Tag: November

Don’t risk disappointment. Get your tickets today!

RIAT Tickets

Our discounted enclosure tickets are selling fast, so book yours today to avoid missing out!

With Christmas less than five weeks away, you can treat your loved ones to an unforgettable experience at RAF Fairford by checking them into one of our amazing enclosures at a discounted price*. Act now as these offers will be ending soon.

What’s selling out?
Aviation Club (Saturday) – SOLD OUT!
First Class Lounge (Saturday) – Less than 10
Cotswold Club (Saturday) – Limited availability

But there’s still time to grab a spot in the ever-popular Flight Deck! Enjoy a casual street food lunch and prime crowd line views. With 70% of Saturday tickets already sold, they won’t last long. Take a look at all our enclosures here.

Why RIAT25?
From jaw-dropping displays to up-close access to aircraft and cutting-edge tech exhibits in our Techno Zone®, there’s something for everyone. And remember – under 18s go free with a ticket holding adult!

Upgrade today
If you have already secured your general admission ticket and would like to treat your friends or family to an upgrade to an enclosure then please call our customer services on 01285 713 456.

RIAT will return to RAF Fairford on 18th, 19th and 20th July 2025. We look forward to seeing you all there.

www.airtattoo.com/tickets-packages/

Royal Air Force Charitable Trust to reach more young people with new partnerships

RAFCT STEM

On National Engineering Day, The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust has announced it is set to reach more children after signing new partnerships with EngineeringUK and EDT.

The charity, which is powered by the proceeds of the Royal International Air Tattoo, aims to inspire young people to consider careers in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The new agreement with EngineeringUK will see RAFCT become headline partner of their Big Bang at School Blueprint initiative, where young people from across the country participate in an inspiring STEM day in their schools, filled with amazing hands-on science and engineering activities and opportunities to learn more about STEM careers.

Meanwhile, the agreement with EDT will impact over 50,000 students from across the country as headline partner of both the Industrial Cadets initiative alongside Experience Days Developed by EDT and inspired by its Patron, His Majesty King Charles III, Industrial Cadets is a widely recognised, accredited awards scheme helping young people access STEM learning, experiences and the world of work through collaboration with industry.

In addition to National Engineering Day, this week marks Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, a celebration of engineering and technology designed to inspire young people, which makes it a timely announcement from the Gloucestershire-based charity.

Director at Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, Justine Morton, said: “We are incredibly excited to be announcing these partnerships and demonstrates our commitment to inspiring young people.
“RAFCT is a signatory of the Tomorrow’s Engineers Code which asks members to inspire connection, drive inclusion, showcase engineering and technology and improve impact.
“These are principles we fundamentally believe in and we are looking forward to working with EngineeringUK and EDT to reach more young people from all backgrounds and inspire them about STEM.”

Since 2005, RAFCT has been on a mission to work with young people with these partnerships the latest initiatives the organisation supports. The new partnerships join existing programmes such as the Road to RIAT primary school competition which will reach over 500 schools.

This year the Royal International Air Tattoo welcomed a record crowd of 168,000 people to RAF Fairford, with tickets already on sale for next summer’s show which is taking place from July 18-20th.

Justine added: “The Royal International Air Tattoo is a huge event that naturally demands a lot of attention.

“I’d like to thank every single one of the visitors who joined us at RAF Fairford this year, as by attending our event, they may have changed the lives of children across the country.”

To find out more about the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, visit www.airtattoo.com/royal-air-force-charitable-trust/.

Rare Dornier wing section will go on display at the RAF Museum in early 2025

RAF Museum Dornier

Plans are underway at the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands for the wing section of an iconic Second World War Dornier Do 17 to go on public display in early 2025. Salvaged after more than 70 years submerged beneath the waters of the Goodwin Sands, this rare artefact offers visitors a unique glimpse into the past.

Nicknamed the ‘Flying Pencil’ due to its slender fuselage, the Do 17 played a pivotal role in the early stages of the Second World War and is best remembered for its involvement in the Battle of Britain. Of more than 1,500 Do 17 bombers produced, over 400 were deployed by the Luftwaffe during the pivotal battle. Today, only one remains complete.

