RIAT23 Merchandise On Sale Now!

RIAT Merchandise

To celebrate the Easter weekend, we are launching the RIAT 2023 clothing range!

This year it’s all about The Awe Inspiring Home of Flight, so our ever popular show range features a dynamic Typhoon in a colourful, illustrative design. Our show t-shirts are available in two fantastic colourways, in either navy or white for unisex adults. We would love to see you wearing your shirts, whether that’s out and about or at the show, please use #RIATMERCH to engage with us on social media!

Other products we are launching today include the polo shirt, pens, #RIAT keyring and some fantastic Wallace & Gromit kits (Build Your Own Rocket or Sidecar Plane, from the extremely popular animations!). Don’t worry we will have the full range of magnets, patches and stickers available at the show in July!

All of our clothing this year is 100% organic cotton and is packaged in compostable bags.

www.airtattoo.com/shop

Rare sightings confirmed for RIAT23!

RIAT Gripen

We loved seeing the reaction to last week’s announcement of the Spanish Harriers, so you can imagine our excitement when we received confirmation that we will have another Harrier at this year’s show! The Italian Navy will provide one of their AV-8B+ aircraft for static display in their first appearance at RIAT since 2005!

If that’s not enough, we’re delighted to welcome the Czech Air Force back to RIAT: In the air we’ll be treated to a solo display from their JAS-39C Gripen, plus a tactical pairs display from their L-159 ALCA jets. They will also be bringing their Mi-171 Hip helicopter for static display.

Joining the HM Coastguard static display area at RIAT 2023 will be two fixed-wing SAR aircraft operated by 2Excel, in the form of their King Air and DA62 aircraft.

Tickets are on sale for all days, with a four hour flying display on Friday, featuring many of the weekend highlights, followed by full-length flying displays featuring all aircraft on Saturday and Sunday.

www.airtattoo.com

Sunday savings end soon!

RIAT Pilot

We’ll have participating aircraft on the ground of RAF Fairford in just 100 days and will be counting down the hours until the showground opens on Friday morning.

We are offering an Early Bird discount on Sunday tickets until the end of April so make sure that you book soon to save. Following on from the success of last year, Sunday’s show will feature all the thrills you have come to love from RIAT, matching Saturday’s seven-hour flying display and giving the same great access to all areas of the showground.

The line-up is beginning to take shape with the Spanish Navy’s Harriers joining the Red Arrows, the Swedish Air Force’s Gripen display, and many more for what promises to be an excitement-filled show.

www.airtattoo.com

Celebrating 105 years of the Royal Air Force

RIAT Typhoon

Yesterday was a very important day in the aviation calendar, as we wish happy 105th birthday to the Royal Air Force, who were formed on 1st April 1918.

The RAF are a major part of RIAT each year with their presence felt in all areas of the show, from their world-class flying displays to all those who proudly represent them on the ground.

We have already confirmed the Red Arrows and a Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4, as well as a Hurricane, Spitfire, and Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight for July’s show. Keep an eye out for further updates in the coming weeks!

The RAF Experience will also return to Fairford, providing the opportunity to meet serving personnel, discover the career and sporting opportunities available, and discuss their day-to-day roles and experiences.

www.airtattoo.com

Newark give early boost to competition prize pot

Vulcan at Newark

Newark Air Museum have confirmed their regular contribution of a pair of Family Entry tickets for the prize pot in the Airscene 2024 Airshow Calendar Competition.

Newark’s first airframe was secured in 1963 thereafter the museum was formally incorporated as a Limited Company no.930888 and registered as charity no.256434 in April and September 1968 respectively.

After a number of years spent preparing its permanent site on the Winthorpe Showground a former World War II training base, the museum was officially opened to the public on Saturday 14th April 1973.

At Easter 1990 the museum opened its first Aircraft Display Hall to the public it provided 1,860 square metres of space. In 1994 the trustees instigated negotiations to purchase farmland on the museum’s southern boundary with the aim of guaranteeing the museum’s long-term future. Formal searches and formalities were eventually completed, allowing the purchase of 5.01 hectares of farmland to be completed prior to Christmas 1995.

In November 2004 the Museum opened its second Aircraft Display Hall to the public on completion of an extremely successful project in conjunction with the Heritage Lottery Fund.We continue to evolve and have achieved Accredited Museum status and the VAQAS quality standard.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

Exciting returns for some RIAT favourites!

Harrier at RIAT

We are extremely excited to announce the participation of the Spanish Navy at RIAT23 with their McDonnell Douglas EAV-8B Harrier II aircraft! The iconic ‘Jump Jet’ will perform a solo flying display, with another example on static display and we’re looking forward to welcoming these very special jets back to RAF Fairford.

Another rare appearance in the flying display will come courtesy of the Royal Danish Air Force, with their F-16 solo display. This is the first time we’ll have seen the Danish Fighting Falcon perform in the flying display since 2011 and they plan to use their spectacularly painted ‘Dannebrog’. They’ll also be bringing a twin-seat F-16BM for static display.

