Category: UK Airshow News

Airshow News from the UK

RIAT merchandise sale is ending soon – don’t miss out

RIAT Merch

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.

Shop Merch Sale

Experience RIAT in Comfort with the Aviation Club 

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.

Gloucestershire schoolchildren reimagine the future of flight with Royal Air Force Charitable Trust workshop

Road to RIAT

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.”

www.airtattoo.com

Happy New Year from everyone at RIAT! 

Happy New Year from RIAT

As we step into a brand-new year, we’re already looking ahead with excitement to RIAT26. We can’t wait to share what’s in store and welcome you back for another unforgettable show. 

Take Off Thursday starts in a few weeks’ time, so keep an eye on your inbox and on our social media channels for all the exciting aircraft announcements.

Book RIAT26 Tickets

Explore the January sale

Don’t worry if you missed our Black Friday sale, there’s still a chance for you to enjoy some fantastic savings. Our Boxing Day merchandise sale will continue throughout January. It’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your RIAT wardrobe, add to your aviation collection, or pick up a gift for a fellow enthusiast. 

Discover official RIAT merchandise at discounted prices while stocks last (sale ends midnight Sunday 1st February).  

Order dispatch restarts: Week commencing Monday 5th January.

Merch January Sale

A Very Merry Christmas from RIAT

RIAT Xmas

As the year draws to a close, everyone at RIAT would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy festive season. 

With so many great moments behind us, we’re already building excitement for what’s ahead. RIAT26 is on the horizon – and there’s plenty to look forward to. 

Keep your eyes peeled in the new year for some exciting announcements as we begin to reveal what’s in store… including the return of Take off Thursday in February!

Book RIAT26 Tickets

Customer Services over the festive break 

Please note that our Customer Services phonelines will be closed from 5pm (GMT) Monday 22nd December 2025 until 9am (GMT) Monday 5th January 2026. 

The Customer Services email enquiries@rafcte.com and the website chat service will be monitored on Tuesday 23rd December and Friday 2nd January only.

Ready to make RIAT26 truly unforgettable?

RIAT Packages

The Royal International Air Tattoo is an awe-inspiring three-day event filled with incredible flying displays, amazing aircraft, and a fantastic atmosphere for all ages.

To help you enjoy the show in total comfort, we offer a range of enclosure options designed to give you the very best views, extra space to relax, and an upgraded experience throughout the day.

Explore our selection of premium enclosures or get in touch with our team to create a unique experience that suits you.

Start by exploring two fan-favourite enclosures below, or browse all available packages.

Explore all Packages

Exciting news for RIAT visitors!

We’re thrilled to welcome Freemans Event Partners as our exclusive public food and drink partner. 

Freemans are local to Gloucestershire and have been part of RIAT’s story since the 1970s – starting with a simple fish and chip stand at RAF Fairford. Today, they support more than 650 major event days a year, and we’re excited to bring their expertise to the world’s greatest airshow. 

With RIAT26 tickets already selling faster than ever, guests can look forward to an upgraded food and drink experience alongside next year’s Fighter Meet theme and the celebration of 30 years of our Royal status. 

We can’t wait for you to taste what’s new! 

www.airtattoo.com

How you’re supporting the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust

RIAT RAFCT

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) continues to play a transformative role in widening opportunities for young people across the UK, with its success directly powering the impact of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT).

As a not-for-profit event, RIAT generates the funds that enable the RAFCT to deliver an expanding portfolio of STEM education and skills programmes for young people broadly aged 5–25 across the UK. This has allowed the charity to surpass its ambitious goal of inspiring 500,000 young people by 2026 – achieving over 750,000 engagements more than a year early and now exceeding 780,000.

By attending RIAT, the public, industry partners and international air and space communities contribute directly to this growing national impact. The 2025 show alone welcomed more than 178,500 visitors, offering not only world-class aviation displays but also hands-on STEM experiences through the Techno Zone® and Inspire Stage. Here, young people met leading figures such as astronaut Tim Peake and explored cutting-edge aerospace technology, helping to spark curiosity and confidence in air, space, engineering, and technology.

The event’s success has strengthened the RAFCT’s ability to invest in new educational initiatives. Its latest partnership with Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI) marks the charity’s first significant foray into supporting further education students through mathematics. By backing the Further Education Maths Challenge – a national programme involving over 80 colleges and 40,000 learners – the Trust is helping 16–19-year-olds build vital numeracy, problem-solving and teamwork skills. For many participants, the challenge provides a pathway to renewed confidence in maths and improved future career prospects.

Across all its programmes – from primary-school STEM engagement to national digital-safety partnerships – FE maths and flying and engineering scholarships, the Trust ensures that RIAT’s impact extends far beyond the airshow weekend. Attendance at the event directly fuels opportunities for increasing numbers and diversity of young people to explore how science, technology and aviation shape the world, helping them gain the essential skills, inspiration and self-belief to fulfil their potential. In turn, this collective effort supports the UK’s acute need for the next generation of STEM innovators, engineers and aviators.

Find out more about RAFCT

Have you got your tickets yet?

We’re thrilled to share that excitement for RIAT26 is already soaring – and so are ticket sales! With thousands of aviation fans securing their spots early, this year’s show is shaping up to be another spectacular one.

If RIAT is on your must-attend list for 2026, now’s the perfect time to book. From breathtaking aerial displays to interactive experiences, RIAT26 promises a weekend you won’t want to miss.

