Category: UK Airshow News

After an amazing weekend at RIAT24, the world’s greatest airshow, tickets for RIAT25 are now on sale! We hope anyone who attended this year’s show enjoyed themselves as much as we did and now can’t wait for RIAT25.

There’s a price freeze on general admission tickets for both Friday and Sunday until 31 July 2024, as well as 15% off many of our enclosures.

Tickets are at this price for a limited time, so buy your tickets now and save money for RIAT25!

www.airtattoo.com/tickets-packages/

After selling-out at a record pace the Royal International Air Tattoo proved to be a hit as hundreds of aircraft soared over RAF Fairford in front of thousands of visitors.

In total, the aviation showcase welcomed 248 aircraft from 29 nations as 150,000 people descended on the rural airfield.

On Friday, as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) 75th anniversary, visitors were treated to a unique flypast featuring aircraft from different NATO nations together, led by a Royal Air Force Rivet Joint.

Saturday saw history being made as the Royal Air Force Typhoon completed its first public display on sustainable aviation fuel, as well as celebrations for both the Royal Canadian Air Force’s centenary and the F-16 Fighting Falcon, which turned 50-years old this year.

Chief Executive Officer for Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, Paul Atherton said: “This year has been a stellar event, with highlights across the weekend.”

“We have been delighted with the level of support and I’d like to say thank you to everyone involved in facilitating our event, from visitors, aircrew, staff members and volunteers – without them, we wouldn’t be able to host the Royal International Air Tattoo.”

On the ground, there was plenty for people to get involved with as the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, RIAT’s parent charity, provided a booster line-up for the Inspire Stage with Tom Fletcher, Jessica Gagen and Grace Webb all speaking to young people about their experiences with aviation.

Tickets for next year’s show are already on sale, with next year’s Air Tattoo due to take place on 18th, 19th and 20th of July.

“Work is already well underway for next year’s event and we look forward to sharing our plans with you in the coming months,” added Paul.

“We would love to have you join us here at RAF Fairford next summer and with tickets already on sale, now is the best time to secure your place for the best possible price.”

Tickets are available via www.AirTattoo.com.

This weekend aircrew from around the world brought their world-famous F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft to RAF Fairford, as the jet’s 50th anniversary was celebrated at RIAT.

After first flying in 1974, the aircraft is currently still in production and is well renowned for its speed and agility.

Celebrating the jet’s 50th anniversary was a theme for this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo, alongside ‘Pushing the Boundaries in Air and Space, 100-years of the Royal Canadian Air Force and 75-years of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

On Saturday afternoon, alongside RIAT’s static ‘Viper Line’ which extended over 300 metres in length with aircraft from different eras and nations, current operators took part in an event to mark five decades of the flagship Lockheed Martin product. The line-up was headed by a jet from the Royal Netherlands Air Force which had special markings applied especially for RIAT, inspired by the red, white and blue livery of the first YF-16 prototype.

Head of Air Operations at Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, Peter Reoch said: “We’ve been working for nearly eighteen months on making sure the event was a worthy celebration for the 50th Anniversary of such an iconic aircraft.

“To see F-16s from so many nations together in one place has been truly unique and a sight which should live long in the memory of all those who visit RIAT this weekend.”

In addition to the long line of jets in different colour schemes and marking on the static display, the weekend’s flying programme was punctuated with flying displays from the Fighting Falcon with Denmark and Turkey showcasing their jets in the air.

“The F-16 is symbolic of enduring partnerships and industrial collaboration. From the beginning, the F-16 program laid the groundwork for close cooperation, allied standardization and joint training practices,” said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager, Integrated Fighter Group.

“Fifty years later, it still is building and sustaining partnerships – all of which were on display at this the RIAT celebration.”

www.airtattoo.com

This year’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) had a touch of the transatlantic about it as the Royal Canadian Air Force marked their 100th birthday at the world-renowned airshow.

Celebrating all things Canada, they had a designated area on the showground, routinely patrolled by their RCAF Centennial mascot Astra, who posed for pictures with visitors.

On Saturday morning crew members, engineers and the RCAF Commander, Lieutenant-General Eric Jean Kenny were presented a birthday cake from RIAT, in recognition of their centenary.

The Canadian’s arrived with a number of different aircraft, including a yellow Kingfisher for the first time which featured alongside other aircraft on their static display, while the CF-188 Hornet, which was in a special paint scheme for this year, took part in the flying display.

RIAT’s Head of Air Operations, Peter Reoch, said: “It was a pleasure to host an exciting array of aircraft from our Canadian friends at the show this year, from the huge CC-177 Globemaster to the much smaller Chipmunk, there was something of interest for everyone.

“Friday’s special flypast with the Hornet alongside the RAF Red Arrows was the icing on the cake.”

RAF Fairford is the only place in Europe where the Canadians are recognising their landmark birthday, which has been a theme of this year’s alongside ‘Pushing the Boundaries in Air and Space’, 75-years of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and 50-years of the iconic F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Col Maggie Jacula, RCAF 2024 Campaign Manager said: “It is an absolute honour to be here at RIAT to celebrate the Centennial of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

“We have received such kind hospitality from the RIAT team and the general public who have come to visit our aircraft and crews and to enjoy a bit of Canadiana at the RCAF Centennial Tent.

“It is wonderful to be able to share our Centennial with our British friends.”

Tickets for next year’s show are already on sale via www.AirTattoo.com.

It’s the finishing touches to this year’s line-up this week, with our final aircraft announcement for RIAT24.

With well over 200 aircraft already confirmed we are delighted to be adding a pair of Phantoms from the Hellenic Air Force to the static display! In addition we’ll also have Royal Navy Wildcat, more American F-16s, Metrea King Air and new Tecnam operated by the RAF’s Rapid Capability Office.

To view your full finalised line up for this year’s show, visit below.

www.airtattoo.com/the-airshow/aircraft-and-pilots/aircraft-updates

As our American friends celebrate Independence Day, we are pleased to confirm more USAF aircraft coming to RIAT24.

Starting with the mighty B-52 Stratofortress, this awesome jet will be on static display over the weekend. In addition, we have a F-35A Lightning II, a pair of F-15E Strike Eagles, both from RAF Lakenheath also on static display. Finally, a highlight of the Friday show will be the U-2 taking to the sky as part of our flying display programme before parking up on static display for the rest of the weekend.

Another Friday treat will be the rare appearance of a RC-135 Rivet Joint from the Royal Air Force, which will lead a multination flypast to recognise 75-years of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

www.airtattoo.com