Royal International Air Tattoo 2023 General Discussion Thread

[seven]

Danish F-16 cnx, still tech.

[100arw]

1 minute at 0730 (number 5 in queue) bag searched, body scan front and rear but no ticket scanned !

Just out of interest, what actual time did you arrive on the airfield?
P.

[Fink123]

Yesterday 1 hour of waiting.
My bag wasn’t even checked…. and no body scan
Looks they choose random people?

[Rafmatt1984]

My Honest review of yesterday at RIAT.

More importantly first the Pros.

Getting there early we didn’t get stuck in traffic into the event.
Nice selection of trade stands however they seem to be getting smaller over the years.
Weather wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, wind wasn’t great but tbh we have been lucky with weather for the last few years.
Also a chance to meet up with friends and former colleagues in aviation.
Caught up with a few of the aircraft I’ve worked on also.

Now the Cons.

The wait to get in was ridiculous over an hour to get through the gates.
Food selection and price was dismal.
Cost of ticket is going up but the event is for sure getting smaller.
The spreading out of the show area is getting absurd. Our aircraft were parked up at the very end of the show ground. In a very sparse area, really they could condense the static display down.
I think the days of RIAT are numbered and I think if they carry on the way they are this could end up ending the event. Personally I would go back to a Saturday and Sunday show. With arrivals on Thursday and Friday.

[starfighter]

My Honest review of yesterday at RIAT.

More importantly first the Pros.

Getting there early we didn’t get stuck in traffic into the event.
Nice selection of trade stands however they seem to be getting smaller over the years.
Weather wasn’t as bad as I was expecting, wind wasn’t great but tbh we have been lucky with weather for the last few years.
Also a chance to meet up with friends and former colleagues in aviation.
Caught up with a few of the aircraft I’ve worked on also.

Now the Cons.

The wait to get in was ridiculous over an hour to get through the gates.
Food selection and price was dismal.
Cost of ticket is going up but the event is for sure getting smaller.
The spreading out of the show area is getting absurd. Our aircraft were parked up at the very end of the show ground. In a very sparse area, really they could condense the static display down.
I think the days of RIAT are numbered and I think if they carry on the way they are this could end up ending the event. Personally I would go back to a Saturday and Sunday show. With arrivals on Thursday and Friday.

Don’t think there cancel , with 95% of all tickets sold out , if you decide not to go next year you place will be taken very quickly.

[Rob666]

I used the Swindon shuttle yesterday, parked in Swindon, had to take a rather circuitous route to get to the bus station because of the big hole in Swindon. The queue for the bus was long, but moved quite well.
Bus took about 40 mins, saw big queues as we approached the Yellow entrance, but it was all moving well and security were pragmatic, cheery and helpful.

I was dubious about the weather, but apart from the drenching around 1 o'clock (just after I had bought my (now wet!) chorizo wrap, it was OK.

Shame some displays cancelled, but what I saw was generally good.

Highlights for me where the Belgian F16, and the French Rafale - awesome roll-rate and a pilot that knows how to display it!

Coming back about 4:45, got straight on a bus, back to Swindon, then escaped (the Magic roundabout is a joke!)

What's wrong with the Magic Roundabout it's about the only road in Swindon which works.

[sneezy24]

I used the Swindon shuttle yesterday, parked in Swindon, had to take a rather circuitous route to get to the bus station because of the big hole in Swindon. The queue for the bus was long, but moved quite well.
Bus took about 40 mins, saw big queues as we approached the Yellow entrance, but it was all moving well and security were pragmatic, cheery and helpful.

I was dubious about the weather, but apart from the drenching around 1 o'clock (just after I had bought my (now wet!) chorizo wrap, it was OK.

Shame some displays cancelled, but what I saw was generally good.

Highlights for me where the Belgian F16, and the French Rafale - awesome roll-rate and a pilot that knows how to display it!

Coming back about 4:45, got straight on a bus, back to Swindon, then escaped (the Magic roundabout is a joke!)

What's wrong with the Magic Roundabout it's about the only road in Swindon which works.

Doesn't work for people who don't live there, really confusing.

[wessexspotter]

Coming back about 4:45, got straight on a bus, back to Swindon, then escaped (the Magic roundabout is a joke!)

What's wrong with the Magic Roundabout it's about the only road in Swindon which works.

I learnt to drive on and around it ergo I am I one of the best drivers in the world.

Back to proceedings, Lanc inbound

[timb]

I went thu/fri/sat. Thurs was very good, well worth the wait until 7 to see the F-4 arrive. Friday I gave up at 1 and returned to the hotel to watch Wimbledon, Thoroughly enjoyed the saturday show, in the C,P. by 6.45 and in the showground by 8.30, so not to bad.
Awesome dislays by the Belgian FI6 and Finnish F18 and another hilite was the German Demo. Best team was The Saudi Hawks, very polished, also enjoyed The UAE "smoke display". The static was excellent, especially liked being able to almost get in the bomb bay of the B52, amusing seeing people taking selfies eating a burger in the bomb bay of a B52. I always like to see what merchandise The Air Arms have to offer, I managed to add to my small collection of engraved beer glasses, The Madhatters and Fightin' Doves. I stopped at various vantage points to watch and photograph the always slick flying displays, I try not to spend my whole day looking through a camera lens.
I,ve been doing Greenham, Cottesmore and Fairford since 1973, missed one Greenham and Fairford due to one reason or another. It never dissapoints, occasionally the weather rears it's ugly head, we can't help that. Some are obviously slightly better than others and last year will take some beating. Always lots of noise and heavy metal. A very good RIAT 2023 and looking forward to 2024.

[red leader]

Is the Me 262 flying today?

[James Cutting]

It has yes already

[red leader]

Thanks. That's very encouraging news!

[seven]

U-2 '079 is out of the hangar currently if anyone needs it.

[lambo1784]

52 been up for ages and the 135 on its way from the Hall.

[GVLCN]

Finnish F-18 was un-real display 2nd by Italian typhoon

[James Cutting]

The best light of the day starts to fade before the 52

[quid21]

B-52 has now done 21 loops over the top of Cotswold Wildlife park LOL

For a single flypast with a tanker.....

Shame about the weather this weekend but can't be helped, unless it's shifted to a more stable time of year like late Spring.

[James Cutting]

U-2 '079 is out of the hangar currently if anyone needs it.

Being fuelled now, presuming an early mission tomorrow.

[Blackcat1]

Finnish F-18 was un-real display 2nd by Italian typhoon

At home watching live stream & Finish Hornet was awesome I agree

[Blackcat1]

Will anyone be live streaming departures tomorrow please? I’ll be sat in the living room at 8am with a bacon butty and beer!! Sorry I mean coffee