Lock in your tickets today to make sure you get the best availability and pricing. Once they’re gone, they’re gone and we’d hate for you to miss out on the action.

We can’t wait to welcome you to RIAT26!

Book RIAT26 Tickets

Royal International Air Tattoo welcomes Freemans Event Partners as exclusive public food & drink partner

RIAT Freemans

The Royal International Air Tattoo has teamed up with fellow Gloucestershire business Freemans Event Partners to provide catering at the iconic aviation showcase.

Less than 30 miles separates RAF Fairford, home of RIAT since 1985, and Freemans Event Partners’ Head Office in Gloucester. However, when Stephen Senior and Karen Freeman first launched their business selling fish and chips in 1975, the then called ‘International Air Tattoo’ was one of the first events they attended.

Freemans Event Partners and the Royal International Air Tattoo continue to build on their long-standing success. Freemans Event Partners now supports more than 650 event days each year, while the Royal International Air Tattoo recently celebrated a record attendance of over 178,000 visitors. Tickets for RIAT26 are already selling unprecedented speed and are currently 20% ahead of this time last year.

Chief Executive Officer at Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, Gavin Gager said: “We are excited to partner with Freemans Event Partners to bring a new high-quality catering offer to our visitors.

“As the leading large-scale food & drink partner for a huge range of leading global events, Freemans Event Partners is well suited to help the world’s greatest airshow to take its catering offer to new heights.”

Next year’s aviation showcase will see the event explore fast jets after announcing an operational theme of Fighter Meet earlier this year, 2026 also represents 30-years since the Air Tattoo was given its royal status, giving their guests plenty to look forward to in addition to the new food & drink offer.

Executive Chairman at Freemans Events Partners, Stephen Freeman said: “The Air Tattoo is an event our family have a long association with, starting with my family selling fish and chips at RAF Fairford in the 1970s.

“To be working with the Royal International Air Tattoo all these years later is fantastic and we are looking forward to elevating the customer experience with exciting new food & drink concepts.” If you are a trader offering catering services and would like to participate in RIAT26, contact: concessionsenquiries@freemanseventpartners.co.uk

www.airtattoo.com

Royal Air Force Charitable Trust rounds off bumper year with 15th partnership

RAFCTE Jet Launch

After record crowds descended on the Royal International Air Tattoo this year, the event’s parent charity has been able to agree a number of partnerships to help young people fulfil their potential in STEM.  

The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT) is powered by the aviation showcase and has now launched a new agreement with the Jon Egging Trust, which is their 15th partner to be supported this year.  

This new collaboration will see RAFCT join the Jon Egging Trust as the Premier Partner for their Blue Skies programme in Wiltshire. The Blue Skies programme offers long-term support to young people who face barriers to engaging at school. Using dynamic STEM settings as a hook for learning, Blue Skies raises aspirations, self-belief and resilience. 

The launch event took place at Oxfordshire’s RAF Brize Norton as students from Swindon Academy worked alongside Royal Air Force personnel from the Parachute Engineering School to learn the skills involved in safely packing the parachutes used by RAF display teams. This hands-on experience not only taught technical skills but also highlighted the responsibility and leadership required to ensure the safety of colleagues in real-world RAF operations. 

Director at RAFCT, Dr Kevin P Stenson said: “The Blue Skies Programme is the perfect fit for the RAF Charitable Trust, because it supports young people to challenge themselves, re-engage with education and unlock their full potential, all using the essential skills and confidence learned from engaging with real world science, technology, engineering and maths. 

We firmly believe in the power of collaboration to increase our impact, and working with the Jon Egging Trust given its close alignment with our own mission is an exciting next step. It is also particularly important to us as the Red Arrows, of which Jon was a part, are a such a highlight of RIAT each year” 

Flt Lt Jon Egging lost his life whilst displaying with the RAF Red Arrows at Bournemouth Air Show. The Jon Egging Trust was founded in his memory in 2012, and since then, over 45,000 young people have benefited from their work from across the country. 

Chief Executive Officer at the Jon Egging Trust, Dr Alex Brown said: “It was a pleasure to host the RAF Charitable Trust at our Blue Skies session in RAF Brize Norton. The session was an excellent example of how we work with exceptional partners like the RAF to deliver lifechanging impact for our young people.  The funding from the RAF Charitable Trust will be instrumental in enabling us to change the lives of young people in the communities local to RIAT, enabling them to leave school with the skills, resilience and self-belief they need to succeed.” 

www.rafct.com

Something big is about to land…

RIAT Black Friday

Get ready, our Black Friday event is almost here with up to 50% off a huge range of products! This year’s sale runs from 24th November to 2nd December and features savings on RIAT25 merchandise and much more.

Whether you’re treating yourself or searching for the perfect gift, this is your chance to grab fan favourites at their best prices of the year. Stock is limited, and once these offers go live, they won’t stick around for long.

Stay tuned and keep an eye on our socials – Black Friday starts soon, and you won’t want to miss it.

Explore all Merch

Viewing Village Garden – don’t miss out on the best savings!

Viewing Village Garden Saturday tickets are currently 5% off, but only until midnight on Sunday 23rd November.

Once the offer ends, these tickets will go to full price. Book now to secure your place at the best price available now!

Book Viewing Village Garden