Royal International Air Tattoo 2024 General Discussion Thread

[MikeN]

I was stationed at RAF Fairford 1989 to 1990 then it closed right before Desert Storm and then RAF Lakenheath 1990 to 1992

[James Cutting]

So should be well accustomed to the UK weather!

[iainpeden]

I though July is the summertime and no rain

Mike, find The Song of the Weather by Flanders and Swann which sums up British weather.
The rhyme for July; In July the Sun is hot, is it shining, no it’s not!

[thevulcan]

With the Slovakian C27J added today I was wondering if their new shiny F-16 Block 70's will swing by on delivery. I believe they are due to be delivered mid 2024 so July is about right. Wishful thinking I know but RIAT did say the F16 line up would be old right up to new F-16's. If Romania USAFE and Morocco bring there's it will be one epic lineup. Sadly never to be repeated apart from with F35's in the future. Bulgaria being on the ongoing list made me think of F16's but I just realised they don't receive them till 2027 SU25's...

Slovak F-16s are not due in Slovakia until 2016. The initial delivery will be to Tucson to join the overseas training unit there.

https://theaviationist.com/2024/01/14/f ... delivered/

The aviationist seems to think different. I did not realise F-16's were fast enough to be delivered back in time

Lockheed martin have also said they are due to arrive in Slovakia mid 2024
https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2024-1- ... assets_all

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Black Cats schedule on Flightline UK with RIAT on it.

[James Cutting]

Excellent

[GoldenPlane]

Romania added to the ongoing discussions, Wonder if we will get their F-16s after all?

Yes The Dutch Dude was spot on about the 4 F-16s, He said that 1 on them will have a special tail a few weeks back.

At least we’re trying to! But depends on the maintenance state of the aircraft etc..

Our RIAT Patch is already ordered

Jordy

[MikeN]

When I was stationed in the UK for 3 years I do not remember what the weather was like in July. That was 35 years ago. I am going to the one on Saturday 7/20/24. I hope since the date is later in the month from last year the weather will be better.

[Alf]

With the Slovakian C27J added today I was wondering if their new shiny F-16 Block 70's will swing by on delivery. I believe they are due to be delivered mid 2024 so July is about right. Wishful thinking I know but RIAT did say the F16 line up would be old right up to new F-16's. If Romania USAFE and Morocco bring there's it will be one epic lineup. Sadly never to be repeated apart from with F35's in the future. Bulgaria being on the ongoing list made me think of F16's but I just realised they don't receive them till 2027 SU25's...

Slovak F-16s are not due in Slovakia until 2016. The initial delivery will be to Tucson to join the overseas training unit there.

https://theaviationist.com/2024/01/14/f ... delivered/

The aviationist seems to think different. I did not realise F-16's were fast enough to be delivered back in time

Lockheed martin have also said they are due to arrive in Slovakia mid 2024
https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2024-1- ... assets_all

Oops, 2026.

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/s ... orris-angb

[Nighthawke]

When I was stationed in the UK for 3 years I do not remember what the weather was like in July. That was 35 years ago. I am going to the one on Saturday 7/20/24. I hope since the date is later in the month from last year the weather will be better.

Sorry Mike but with the British Isles being comparitively small and surrounded by seas our weather can change very quickly. Even in the height of summer. All you can do is hope for the best and pack suitable clothing for various conditions. That and cross your fingers and pray to the weather gods (or any other deity/-ies of your choosing).

[Knife 04]

2023 - Biblical rain on Friday. Grandstands evacuated on Saturday due to Thunder and lightning (just missed Fairford though), several heavy showers. One heavy downpour on the Sunday lasting about 20 minutes
2022 - Absolutely scorching heat all weekend and not a cloud to be seen in blue skies.
2019 - Very good weekend aside from a wet Friday
2018 - Rain on Friday caused RAF100 Flypast to be cancelled, rest of the weekend was fine.
2017 - Rain caused some of the early Saturday displays to cancel. Some went up and had to abort. SeaKing had perfect weather for its S&R demo (wet) F22 didn't go up in afternoon due to low cloud but Sunday was fine.

Not forgetting 2008 of course when it was cancelled due to the weather

[iainpeden]

In 2000 Fairford was bathed in sunshine all weekend, Cottesmore (Rutland) had low cloud all weekend - guess where the show was.

[peasus911]

I remember the 2000 show at Cosford.
Teams were coming out to perform fast taxi's past the crowd.
Then the Patri Swiss decided to do a Formation Sincro fast taxi past, Brilliant, everyone was trying to do their bit to keep going

[Blackcat1]

In 2000 Fairford was bathed in sunshine all weekend, Cottesmore (Rutland) had low cloud all weekend - guess where the show was.

It was lovely on arrival days

[iainpeden]

Flying out wasn't too bad either!

[jasonT1981]

While we had French static confirmed, schedule releases today show no Patroille de France or Requin Mike for RIAT.

https://www.air-shows.org.uk/2024/05/ai ... nces-2024/

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Not sure if this is correct but seems the Frecce Tricolori might be at RIAT this year.

https://www.aeronautica.difesa.it/home/ ... nazionale/

I thought they were in North America this year on tour?

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Ah OK I found out the answer it seems the Frecce are indeed in America on tour and its the Reparto Sperimentale di Volo static and flying display they are going on about so probably the C-27J Spartan, Typhoon and the Aermacchi M-345 for flying and other aircraft for static.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Opening this week's #TakeoffThursday with the exciting news that we'll be welcoming an aircraft from a new nation for RIAT 2024. For the very first time we've got an aircraft from the Serbian Armed Forces attending the Air Tattoo, with their new Airbus C295MW aircraft coming for static display at this year's show. A warm welcome awaits the Serbian crew at RAF Fairford in July, as the 58th nation to participate at the Air Tattoo.

We can now announce the participation of three Canadian heavyweights which will be static display at RIAT 2024. The CC-130J Hercules, CC-177 Globemaster and CC-150 Polaris will all be parked together at the eastern end of the static line, alongside the previous announced Canadian assets, to form a RCAF100 themed area; this will include other ground displays from Canada surrounding the aircraft. A sincere thanks to our Canadian friends for their excellent support to RIAT this year. Of note; this could be the last time we see their Polaris at RIAT, and therefore the last visit of an Airbus A310 to RAF Fairford, so one for the enthusiasts to ensure they enjoy come July.

The Royal Air Force have confirmed a plethora of training aircraft for static display at RIAT 2024: Tutor, Prefect, Texan, Hawk, Phenom, Juno & Jupiter. Some of these aircraft will be parked in the centre of the showground in a showcase exhibition of Ascent Flying Training (the organisation who deliver flying training to pilots and aircrew within the UK Military Flight Training System), and the other aircraft will be parked close to the RAF Experience area. We hope to confirm further contributions to the static display from the Royal Air Force in the coming weeks.

This week work continues with various aircraft operators, working to finalise arrangements for their aircraft's attendance at RIAT. It's worth noting that whilst the updates published in recent weeks have been mainly static display aircraft, there are plenty more aircraft lined-up for the flying display. However we are unable to announce many of these yet, until we get the proper approvals in place to ensure their participation is confirmed.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Another great update, Serbian C295MW is brilliant and the Canadian aircraft support is great especially the CC-150 Polaris.

Good support from the RAF too with the trainer aircraft announced.