Royal International Air Tattoo 2025 General Discussion Thread

[jasonT1981]

Royal International Air Tattoo 2025 - 18th - 20th July

Theme announcement - 17/10/24



We're very pleased to reveal our exhilarating new theme for RIAT25 ─ Eyes in the Skies

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) will highlight specialised aircraft used for intelligence, surveillance, maritime patrol, search and rescue, surveying and reconnaissance at next year's show.

This exciting new theme is a unique opportunity to allow you to get up close and personal with specialist aircraft that usually operate out of sight given the nature of their missions.

RIAT25 will take place on the 18th, 19th and 20th July at RAF Fairford, also marking 40 years since the world-renowned show made its way to Gloucestershire after being established at North Weald and then taking place at Greenham Common. We'd love you to join us to celebrate this and our RIAT25 theme ─ Eyes in the Skies.

[reaper493]

RIAT social media advising something 'unforgettable' will drop at 12 on the 7th November.

[Gooner]

I'm guessing that Thursday P&V has already sold out as only Wednesday showing as available in the website - can anyone confirm this please?
TIA

[Gooner]

RIAT social media advising something 'unforgettable' will drop at 12 on the 7th November.

Would hope so at £75 a pop !!
This may actually be the first time since 1989 that I don't bother with RIAT. I thought it was just FRIAT that were being mugged off ! - Sorry mini rant over !

[Gary]

How DBH have been overhyping this the last few years. Could be the Aftermovie from this year.

[jasonT1981]

Yeah, it's going to be the after-movie.

Didn't they do this last year too?

[reaper493]

As expected it was the highlight reel from this year's show....

[MrBlueSky]

Missed the early bird offer for next year- but thinking about attending and looked at Saturday and Sunday and saw £74:50 to go- so as I am going on holiday the following week- decided against paying that- so will hopefully get the early bird for 2026 instead.

Happy Days

Bob

[Gooner]

I phoned DBH ( how old fashioned) about the early bird offer and was told that £74.50 is the offer price and it will increase to £79 soon ! The lady also hintedthat Thursday P&V on the day may well be £30 +

[jasonT1981]

USAF/ACC schedule release today

As expected, no RIAT. Oh well, we knew the reasons why it was unlikely in the first place but still doom merchants saying RIATs end is imminent lol

I am sure we will still have a fantastic USAF contribution to the show like in recent years since the new regulations came into place.

[Gary]

I can imagine social media is in meltdown then. So pleased i've stopped looking at the RIAT pages for my own sanity. Tempted to have a RIAT blackout year and just go to the show and get excited for what's there. Like the old days

[redeye11]

Hear hear - and the excitement of seeing the tail fin of an aircraft that you never expected to see amongst the line-up !

[nashwa]

USAF/ACC schedule release today

As expected, no RIAT. Oh well, we knew the reasons why it was unlikely in the first place but still doom merchants saying RIATs end is imminent lol

I am sure we will still have a fantastic USAF contribution to the show like in recent years since the new regulations came into place.

I'm not devastated by this but can someone explain why US official demos are so rare at RIAT now? It seemed like we used to get the Thunderbirds fairly regularly and other demo teams like the F-22 and F-16. And in recent years the F-35 Demo Team have used a Lakenheath jet at both Sanicole and Paris, so why not RIAT? Has there been some sort of falling out with the organisers or does RIAT just fall on an inconvenient date for getting pilots and crews over?

[TomG]

From memory the Thunderbirds have participated at RIAT twice - 2007 & 2017. 2007 coincided with a European tour and 2017 was the 70th Anniversary of the USAF. The Blue Angels haven't participated. The team displays are put together to comply with US & Canadian regulation, to comply with the UK MAA regulation needs a ton of work and only so much is able to be changed by the team. As for the solo demo teams, domestic commitments will take priority, I guess F-35 demos are tied in pretty tightly with the US ambition to sell the aircraft in the European market but again its a balance of commitments, not to mention the costs and logistics involved for both participant and organisers.

[jasonT1981]

USAF/ACC schedule release today

As expected, no RIAT. Oh well, we knew the reasons why it was unlikely in the first place but still doom merchants saying RIATs end is imminent lol

I am sure we will still have a fantastic USAF contribution to the show like in recent years since the new regulations came into place.

I'm not devastated by this but can someone explain why US official demos are so rare at RIAT now? It seemed like we used to get the Thunderbirds fairly regularly and other demo teams like the F-22 and F-16. And in recent years the F-35 Demo Team have used a Lakenheath jet at both Sanicole and Paris, so why not RIAT? Has there been some sort of falling out with the organisers or does RIAT just fall on an inconvenient date for getting pilots and crews over?

In 2019 the USAF high ups changed the regulations for USAF ACC demos. They were no longer permitted to attend shows outside of Continental America unless there was an operational reason for the aircraft type to be in the area of the show at the time. Or they can get an exemption from the high-ups in the USAF.

Paris is seen as a different show type that doesn't fall under the same regulations as public airshows as it is considered a trade show.

Sanicole being in September means a much easier time getting an over-seas show slotted in. RIAT is held in mid July at the height of airshow season both here and in America, so American shows will always get preference. When Sanicole got the F35 there was only one other date scheduled for September so logistically easier.

UKAR did an interview with Peter Reoch who is head of RIAT Air Ops a while ago and he went into detail explaining things.

[nashwa]

Cheers for the explanation fellas, it is a shame we don't get the demos anymore but we can't be annoyed at the Americans when we've recently had things like an E-4B and flying U-2.

[Gary]

Latest email says updates will start next month

[jasonT1981]

No Patroilule Suisse. Schedule out and only a handful of dates in 2025

[seven]

No Saudi Hawks either, as they are spending the year transitioning to the Mk.165.

[Gary]

For anyone not on the mailing list. Several of the enclosures sold out or close to selling on Saturday

Several of our enclosures are already or nearly sold out for Saturday.


Aviation Club Saturday SOLD OUT

First Class Lounge Saturday SOLD OUT

Cotswold Club Saturday less than 150 remaining

Viewing Village Grandstand Saturday only 30 premium seats remaining

Lightning Pavilion Sunday only 15 tickets available

Viewing Village Garden Saturday less than 200 tickets available