The wing section set to be displayed comes from this sole surviving Do 17, recovered in a landmark operation led by the RAF Museum in 2013. The dramatic moment the aircraft was lifted from the seabed and surfaced from the waters was broadcast live, capturing global attention. The recovery and subsequent conservation efforts have since fascinated not only aviation enthusiasts and historians but also scientists and engineers, all intrigued by the challenge of preserving this historic airframe for future generations.

Dr Harry Raffal, RAF Museum Head of Collections and Research said:
‘This is a remarkable moment for aviation history in Britain. After more than tens of years of intensive conservation, treatment and stabilisation, the Do 17 will go on public display. It represents not only the culmination of an extraordinary salvage operation but a unique way of understanding the Battle of Britain. The new year will see the Do 17 wing section, propellers, and engines situated alongside a Boulton-Paul Defiant, the very type that delivered the final blows to this Do 17. Our audience will see first-hand the thin edge of technology which enabled the RAF and Luftwaffe to fight out the most important battle of a generation.’

Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with the wing section, propellers, and engines, through enhanced interpretation and delve deeper into the aircraft’s story. Uncover the aircraft’s historical significance in aerial warfare, the events leading to its demise, and the extraordinary salvage operation and unique preservation techniques employed to safeguard its legacy.

The Do 17 wing section will be available for public viewing from early 2025, subject to suitable weather conditions for the move. The Museum invites aviation enthusiasts, history buffs, and families alike to explore this unique addition to the collection. This extraordinary exhibition will be a chance to reflect on the aircraft’s role in one of Britain’s most defining moments in history.

The fuselage will remain in store for the time being, owing to space constraints in the hangars, but the Museum retains the option to display it in future alongside the wing section.

For more details or to plan your visit go to www.rafmuseum.org/midlands.

RAF Museum London displays Noor Inayat Khan’s George Cross

The RAF Museum London is honoured to open a new display that shares the story of Noor Inayat Khan GC, who served under cover in Paris during the Second World War with the Special Operations Executive (SOE), and ultimately gave her life for the Allied cause.

Born to an Indian father and an American mother, Noor was living in Paris when Germany invaded France in 1940. She escaped to Britain where she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and trained as a wireless operator. As a follower of Sufism, Noor was a pacifist. However, she believed that it was her duty to support the fight against Nazism.
Noor’s technical skills and fluency in French led to her recruitment by the SOE and her deployment to Paris as a special agent in 1943. After Noor’s SOE colleagues were identified and arrested, she was given the option to return from enemy territory. However, she chose to remain at her post as the only SOE wireless operator in Paris. Noor was later betrayed and arrested. She endured a long period of interrogation before being executed by the Nazis at Dachau Concentration camp on 13 September 1944. Her last word was ‘Liberté!’

The Museum is displaying the George Cross that was posthumously awarded to Noor for her bravery while operating in German occupied France. It has been generously loaned to the Museum by Noor’s family. The George Cross is the highest award bestowed on civilian or military personnel who have carried out an act of bravery while not under enemy fire. Noor was one of only three women to receive the George Cross.

The citation for Noor’s George Cross reads: Assistant Section Officer Inayat Khan displayed the most conspicuous courage, both moral and physical over a period of more than 12 months.
The new display is integrated within the Museum’s ‘Strike Hard, Strike Sure: Bomber Command, 1939-1945’ exhibition. The exhibition explores the story of the incredible bravery of those in Bomber Command during the Second World War, sharing the stories of the people, aircraft and technology that enabled Allied victory.

The Westland Lysander Mk III, presented within this exhibition, is integral to Noor’s story, and the new display is located beside it. On 16 June 1943, Noor, codenamed Madeleine, was flown into France by Squadron Leader Frank ‘Bunny’ Rymills in a Westland Lysander. A record of this flight was recorded in his logbook, which is the RAF Museum’s archive collection and on display beside Noor’s George Cross.

