2024 Royal International Air Tattoo

[n33d4sp33d_85]

https://www.instagram.com/bavarian_tige ... mg_index=2

[Flightline Uk]

We're starting this week's update with confirmation of another international formation display team coming to RIAT 2024. We're pleased to announce Patrouille Suisse will be performing in the flying display on Saturday & Sunday! Flying their colourful F-5 Tigers, we haven't seen the team at RAF Fairford since 2017, so we're very pleased to be welcoming them back to RIAT this summer.

Further flying display additions this week come from Germany, who continue their fantastic annual support to RIAT, with an assortment of interesting aircraft committed to this year's show as part of the NATO 75th Anniversary celebrations. In the flying display, we're excited to see solo displays from their Eurofighter and A400M for the first time. On the ground they'll be exhibiting their impressive CH-53G helicopter, a Tornado from Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 ""Immelmann"" (who are hosting this year's NATO Tiger Meet, so fingers crossed for a specially painted jet) and for the first time their Airbus A319 aircraft which is specially modified for Open Skies missions. Finally, as part of our 'Pushing the Boundaries' theme we're very pleased that the Germany's special flight test centre, WTD 61, will also be providing a Tornado for static display.

As we celebrate NATO's 75th Anniversary, we're very pleased to welcome one of their AWACS aircraft to RIAT 2024. The aircraft will be performing a special flypast on Friday (more details in the coming months), and then be on static display for Saturday & Sunday.

We are aware of other aircraft sharing their intent to be at RIAT 2024 online, some of which we are in communication with, others which we have not heard from. A reminder that we must await the formal approval paperwork before we list them on our website as confirmed participants. More news to follow in the coming weeks.

[Flightline Uk]

https://www.air-shows.org.uk/2024/04/ai ... tour-2024/

[Flightline Uk]

Starting this week's update with our loyal friends in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. A RIAT tradition, we will have the excellent Royal Jordanian Falcons performing in the flying display with their Extra 330LX aircraft. In addition, we'll be welcoming one of their Hercules for static display. Of note for enthusiasts, their current intent is to bring one of their newly acquired ex-USAF airframes. Finally, we're extremely excited that the Royal Jordanian Air Force will be sending a pair of their F-16 Fighting Falcons to RIAT for the first time, to join the type's 50th anniversary celebrations! The current plan is that they will send one single-seat and one twin-seat jet to join the Viper Line on static display, visible on Saturday & Sunday.

Another fast jet for the flying display next, with the Hungarian Air Force sending their JAS-39C Gripen. This is always an impressive display sequence, and previous award winner, so a display not to be missed.

With the Qatar Emiri Air Force marking their 50th Anniversary this year, we're pleased to be welcoming an interesting array of their aircraft to RIAT 2024. The centrepiece of their static display area will be their C-17 Globemaster, which will be joined by a Hawk (from RAF Leeming), Typhoon (from BAE Systems at Warton) and NH90 NFH (being transported via C-17 to the UK for RIAT). We also hope to have an additional Typhoon from 12 Squadron (the joint RAF/Qatari squadron at RAF Coningsby) to join this static display, confirmation of which is expected at a later date.

This week we've continued working with a range of other Air Forces about the aircraft they are considering sending to RIAT 2024, and well as more civilian Flight Test aircraft which are appropriate for our 'Pushing the Boundaries in Air & Space' theme.

[mstares]

Between official and unofficial announcements this is shaping up nicely this year. Looking forward to crossing the pond again for this one in July.

[Flightline Uk]

Starting this week with another F-16 for the flying display, with the return of the popular SOLOTÜRK Demo Team! This display flies an impressively painted F-16C Fighting Falcon, which we last saw at RIAT 2018, and therefore is a very welcome participant as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the F-16 at the show. In addition, the Turkish Air Force will also contribute to the NATO 75th Anniversary static display line-up with a pair of their F-4E Phantoms jets. These aircraft, locally upgraded and known as the F-4E Terminator 2020, will be a very welcome sight for aviation enthusiasts at the show.

