Airshow News from the UK
The final display team to be added to the RIAT24 flying display this week, with the return of the Saudi Hawks!
The Saudi team will star alongside display teams from Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Jordan and the UK.
Some huge additions to the static display this week, with a pair of Airbus A330 aircraft, one being an MRTT from Saudi Arabia and the other a Royal Air Force Voyager. Other additions to the static line-up this week include the PC-7, PC-24, F-15SA, A400M, C-295 and EC135!
In just over four weeks, RAF pilot Flight Lieutenant David ‘Turbo’ Turnbull will be preparing to display at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo.
With almost 200 aircraft already confirmed, the event has experienced unprecedented demand ahead of next month’s show, with it only having tickets remaining for Friday 19th and Sunday 21st July after announcing it had sold out of tickets for Saturday earlier this month.
In what is his debut season as the RAF Typhoon display pilot, the 32-year-old will be putting his iconic aircraft through its paces in front of 150,000 people at the aviation showcase, which is held at RAF Fairford.
“RIAT is the big one. So many pilots travel from all over the world to take part in RIAT and for me it’s the home match,” he said
“I feel incredibly proud to represent the RAF and UK military at this amazing airshow.”
This year the show is celebrating 100-years of the Royal Canadian Air Force, 75-years of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, 50-years of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, plus their operational theme of ‘Pushing the Boundaries in Air and Space’.
Ahead of this year’s airshow season, the RAF display Typhoon’s new livery was unveiled with it being inspired by a Hawker Typhoon from World War II.
Capable of reaching speeds of 1,550mph, the fast jet makes for exciting viewing and the RAF pilot is looking forward to demonstrating the aircraft’s capabilities in the Cotswold skies.
“The display is going to be fast, aggressive and varied. It is definitely going to wow the crowds as it still wows me,” he added.
“The Typhoon is a beast. I have realised that to a much greater extent during the last couple of months working up to perform the typhoon display. It can go from -3G to +9G and it makes it feel so simple.
“I still remember my first take off in Typhoon, dry power only (without afterburners), and I had never felt acceleration like it. It was on a different level.
“Performing this outstanding aircraft to its limits is very rewarding. It is hard work, but incredibly easy to get motivated for, as you can imagine.
“The step down of heights has made the display physically more challenging at every level, it is a real work out.”
Every week, the event announces more participating aircraft and tickets are selling fast, but to secure your spot visit www.AirTattoo.com.
This week we’ve got a bumper line-up of additions for both the flying and static displays at this summer’s RIAT.
Flying on both Saturday and Sunday, RAF Fairford is one of only three places you can watch the popular Chinook take to the skies this year, performing a special ‘role demonstration’ which will show off the helicopter’s battlefield capabilities such as transport underslung cargo.
Sticking with the flying display, those who are joining us on Friday will be able to see an Embraer KC-390 Millenium, courtesy of Embraer who will showcase the agility of their new transport aircraft.
On the ground, from the British Army we’ve got their new AH-64E Apache plus Wildcat. We’ve also got an Italian Tornado and RAF Puma, plus a host of civilian aircraft.
• Tickets for this year’s event continue to sell at a record pace
• Over 150 aircraft confirmed to take part with further announcements still to come
• All U18s given free entry to the event
A series of aircraft participation confirmations from the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) has led to the event selling out on its busiest day.
The event’s bumper aircraft announcement started with the Boeing F-15QA Ababil being unveiled in what will be a dynamic display with plenty of high-speed manoeuvres from this rare Qatari jet.
The world-renowned airshow, which is being held at RAF Fairford from July 19th-21st then revealed the Norwegian Yellow Sparrow display team will also be attending, the first time the display team have performed in the UK.
The Royal Moroccan Air Force, who are returning to the show for the first time since 1995, rounded off the unveilings with a pair of F-16 Fighting Falcons on static display.
Following on from the announcements, the show has now sold out on general admission for Saturday 20th July, with Friday 19th and Sunday 21st July still available but selling fast.
This year, the aviation showcase is highlighting the F-16 as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, 75-years of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the Royal Canadian Air Force’s centenary as well as its operational theme of ‘Pushing the Boundaries in Air and Space’ in recognition of 100 years of military aviation Test and Evaluation flying.
Every year the event attracts 150,000 people to the rural airfield, with last year’s show seeing over 250 aircraft in attendance.
RAFCTE Chief Executive Officer, Paul Atherton said: “We are very much looking forward to hosting the event again this year.
“We’ve some really interesting themes that explore all aspects of aviation from iconic fast jets to aircraft which operate in unique environments.
“Again, we are thrilled to see the level of support the show has received. We are very grateful that so many people enjoy our event and I’d encourage anyone who is thinking of attending to get tickets while they still can.”
In addition to dazzling displays in the air with the likes of the Red Arrows, Spanish Harrier, Patrouille Suisse and Canadian Hornet already confirmed, there is plenty to see on the ground too with the show’s Techno Zone® and Inspire Stage. These ground activities and exhibits support RIAT’s parent charity, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, and its ambition to inspire the next generation of aviators.
“On the showground we also have the Techno Zone and Inspire Stage, which are full of interactive exhibits and speakers,” he added.