Maggie Appleton, CEO of the RAF Museum said:
“We are privileged and humbled to share Noor’s George Cross with our visitors. Her story of bravery and determination sings to us across the decades and we know will inspire people of all ages and from all backgrounds. The generous loan of the medal by her family, alongside the logbook that records her flight into occupied France and our Special Duties Lysander are a powerful representation of her service and sacrifice.”

www.rafmuseum.org/london

Shackleton WR977 Work Finishes at Newark Air Museum

Newark Shackleton

After four months the scaffolding has now been removed from the nose and forward fuselage of Avro Shackleton WR977 at Newark Air Museum (NAM).

The bespoke scaffolding system was installed to allow teams of museum volunteers to work on this significant restoration and repainting project in safe conditions.

This work has included:
– replacement and re-sealing of the main cockpit glazing
– in-depth cleaning and lichen removal on the upper fuselage surface
– re-sealing the upper escape hatch just behind the cockpit
– conservation of, and the painting of this area of the aircraft

During the work period, WR977 remained open as part of the museum’s open cockpit offer. The modest contributions for accessing this iconic aircraft contributed towards the cost of scaffolding hire, materials and paint/chemicals. The museum is also thankful to those who contributed to its Just Giving Campaign, which is now closed.

In future further restoration work will be undertaken on the remainder of the airframe. A scheme will also be evaluated to raise the aircraft nose wheels from their current position. This will involve the analysis of data from the jacking pads that were constructed underneath the aircraft and the refurbished jacks to be installed under both wings of the aircraft.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

NATO 75th Theme

RIAT NATO 75th Theme

Our third theme focus:

Join us in celebrating 75 years of NATO at RIAT

Since it was established in the early 1970s, the Air Tattoo has been committed to demonstrating the importance of the NATO Alliance. The role of NATO has been to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries.

NATO TOP FACTS

• First formed on the 4th April 1949
• First original 12 members were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom and United States
• The latest country to join is Finland which joined on the 4th April 2023
• The only military equipment that NATO owns is a fleet of AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control) surveillance aircraft and several Global Hawk drones

In the run-up, stay tuned to our socials and emails for updates on all NATO aircraft that will attend the show. There may be a few unique announcements down the line, so keep your eyes on this space!

Next month we plan to have another special announcement ready, but you will have to wait until then to find out…

www.airtattoo.com/tickets-packages

Pushing the Boundaries in Air and Space

RIAT Air and Space

Did you know that next year will mark 100 year of British military test flights? We want to celebrate the pioneers of aviation at RIAT24 and everything they learnt over the last century.

After all, we would never have made it to space, without those early trailblazers. Who knows what the next generation of test pilots will achieve. Space is the limit…

At RIAT24

Experience specialised, modified and instrumented test flight aircraft from around the world dedicated to flight test, evaluation and scientific research.

RIAT aims to be a hub for the future of air & space, showcasing the aviation industry’s ground-breaking advancements both on the ground in our Techno Zone as well as in the skies.

Secure your place at RIAT24 by getting your tickets now:

www.airtattoo.com/tickets-packages

RAF Cosford Air Show returns in 2024

RAF Cosford Air Show 2024

The RAF Cosford Air Show will return on Sunday 9th June 2024.

A capacity crowd of 55,000 people attended the Air Show in 2023 and organisers are promising the same excitement in the air and on the ground for 2024.

This year’s theme is ‘Take Flight.’ Kickstart your interest in a career in the RAF, and develop an understanding of what the Service does for the defence of the United Kingdom; Get close to the cutting edge of technology with RAF aircraft & unique attractions across the showground; And immerse yourself in a thrilling, action-packed flying display programme.

RAF Cosford Air Show Chair, Wing Commander Justin Blackie, said: ‘I am delighted that we can announce the return of the air show today. It’s a highlight of the air show calendar and an important event for the Royal Air Force and aviation in general.

‘The air show remains a great way for us to engage with the public, to showcase the Royal Air Force’s capabilities and to celebrate the Service’s history while looking forward to the next generation of its people and technology. I am very much looking forward to the event and I hope to see returning enthusiasts, but also many new faces, it’s a great family day out.’

