG 17F all the way from Poland! This aircraft will be flown and operated by Fubar aviation and will be the only airworthy MiG 17F in Europe.
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F is a Soviet-era swept-wing fighter, which was the first afterburner-equipped fighter in Soviet service (1953). Powered by a single Klimov VK-1F turbojet with afterburner producing 7452lbs of thrust it achieved speeds of 714mph and featured enhanced, stable manoeuvring capabilities over its predecessor, the MiG-15. It was armed with one 37mm and two 25mm cannons, 16 rockets or 1100lbs of bombs. Well over 6,000 Mig 17F’s were built and were used by 20 different air forces including Poland.
It will certainly create an impact and a whole lot of noise in the intimate surroundings of the historic Ragley Estate and will be another unforgettable ‘must see’ moment that the Midlands Air Festival is becoming famous for, making the show a brilliant family day out to chase the winter blues away.
With even more big announcements to come, tickets will be in short supply as we always sell out. Tickets especially for Saturday, premium car parking and seats in our crowd line enclosure are already low and are expected to run away now. Also don’t forget that children under 13 are still free. Spaces in our camp site are nearly all sold too. So don’t delay, shake a leg and get yours right now. Get tickets and more info at www.midlandsairfestival.com
With our first aircraft announcement taking off on Thursday 19th February, we caught up with the Air Operations team to bring you the latest update on preparations for RIAT26 so far.
Planning for this year’s show started long before RIAT25 even opened. Once our themes were confirmed, the team began building aircraft “wish lists” for both the flying and static displays – spanning military, commercial and privately operated aircraft from across the globe.
In September, the formal invitation process got underway, with letters sent to more than 100 Air Arms worldwide. Since then, the team has been meeting with International Air Attachés in London to share our vision for the show and champion the aircraft we’d love to see arriving at RAF Fairford this July.
There are already some exciting plans in motion, particularly around our Fighter Meet and Royal Flight themes. As always, our goal is to deliver an entertaining, varied and unforgettable line-up that offers something for every aviation fan at RIAT.
Peter Reoch, Head of Air Operations, explained that: “The majority of militaries aren’t able to tell us what aircraft they plan to send to RIAT until the spring. Thankfully, some national planning cycles come sooner so we’re pleased to be able to start our weekly aircraft updates next week. As per usual, whilst we’ll start slowly, history tells us as the months pass, we’ll have more aircraft to announce as we get closer to the show. Generally, the more rare/exotic participants can’t be announced until much closer to the event, as we always wait until we have formal written confirmation of their attendance and all the arrangements in place before we add any aircraft to our participation list. I’m confident we’ll have an exciting mix of aircraft at RIAT26 for everyone to enjoy, thanks to the efforts of everyone at Douglas Bader House.”
Relive the thrill of RIAT25 with our spectacular aftermovie, and experience the moments that made last year unforgettable. From breathtaking flying displays to incredible static aircraft and inspiring Techno Zone® exhibits, it’s all captured in one action-packed film.
Make sure RIAT26 is in your calendar – last chance for 10% off!
Secure your RIAT26 tickets today – Friday and Sunday general admission tickets are currently at Early Bird prices, and many of our enclosures have special discounts on offer – available for a limited time only. Now is the time to ensure you get the best price available.
Cotswold Club Sunday – 10% off ends midnight, Tuesday 10th Feb
Flight Deck Sunday – 10% off ends midnight, Wednesday 11th Feb
Don’t miss out – grab your tickets now before the discount drops to 5%!
The FRIAT ticket package delivers the ultimate airshow experience. Enjoy private facilities, grandstand views with allocated seating, and unbeatable access to the world’s most exciting aircraft.
Missed out on Park & View? Good news – a FRIAT ticket gives you full six-day access, from the first aircraft arrival to the final departure on Monday, so you won’t miss a moment of the action.
