Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2023

Discussion relating to 2023 airshows/fly-ins/exercises/other events. Post news before the event and post your photos afterwards! Please create only one thread per event.
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Post by n33d4sp33d_85 » Fri Apr 14, 2023 11:34 am

Latest Self-Confirmation
- German AF Eurofighter Typhoon Solo Display Team
https://www.europeanairshows.co.uk/sche ... ZSvBLORaRs

UPDATE: Static display only
Last edited by n33d4sp33d_85 on Thu Apr 20, 2023 11:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Flightline Uk » Thu Apr 20, 2023 10:59 am

This week we have our first participant for our SKYTANKER23 operational theme, with Metrea Strategic Mobility providing one of their KC-135 Stratotankers for static display. These airframes were formerly operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force and are now flown by Metrea to provide commercial air-to-air refuelling for partner Air Arms. We're particularly excited to see their KC-135 at RIAT this year due to the aircraft's striking camouflage colour scheme which will be a highlight of the static displays for many aviation enthusiasts.

More good news from Italy, as we welcome aircraft from the Italian Army to RIAT for the first time in many years! They will provide a trio of assets for static display; with a debut of their new UH-169B, plus a Dornier 228 and Mangusta attack helicopter!

We're excited to announce that, thanks to Airbus, we will see the UK flying display debut of a Messerschmitt Me 262 (the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft) at RIAT 2023! This classic WWII jet will be performing in the flying display on Saturday & Sunday and it will likely be one of the unique highlights of this summer's Air Tattoo. We aim to park this aircraft in one of our southside operational areas, so visitors can get a closer look at the aircraft whilst on the ground too.
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Post by Flightline Uk » Thu Apr 27, 2023 10:59 am

Firstly this week we're pleased to be welcoming a large contingent from our friends in the Royal Netherlands Air Force to join the RIAT 2023 static displays! We are especially excited to see their new F-35A Lightnings on static display for the first time, alongside a myriad of other jets, helicopters and transport aircraft.

Another fast jet addition to the flying display next, as we confirm the participation of the Rafale Solo Display from France. Regarded as one of Europe's best fast jet demonstrations, the team will have a newly painted display jet for the 2023 season which we look forward to seeing in due course and welcoming to the show in July. In addition, as part of our SKYTANKER theme, we're very pleased the French Air & Space Force will also be sending one of a C-135FR Stratotankers to perform a flypast during the Friday flying display, which may be the last chance for us to see the aircraft in the UK before their retirement from service.

This week we can also confirm more historic aircraft for our Italian Air Force centenary celebrations, with a pair of MB.326 jets for static display. In addition, we will also welcome a Fiat G.91, affectionately known as the 'Gina', which is being restored to flight especially for this year's celebrations in Italy. The jet, expected to perform it's first flight soon will be resplendent in the colours of the Frecce Tricolori and be one of the highlights of our static aircraft displays.

This week we have continued discussions with multiple Air Arms and civilian operators as the show gets ever closer, with a significant number of aircraft still to be announced pending formal approval.
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Post by Flightline Uk » Thu May 04, 2023 10:59 am

After a lengthy hiatus, we're very pleased to welcome the Turkish Stars Display Team back to the Royal International Air Tattoo! The team will be preforming in our weekend flying display with their six colourful NF-5A Freedom Fighter aircraft and promise to be one of the highlights of the flying display programme. This will be their first display appearance at a British airshow since 2010 and is not to be missed!

This week we confirm a large contingent of aircraft from our loyal supporters, the German Air Force. We're especially excited with their contribution to our SKYTANKER23 theme in the flying display programme, with an A400M performing a simulated air-to-air refuelling flypast with a pair of Tornados! The Tornados will then showcase their impressive ability to perform 'Buddy Buddy' refuelling with another special flypast. In addition, we welcome CH-53G, H145M & EF2000 for static displays.

Finally this week, we add a small number of civilian aircraft to our static displays, including an Vans RV-12 used for research projects by Southampton University.

Next week we hope to be able to announce additional contributions to RIAT from the Royal Air Force, some of them being aircraft types you'll be able to see flying over London in the Coronation Flypast this weekend.
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Post by Adam » Thu May 04, 2023 11:03 am

What an absolute corker of an update! That's pretty special.

