Royal International Air Tattoo 2024 General Discussion Thread

[James Cutting]

Seems a secondary commemorative German Tornado IDS has been painted, from the WTD61 - Who are due to appear at RIAT. I'll link the Facebook post to show the photo, but for those that don't have it...

**A second colourful German Tornado revealed**
Following the mid-March 2024 release of colourful Tornado 43+92 of Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 33 (TakLwG 33, Tactical Fighter Wing 33) with 50th first flight anniversary markings, a second G Luftwaffe (German Air Force) was seen in a 50th anniversary colourscheme.

This time serial 43+97 of Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 61 (WDT61) is furnished with likewise anniversary markings to commemorate types first flight on 14 August 7974.

Post - https://www.facebook.com/share/mvVtVdkqoKAbQ5kW/

Fingers crossed for one of the pair at RIAT, if not both

[jasonT1981]

RAF Falcon's self confirm for Friday of RIAT

[Red-Eye-Knight]

So looks like no flying participants from the French this year going by this update but a Mirage on static is always welcome, Thought we might have got Team Zeus this year but again Greek F-16s on static is brilliant cannot wait to see all these F-16s lined up.

I thought we might have got the Canadian static today as they did say sometime in April but this is last Thursday in April and still no Canadian static confirmed.

[James Cutting]

We may still have flying from France and Greece, they can still confirm

[James Cutting]

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.

[markranger]

"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."

That could be Interesting ? Pretty sure the Tornado comes from them Normally does it not?

Thanks

[James Cutting]

"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."

That could be Interesting ? Pretty sure the Tornado comes from them Normally does it not?

Thanks

Typhoon display and M346 too, I think...?

[jasonT1981]

Never seen a Mirage up close, so this is a nice update. I quite like the BAE146 Also.

Good to see more F16s added to the static line.

[Gary]

Oh no, not Hellenic F-16s saw enough of those last week Joking, great to see specially if they are the Block 52 ones. Also great to have Mirage 2000, been too long since there was one on static

[JRandall23]

No French Rafale this year only UK show is Duxford Airshow

[MikeN]

The US Air Force also has F-16s stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy

[James Cutting]

Yes, they sometimes turn up, but more often than not it’s Spangdahlem F-16s

[Lifesgood]

Good to see SoloTurk again and always nice to see a Harrier but have to say i'm rather underwhelmed with the flying display so far. Sign of the times I guess...

[James Cutting]

There is still 11 more announcements to be made...

Not many places get Harriers, F-16's, CF-188, Gripen's, F-5's in the same lineup, have patience.

[ETUO-09]

I wonder which CF-188 will make it to the UK for the display, as there is the Cold Lake show on the same weekend,
and I highly doubt that they will not present their anniversary-jet down there on that event.

[Professor_M]

I wonder which CF-188 will make it to the UK for the display, as there is the Cold Lake show on the same weekend,
and I highly doubt that they will not present their anniversary-jet down there on that event.

When RIAT announced it back in December, they said...

The Hornet will be specially painted in a livery to celebrate their 100th anniversary.

https://www.airtattoo.com/the-airshow/a ... t-updates/

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[James Cutting]

Deleted my last comment as found the answer here, on the Canadian Air Force's website of the schedule - https://www.canada.ca/en/air-force/serv ... edule.html

July 19 - 21 RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, UK
Cold Lake, Alberta (Aerobatic demonstration by standard operational grey painted CF-18)

So RIAT will have the Centenary marked jet.

[ETUO-09]

Great….and well deserved

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Starting this week's aircraft update with a huge contribution to our 'Viper Line' from the Royal Netherlands Air Force. As this will be the last time we'll see their F-16AM Fighting Falcons as RIAT (as they're retiring from service later this year), we're very pleased that they'll be sending us four jets for static display, which is a fantastic contribution to our celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the F-16. In addition, from the Netherlands, their NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter will also be returning for static display.

This week we can also unveil the first of our Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft coming for static display; a CC-295 Kingfisher! This is the first time we've seen this aircraft coming to RIAT and with it's bright yellow colour scheme, it'll be hard to miss. Next week we should be able to add the rest of the Canadian contributions to RIAT to the website and give you more detail on the planned theme ground display marking their Centennial.

Final confirmation for this week comes from the Slovak Air Force, who'll be sending one of their C-27J Spartan transport aircraft for static display, joining the NATO 75th Anniversary line-up.

In addition this week we've continued discussion with a variety of European Air Arms who've informed us about the aircraft they intend to send to RIAT 2024. As ever; more news in the coming weeks!

[James Cutting]

That's an early update, and a nice little bolster to the static park. That Viper Line will look awesome seeing such a range of different F-16's lined up, that will be THE shot

CC-295 is nice.