Highlights:
Discount on RIAT merchandise within the FRIAT enclosure
Friday 18th, Saturday 19th, Sunday 20th July general admission to the showground and access to the FRIAT enclosure
Allocated Grandstand seat in the FRIAT enclosure
Free RIAT Official Souvenir Programme
Free Left Luggage Facility
Wi-Fi access available within the FRIAT enclosure
Please note:
Children are classed as under 18 years of age and will be charged 50% of the adult price. All children must be accompanied by an adult ticket holder.Children under the age of 5 are not permitted in the FRIAT enclosure.
Grab your Super Early Bird Friday tickets before prices change at midnight on Sunday 1st February – you won’t want to miss out on all the action this year.
While you’re gearing up for the summer, relive the highlights that made last year unforgettable with the RIAT25 after movie, touching down on our socials next Thursday at 12pm. Keep your eyes peeled.
Please note: Not all benefits listed above are included in every enclosure. Please check individual hospitality packages for full details.
Whether you’re bringing the family, wanting to shoot the perfect photo of your favourite aircraft, or want to treat yourself to a unique weekend, we’ve got you covered.
We look forward to welcoming you to RIAT26! The RIAT Team
The countdown to RIAT26 is on, and there’s no better way to get ready than with official RIAT merchandise – on sale until the end of January!
Whether you’re counting down to this year’s show, want to commemorate last year’s show, or search for the perfect gift for an aviation enthusiast, our merchandise sale has something for you.
Shop our top picks below or browse the full sale. Don’t miss out, the sale stock is limited and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
A firm favourite with many of our guests, the Aviation Club offers a smart yet relaxed hospitality experience, perfect for those looking to enjoy the show in comfort while staying close to the heart of the action.
What’s included:
On-base car parking
Private marquee, garden and grandstand
Light breakfast
Two-course buffet lunch
Light afternoon tea
Complimentary tea, coffee and infusions
Complimentary souvenir programme
Private toilets
Discounts available now (already applied):
5% off Friday
5% off Sunday
Please note:
Children aged 5 and over require a ticket
Under 5s are not permitted
Treat yourself to a truly memorable Air Tattoo experience with the Aviation Club. Already have a General Admission ticket? You can book your upgrade separately.
Schoolchildren in Cheltenham were tasked with creating a new sustainable aircraft as part of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT)’s Road to RIAT programme.
More than 50 children at Naunton Park Primary School took part in the session, where they were asked to design a new aircraft of the future as part of a national competition, which culminates at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) in July this year.
The Gloucestershire youngsters will see their entries pitted against pupils from across the country, with RAFCT, parent charity of RIAT estimating over 35,000 young people will be taking part in the competition.
The free programme, which has been running since 2020 in partnership with RAF Youth STEM and The Smallpeice Trust, is part of a wider portfolio made possible by RAFCT as they aim to inspire young people to fulfil their potential in air, space and technology.
Mike Steward, Deputy Headteacher at Naunton Primary School, said: “Sessions such as these are so valuable for children, enabling them to interact with experts in STEM.
“The competitive element really engages and inspires them as well as developing their resilience which can then be transferred to other areas of their lives.”
Last year RAFCT, the UK-wide charity based in Gloucestershire, agreed over 15 partnerships with different organisations, as they continue to reach more and more young people.
In 2022 the charity announced it was aiming to reach 500,000 young people by this summer, however, they have already surpassed their initial target, reaching over 750,000 with almost six months to go.
Hannah Hickman, Grant Relationship Manager at RAFCT, said: “We’re delighted to see Road to RIAT continuing to grow, with 600 primary schools taking part across the UK this year.
“As our flagship Key Stage 2 initiative, it perfectly demonstrates how RAFCT’s work, powered by RIAT, creates impact far beyond the showground, bringing the excitement of aviation and space straight into classrooms across the UK.
“The programme reflects RAFCT’s commitment to tackling the national skills gap by inspiring young people from the age of five to explore their potential in air, space, and technology, and to consider future pathways into STEM careers.”