RIAT as a whole knocking it out the park this year, what an incredible line up we've got!
Last edited by Adam on Thu May 04, 2023 11:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Flightline Uk » Thu May 11, 2023 10:59 am

The week we can announce the first batch of Royal Air Force aircraft joining the RIAT static displays, with all powered aircraft types from 22 Group to be represented at the show this year. Examples of the MFTS fleet will once again be displayed together in the Ascent Flying Training showcase area in the centre of the RIAT showground. The additional airframes will be parked near the RAF Experience in the Red Zone (east end of the airfield) and available to view on all three days of the show.
The training theme continues with aircraft from Portugal and France! We're pleased to welcome Esquadra 101 back to RIAT, once again with a pair of their Epsilon aircraft on static display. In addition to the previously announced flying display items, the French Air & Space Force will also contribute a TBM-700 to the static aircraft displays.
We also add four more historic civilian aircraft to our static displays. We're pleased to be welcoming the Norwegian Vampire back to Fairford, which will be wearing Italian Air Force markings and join our special ITAF100 static display area. We are just putting the finishes touches to our plans and awaiting the final approval from the Italian Air Force to announce their modern day aircraft which will be on display in this special ITAF100 exhibition. We did engage with Starfighters Inc to explore the possibility of their TF-104G participating at RIAT 2023, however this will not be possible.
Finally, we have been informed by the Czech Air Force that the participation of their ALCA pairs display at RIAT is in doubt, due to one of their pilots breaking their leg. We are exploring various options with them, and once we have confirmation of the new plan we will update the participation list. We wish Aleš a speedy recovery!
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Post by Flightline Uk » Thu May 18, 2023 11:01 am

This week, we can confirm the operational aircraft types from the Royal Air Force that we'll be seeing at RIAT 2023. Starting with our SKYTANKER23 theme, we're pleased that visitors on all three days will be able to witness a simulated air-to-air refuelling flypast from the Voyager, which is based at nearby RAF Brize Norton. On Friday, it will demonstrate it's ability to refuel other large aircraft, with an Airbus A400M in trail. Whereas on Saturday & Sunday, it will simulate refuelling a pair of fast jet aircraft. In addition, we'll see multiple types on static display which will all be parked in the Red Zone near the RAF Experience. Alongide A400M & P-8A, this will be the first time in 10 years we'll have seen a C-17 on static display at RIAT. For fast jet fans, we will have a pair of Typhoons on static display (one with an air-to-air weapons fit, the other in an air-to-ground weapons fit) and also an F-35B Lightning on the ground too! We are working with the Royal Air Force on the arrangements for the F-35B to also feature in the air over the weekend, and once the final details are agreed we will update you.
Always an Air Tattoo favourite, we're thankful to our friends in Greece for the return of their Phabulous Phantoms to Fairford! A pair of the iconic cold war jets, operated by 338 Squadron, will be on static display over the weekend at RIAT 2023. (Contrary to posts on Social Media, Demo Team Zeus will not be performing at RIAT 2023).
This week, we're pleased to announce our first confirmed aircraft for RIAT 2023 from our friends in the United States Air Force! Visitors will be able to enjoy the sight of their mighty C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft, coming from Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina. We are also expecting aircraft from United States Air Forces in Europe, Air Force Global Strike Command and Air Force Reserve Command, but are finalising arrangements before we announce these aircraft in the coming weeks.

We previously announced that the Italian Army would be sending their Mangusta attack helicopter for static display at RIAT 2023. Following further discussions with the unit, we can now announce that this aircraft will now be featured in the flying display on Saturday & Sunday!
Work continues with a variety of other Air Arms and aircraft operators to finalise the arrangements for their participation at RIAT 2023. Of note, we are been informed by Joint Helicopter Command of their aircraft they plan to send to RIAT 2023. However, we must await the final ratification before we can announce, which we expect in June.
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Post by Adam » Thu May 18, 2023 11:17 am

Goodness. One stunning update after another.

Are we in 'Vintage RIAT' territory yet? Who'd have guessed, a few months back, that RIAT 2023 could attract six Freedom Fighters, two Tornados and a Harrier in the flying display, plus Phantoms, two more Harriers and a FIAT G.91 on the ground?

Flying and static display both brimming with quality and there's still 6-7 more updates to come!
Last edited by Adam on Thu May 18, 2023 11:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Flightline Uk » Thu May 25, 2023 11:00 am

Starting this week's update with a classic soviet produced transport aircraft, courtesy of the Romanian Air Force. They will send their Antonov An-26 'Curl' aircraft for static display at RIAT 2023! This will be the first time in nearly ten years since we've seen this aircraft type at the Air Tattoo, which will be much appreciated by many aviation enthusiasts.

Another star attraction for some aviation enthusiasts at RIAT 2023 will be the attendance of the Argentine Air Force! They will bring their Boeing 737-700 transport aircraft for static display, and we look forward to welcoming them back to the Air Tattoo.

Thanks to Ascent Flying Training, we will have an Avenger T1 used by the Royal Navy to training UK military aircrew observers. This aircraft will be parked alongside the other UK MFTS aircraft type in their showcase area at the centre of the RIAT Showground.

We have also added a number of civilian aircraft to our participation list, including an ex-Belgian Air Force Sea King and Scout from the Historic Army Aircraft Flight. Included with these, we welcome a pair of Chipmunks, both of which were featured in the Royal Review of the RAF in 1953, which felt very appropriate for attendance at RIAT 2023 given King Charles III's recent Coronation.

Finally, after discussions with the Czech Air Force, their ALCA Tactical Demonstration will no longer perform in the flying display (due to an injury to their display pilot) but they will send one jet for static display.
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