Royal International Air Tattoo 2013

[Sooty]

According to their Unofficial RIAT facebook page, both U2's are due out tomorrow!

[luke28]

Hi guys.
This will be my first time at RIAT since I was a child, well, whatever it was called back in the 80's at Fairford! Most years it always falls when im busy at another kind of show in London and cant get away, but thankfully this year, there was a 2 week gap between them meaning I can go this year.

Anyone got any tips on what to bring, what to do etc? I went to the Weston Air day last month, but fully aware that thats a different kettle of fish, and technically you could say this is almost my first time at a show such as this.
Ive got a ticket for the grandstand viewing village too so hoping to get a good view. I'll be packing snacks and drink for the day, suncream, hat and sunglasses, all my dslr kit that i'll need, plus debating if to bring my tablet for maybe transferring photos too and/or using the wifi on site if I have downtime.
As im going to be travelling in by train, I get to Swindon station at 9:30, and booked on a late train home, figured an entire day there should be enough time lol.
One thing I cant seem to find on the shows official website or fb/twitter etc is where the shuttle bus picks up from and drops off, how often they are, and how long they take. Or is it all signposted from the station?

Looking forward to the weekend now!

The shuttle buses pick us up from the bus station which is 3 minutes round the corner from the train station, just follow the crowd when you get off the train because 90% of the people on your train will be going to RIAT. The buses are very regular, last year I arrived at 9.30am and was at the back of a que but was on base for just after 10.30 am, I imagine it may take a little longer this year as the weather last year was on and off. If its an option for you then getting an early train would be ideal?

[Dan213]

According to their Unofficial RIAT facebook page, both U2's are due out tomorrow!

Did you ever hear about the F-35s based in Germany on that page?


Sent from my ST25i using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[Richard B]

More prime time adverts on Central Tv Emerdale farm time
for the Airshow. would have thought it exspensive and a bit late.

[seven]

Got to sat today's update was probably the best so far...

7

[grimly aviation pics]

7 updates today where u seen that

[Mike]

7 updates today where u seen that

That's his user-name.

[grimly aviation pics]

haha o yeah!!!!!!
so anyway whats the update

[seven]

Exactly, what is the update!? They said there was going to be daily updates this week, there has been none. Considering the changes we know have happened, Froggie Puma/Gazelle to name a few, this is a little pants. The only thing making this RIAT a good one is the weather..

[KINROTATE]

On a different note, I sat through what was a pretty disjointed Pat-F display today. The show, to me anyway, has become a jumbled mess of flypasts with no coherent theme (other than the jets are a similar colour). I would wager the Blue Angels show (though very looooooooooooong) would be a better watch - interesting listening to ATC today, even they were fed up with the airborne equivalent of Emerdale.......

[grimly aviation pics]

Canberra pr9 xh134 flew her first restoration flight this morning at kemble apparantly will be at riat this weekend

[Skywatcher]

Yup Canberra arrived at fairford today at around 6pm it's on static display though...

[POL]

RIAT website down? Adding the USAF participation I wonder?

[Skywatcher]

Intresting!....gess we will all know what's happing by the morning

[stevep22]

Don't forget to listen out for the Kaiser Chief's new song to commemorate the event:

'I Predict A RIAT'

(I'll get my coat..............)

Steve

[wave scanner]

Saturdays show was great

[Al dunn]

On a different note, I sat through what was a pretty disjointed Pat-F display today. The show, to me anyway, has become a jumbled mess of flypasts with no coherent theme (other than the jets are a similar colour). I would wager the Blue Angels show (though very looooooooooooong) would be a better watch - interesting listening to ATC today, even they were fed up with the airborne equivalent of Emerdale.......

I thought the P de F were diabolicle. Flew well away from the crowd unlike the Swiss team

Regards

Al

[MRTT]

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would, as has already been said, the line up wasn't the best but it was an enjoyable day out!

[seven]

The flying was actually pretty good on the sunday. the cloud lifting sufficiently early afternoon to allow most acts to do a full display. The Italian Typhoon wasn't quite as good as expected, but was still one of the highlights along with the MiG's return. There was a few items which really dont suit Fairford as a location, such as the Catalina, Belgian Agusta, Eurocopter demo(i really hope they didnt have to pay for that) and TWO Apache display's-one would have been enough. The static unfortunately was the worst they've ever given us. Whilst what was the military wise was pretty good, AN-2, EMB-145, R-99B, VC-10 etc, the amount of civvie stuff filling the huge gaps was appalling. RIAT appears to be slipping down a slope away from the enthusiast happy show it used to be, if this year is to go by they are more concerned with suiting the family day out than us die hard aviation nut's. Whilst this year will not be going down in the history books as a classic, it could have been far worse. Next year must be much better in terms of participation, and it must continue like that. I'd love to see how many families are going to want to hang around in the pouring rain like we do most years, and exactly that is why RIAT could potentially kill themselves off where they have so easily have done the opposite.

7

[rh226]

7.

While I respect your views as a "die-hard aviation nut" (your words), the whole thing must be put into context.

Firstly, the fiscal climate has not helped one bit with, I suspect, more countries than the US being hit quite hard. Just as one example, don't forget that there was probably a lot more aircraft that the RAF/RN/AAC could have provided - had the MoD's budget been more healthy. Perhaps this is going to be a sign of future shows, with the days of the huge exotically oriented RIATs being over. Only time will tell.

Secondly, other commitments have probably prevented several air forces from being present - much as they would have liked to participate. Exercises for one thing.

Thirdly, what else are the organisers to do if they are projecting a large show and can't get the numbers of military participants that they would like? They are not going to say "sorry, we are not having a show" as a give-up option. They get civilian aircraft (as interesting as possible) to fill the gaps. OK, it does not cater for the wish lists of some of the avid aviation enthusiasts, but they do their best. There was, after all, quite a few exotic aircraft present.

Lastly, the spotting/photography element of the attendance surely makes up only a relatively small percentage. A very large proportion of the attendance - which I understand from the BBC News this lunchtime was a sell-out both days - are the rest of the world and his wife and kids. Is it not surprising that the organisers heavily cater for what they perceive as being the wishes of what an aviation oriented family outing is looking for?

I think that it is a case of the organisers doing the best they can in difficult circumstances. And they should be congratulated on it.