Organisers are already talking to colleagues from across Defence, partners from other nations’ air forces and members of the wider private aviation community to see what aircraft are available to display on the Shropshire base.

For the 2024 Air Show, Standard Adult Tickets are on sale for £40 with Under-16s still entering the air show for free, when accompanied by a paying adult. This year, organisers have introduced a new scheme to freeze a limited number of tickets at last year’s price.

Marilyn Summers, the Air Show’s Commercial Director said: ‘We know how important it is to keep the Air Show going for future generations. Over the last few years, prices have gone up across the board and we’ve felt the pinch in everything from aviation fuel to toilet hire. We have absorbed all rising costs since 2019, but this year we’ve had to increase ticket prices to ensure we can continue to bring you an amazing show year after year.

‘We’re committed to making the Air Show as affordable as possible for everyone, which is why we’ve frozen a limited quantity of tickets at last year’s price, to give families a great opportunity to buy tickets for only £34, saving 15% on the standard ticket price.’

Tickets for the RAF Cosford Air Show go on sale at 10am on Friday 17th November 2023 and can be purchased at www.CosfordAirShow.co.uk

Disappointing news regarding Eurofighter Typhoon DA4 (ZH590)

Newark Air Museum Eurofighter

Just under four years ago, in January 2020, the proposed transfer of Eurofighter Typhoon DA4 (ZH590) from the Imperial War Museums (IWM) to the Newark Air Museum (NAM) was put on hold. Information is now available about that transfer and sadly, the disappointing news is not what the NAM trustees, volunteers and staff have worked long and hard for.

We anticipate that a joint Press Statement from IWM and the RAF will be released that explains the situation, we will share this with everyone when it is available. Apart from thanking the staff at IWM Duxford for their support throughout the project to transfer DA4 to Newark; at this time the NAM trustees do not wish to make any further statement about the complex and at times baffling situation.

That said, the trustees are mindful that a number of people have made financial contributions towards the costs associated with planned move of DA4 to our site here in eastern Nottinghamshire.

Whilst all of the funds raised were used towards the cost of laying an additional hardstanding area behind the museum café that would have allowed for the safe reconstruction of DA4, the NAM trustees appreciate that some people may not feel that their donations from the original fund raising appeal were used as intended.

Anyone who wishes to seek the repayment of their donation is asked to make contact with the museum via this EMAIL link and provide details of their contribution.

www.newarkairmuseum.org

RAF Museum will host Service of Remembrance

RAF Museum Midlands Remembrance

Date: Sunday 12 November
Time: 10.30am arrival / 10.45am service commences
Cost: FREE (pre-booking required)

The Royal Air Force Museum Midlands will hold a Service of Remembrance on Sunday 12 November, paying respect to members of the armed forces who made the ultimate sacrifice during their tours of duty.

Visitors are invited to join the service, led by RAF Cosford Senior Station Chaplain Craig Lancaster, and reflect on the sacrifices made by service personnel. A marching contingent from No 1 Radio School, RAF Cosford will begin the proceedings, the service will include readings, hymns and the sounding of ‘The Last Post’, followed by a two minute silence.

Those attending will enjoy hymns throughout the service courtesy of the Cosford Military Wives Choir, and poems read aloud by local children. Wreaths will be laid by representatives from the Museum, RAF Cosford, and the Cosford Military Wives Choir, in honour of those who have fallen in the line of duty.

The Remembrance Service will take place in the Museum’s Hangar 1 against a backdrop of aircraft, and free tickets for up to 450 guests are available to book in advance at rafmuseum.org/midlands. Access without a ticket may not be possible. Visitors are politely requested to assemble no later than 10.30am ready for the Service to commence at 10.45am. Visitors are also encouraged to take time to explore the Museum at their own leisure after the service.

The Museum is open daily from 10.00am and admission is free. Discover more about the Museum and pre-book your arrival time online at www.rafmuseum.org.