“As an event we are focussed on encouraging young people to interact with STEM and aviation and both areas are hugely important to that.
“Under 18s continue to be able to attend the show free of charge and we would love to see more young people join us at RAF Fairford next month.”
To buy tickets for this year’s event visit www.AirTattoo.com.
This week has been a double announcement with the Boeing F-15QA Ababil being added to the flying programme, plus the UK debut of the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s Yellow Sparrows display team!
In addition, we have an exciting variety of aircraft on static display. From Norway, we have a pair of the new F-35A Lightnings, C-130J Hercules and AW101 SAR Queen.
Courtesy of Morocco, we have a pair of F-16s, the advanced Block 52 variant, for our ‘Viper Line’ static display, as we celebrate 50-years of the iconic fast jet. These jets are painted in a fantastic desert camouflage pattern and we’re very excited to welcome them to RIAT 2024, the first time we’ve seen aircraft from the Royal Moroccan Air Force at Fairford since the 1990s.
This week also saw the world mark 80-years since the D-Day landings and staying in line with that, we are thrilled to say we will be joined by a C-47B Dakota. In addition, we have a pair of electrically powered Pipistrel aircraft and for only the 3rd time in RIAT’s history, we’ve got an A-4 Skyhawk coming!
A pair of Polish Air Force F-16s headline this week’s announcement as we make further additions to our flying and static displays.
Their Tiger Demo team will be performing in the flying display, whilst their second fast jet will be lining up along our ever-growing ‘Viper Line’.
Turning to helicopters, we have the Black Cats display team plus two Merlin choppers courtesy of the Royal Navy.
Rounding up the week and bolstering our displays on the ground we have an RAF Poseiden a Royal Canadian Air Force Griffon plus two civilian aircraft in a Mustang and Corsair.
With under 3,000 tickets remaining for Saturday, we urge you to avoid disappointment and book your visit now!
With less than 10 weeks to go until this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo, things are shaping up nicely, with a pair of Portuguese F-16s the latest jets confirmed to be heading to RAF Fairford in July.
Joining a plethora of F-16s across our ‘Viper Line’ we are looking forward to celebrating 50-years of the Fighting Falcon this summer. Meanwhile, also arriving from the Portuguese Air Force is their new Embraer KC-390 for the first time at RIAT.
Elsewhere, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is turning 75-years-old we are delighted to welcome a Lithuanian contingent with a Mi-8T Hip and C-27J Spartan joining us in Gloucestershire. Plus, sticking with NATO, there will be a C-17 Globemaster coming from Heavy Airlift Wing based in Hungary.
Rounding off this week’s announcement we have a Soko Kraguj and a Valmet Vinka taking part in our static display, both of them privately operated in civilian hands.
This week we’re excited to welcome a new nation to the RIAT, with the Serbian Armed Forces becoming our 58th participant as they feature for the very first time.
Their new Airbus C-295MW transport will be lining up on our static display, and we look forward to seeing them at RAF Fairford in July.
We also have a bumper addition from the Royal Air Force, with seven aircraft joining us on the tarmac in Gloucestershire as we celebrate 75-years of NATO.
They’ll be providing Airbus Juno and Jupiter helicopters from RAF Shawbury, BAE Systems Hawk and Beechcraft Texan from RAF Valley, an Embraer Phenom and Grob Prefect from RAF Cranwell, plus a Grob Tutor.
Rounding off this week is a trio from the Royal Canadian Air Force, which is celebrating its centenary this summer, with a Polaris, Hercules and Globemaster. These three large aircraft will all be parked together, at the eastern end of the airfield in a special RCAF centennial area.
This week sees a five-star update from the Royal Netherlands Air Force with four F-16s and an NH90 helicopter inbound to RAF Fairford this summer.
Featuring along our extensive ‘Viper Line’ of F-16 jets, which are celebrating their 50th anniversary, the four jets from the Netherlands are the latest additions to this special static line-up.
Further afield, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) are sending their new Kingfisher to RIAT for a first-time visit for the aircraft. The RCAF are set to feature heavily at this year’s show as they celebrate their centenary with a designated area on the showground with further additions still to come.
Lastly, we are pleased to confirm the Slovak Air Force are participating with their C-27J Spartan joining us in July.
More F-16s this week, with a pair of Block 52+ jets from Greece coming to RIAT24 on static display!
Not only will this be a first time visit from the squadron with these aircraft, but their striking ‘Aegean Blue’ colour scheme will make them a stand-out on our ‘Viper Line’ static display.
We also have an air defence variant of the Mirage 2000, which we haven’t seen at RIAT for many years, coming for static display as part of our North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) 75th anniversary theme.
Elsewhere, tying in with our ‘Pushing the Boundaries in Air and Space’ theme, we have a British Aerospace 146, uniquely modified as an airborne laboratory, which is visiting RAF Fairford for the first time in over a decade.
Operating since 2004, the FAAM flying laboratory is a specially adapted research aircraft managed by a unique team of scientists, engineers, flight technicians and project managers providing a complete package of support for the scientific community. This jet has visited over 30 different countries and carries up to four tonnes of equipment in addition to 18 scientists.