This week we’ve also added a small number of civilian aircraft to the static displays, including what will probably be this year’s smallest aircraft, a Slingsby Nipper!

Tickets are on sale for all days, with a four hour flying display on Friday, featuring many of the weekend highlights, followed by full-length flying displays featuring all aircraft on Saturday and Sunday.

www.airtattoo.com

Dustbusters flying high at RAF Museum Midlands

Dustbusters at RAF Museum Midlands

When the suspended aircraft at the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands need a spring clean, it calls for a specialist team of dustbusters with a head for heights to carry out the work!

Suspended from the ceiling, up to 100ft in the air, eight aircraft including a Vulcan bomber, will all be given a light dusting this week as part of the annual clean and inspection. Other aircraft being spruced up include a Canberra, Meteor, Sabre, Hunter, Lightning, Dakota and Javelin.

Strapped into harnesses, the specialist cleaning team climb the rafters of the building and abseil down to access the aircraft. No cleaning solutions are used on the aircraft, just a good dusting using large soft fibre mops. In addition to cleaning the aircraft, the team will also be inspecting the suspension cables supporting the aircraft in their flying display positions.

Tom Hopkins, Curator at RAF Museum Midlands said:
‘All the aircraft and vehicles within the RAF Museums collection undergo a regular inspection by our Technicians and Volunteers, however those suspended from the ceiling of our National Cold War Exhibition are 100ft high in some places and require a specialist team to carry out the work at dizzying heights.’

During the clean the Museum will remain open to visitors who can see the high-flying team from Rappel, industrial rope access specialists, in action.

The Museum’s National Cold War Exhibition features 19 aircraft, tanks, vehicles, models and memorabilia, and is the only place in the world where people can view all three British V-Bombers, the Vulcan, Victor and Valiant, together and under one roof.

The Museum is open daily from 10am and admission is free. Pre-book your arrival time online at www.rafmuseum.org/midlands.

Happy 100th Birthday to the Italian Air Force!

RIAT Italian Air Force 100th

Buon Compleanno!

Today we wish happy 100th birthday to the Aeronautica Militare, who were formed on this day in 1923!

The Italian Air Force have been huge supporters of the Air Tattoo since first appearing in 1976, bringing a wide variety of aircraft over the decades, with their display appearances always among the most popular participants each year.

As part of the Italian centenary celebrations, at this summer’s RIAT we are planning a dedicated area showcasing a range of modern and historic Italian aircraft together for our visitors to view and enjoy.

Keep an eye out for updates and aircraft confirmations in the coming weeks!

www.airtattoo.com

Airscene 2024 Airshow Calendar Competition is now OPEN

Museum of Berkshire Aviation

A little bit later than normal but the Early Entry Phase for the 2024 Airshow Calendar Competition is now accepting entries.

Entries for this phase MUST Have been taken during 2022 only, and subject matter is strictly limited to:

4a) Static or display aircraft as observed from the ground (or crowd seating) at an Airshow or event with a scheduled air display (during advertised hours).

4b) Aircraft at a scheduled aviation museum event (e.g. Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Day).

4c) Aircraft at an Aviation Museum (photo shoots and night shoots accepted as long as there are no re-enactors in the submission)

There are no real changes for this year’s competition other than the addition of the “during advertised hours” clause in 4a above. After receiving a few entries last year that were clearly not taken either in an area that the public had access to, or were taken before the gates were open etc, I want to discourage entries which are in conflict with the idea of a level playing field. This year you are also being asked to include a title for your entry in case it is one of the final 12 that will appear on the calendar.

In addition I want to remind you all that entries which show an aircraft on Arrival or Departure to or from an air show will only be accepted if these days were a ticketed day such as at RIAT.

The Museum of Berkshire Aviation is kicking off the prize pot again this year with 3 Family Tickets in the pot, which will be allocated as the prize pot grows throughout the year.

Shortlisting of Early Entries will begin on April 1st and the final date for submissions is 30th April 2023 at midnight, the main phase of the competition will open on 1st May.

Good Luck and I look forward to receiving your entries.

http://www.airscene.co.uk/competitions/2024calendar.php

Bring on the fast jets!

RIAT Fast Jets

If you like fast jets then this week’s aircraft update is sure to get your blood pumping!

First up, we’re pleased to confirm the return of the Belgian Air Component to RIAT: Their popular F-16 solo display will feature the colourful ‘Dream Viper’ display jet. In addition to the flying display, there will also be a pair of F-16AM Fighting Falcons in the static displays. We’re also pleased to be welcoming one of their SF.260 training aircraft to join the static displays, something which we haven’t seen at Fairford for many years.

From the Swedish Air Force, we’re pleased to announce two jets for the flying display, with their much-loved Gripen solo display and a rare appearance of their SK.60 training jet. For those wanting a closer look, there will also be examples of both aircraft types joining the static displays.

Tickets are on sale for all days, with Friday’s preview day being followed by full-length flying displays featuring all aircraft on Saturday and Sunday.

www.airtattoo.com