This week we can confirm another addition to the 50th Anniversary celebrations for the F-16, with the Belgian Air Component contributing one of their F-16AM for static display at RIAT. The aircraft will be provided by the 10th Tactical Wing at Kleine Brogel Air Base, although at this stage we are unable confirm which squadron will provide the aircraft.

The final additions for this week come from Draken Europe. They will be bringing examples of their Falcon 20 & Honey Badger for static display, which will be parked in a showcase parking location near the centre of the showground, so will be viewable on all three days of the show.

Also this week, we have received information from Joint Helicopter Command that they plan to send a number of aircraft to RIAT 2024, including a Chinook to perform a ""capability demonstration"" in the flying display. However, we await further details and formal confirmation before we can add to the participation list. We hope to receive the required paperwork for this, and other British military helicopters, in the coming weeks.

[n33d4sp33d_85]

Self-Confirmation: RAF Falcons Parachute Team (Friday only)
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[Flightline Uk]

Starting this week with a pair of exciting pair of jets to join our 'Viper Line' on static display at RIAT 2024, coming from Greece. We're very pleased the Hellenic Air Force will be sending a pair of their Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 52+ jets to join our 50th anniversary celebrations. These particular jets will come from 336 ""Olympos"" Squadron and wear a very attractive 'Aegean Blue' colour scheme. We have asked the squadron to send aircraft equipped with Conformal Fuel Tanks, to show this impressive capability which can be used on the newer blocks of F-16s.

As part of our 'Pushing the Boundaries' theme, we're very pleased to be welcoming the FAAM Airborne Laboratory back to RIAT for the first time since 2012. This specially modified BAe 146 is used for a huge array of scientific research projects, primarily by the Natural Environment Research Council, the UK Met Office, and the UK university community. Our plan is to park this aircraft alongside other Flight Test / Scientific Research aircraft in the central area of the showground, and the FAAM team has said they intend to offer guided tours inside the aircraft.

Also this week we're pleased to be able to announce the participation of the French Air & Space Force at RIAT 2024, with an aircraft type we haven't seen for many years. We're excited to be welcoming one of their classic air defense fighters, the Mirage 2000-5, for a static display at the show. Particularly poignant this year as we mark the 75th Anniversary of NATO, as the unit bringing the jet to RIAT has regularly deployed on NATO Baltic Air Policing missions in recent years.

This week we've had further discussions with the Royal Air Force about which aircraft they plan to show on static display at RIAT 2024 (in addition to the already announced flying displays). As per usual, we're on course to receive an excellent level of support, with both frontline and training aircraft planned. We're just awaiting the formal paperwork, then we can start adding them to the participation list in the coming weeks. We've also heard from our friends at the Reparto Sperimentale Volo in Italy, who plan to return to RIAT again this year, with confirmation of which aircraft types to follow soon.

[Lpuente]

Has anyone here been to RIAT in the past can anyone give me any pointers it’s my first time going how easy is it to get from Heathrow to Fairford

[Adam]

Has anyone here been to RIAT in the past can anyone give me any pointers it’s my first time going how easy is it to get from Heathrow to Fairford

Very easy. Elizabeth Line from Heathrow to Paddington, Great Western Railway from there to Swindon. Journey time about 2hrs.

Trains run every 30 minutes or so, and you'll pick up tickets for £25-100 depending on how far in advance you book, what time of day you want to travel and what level of flexibility you want. Book at gwr.com.

There is a free shuttle bus to the airshow from Swindon Bus Station (close to the railway station) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Journey time about 30 minutes. I advise being at the bus station no later than 6:30am before the queues build up. The return buses run until about 7:30pm. First in/last out is a good policy for the bus. The buses use a private road that avoid the worst of the traffic jams.

Beware you really need to stay within walking distance of the bus station if you plan to use the free shuttle. Sunday train services start mid-morning so you won't get into the airshow on time if you have to rely on a train.

If you want to do arrival/departure days, you'll need to hire a car or buddy up with someone else who's driving. Heathrow to the RIAT area is a roughly 90 minute drive.