Royal International Air Tattoo 2017 Discussion Thread

[canberra sauce]

Well for what it's worth I had a really good day! I went on Sunday this year and by the sound of things I lucked out with the flying! I've been Saturday for the last 3 years and wasn't going to go this year but I got bought a ticket and I'm so glad I did! I really wanted to see the su27 but with a 2hour drive back home to Essex I decided to leave at 4 so didn't actually get to see it go up but to be honest from what I've seen on you tube the display looked like lots of turning in circles which with a small turning circle is very impressive but didn't look like it showed the airframes true capability but that's just my opinion! The last few years have been a bit disappointing with several typhoons several f16's and the like but this year I think the variety was superb! The raptor was one of the highlights for me as well as the B2 all be it short and sweet but to be fair they got her over from America for a short fly past so fair play to the Americans! Even the contribution by the kc 135, C130, F16's and F15's was a pleasant surprise even though everyone would have wanted to see a full display from an eagle but let's be honest when was the last time that happened at a UK airshow?? It's not an airfete by any means but the days of that kind of show have long gone and we won't see it again!
A step in the right direction for me with the usaf but a one off I fear being their anniversary!
Now I'm not a spotter I enjoy aircraft a few trips to LN now and again just to sit there and smell the jet fuel and hear the noise so even at full price the what turned out to be a 4 hour drive (or not drive) back home to Essex I thought it was worth it!
I would have been a bit disappointed if I had gone on the Saturday so a touch of luck but overall had a great day!
Interested to see what will be on next years programme!

[red leader]

Thanks for that help with the hercules bizfreeq.

[Andy_99]

My Take on Sunday

Parking & Entry Spot on
Entry & Exit via red route - Spot on took me about an hour from Newbury in the morning (via Wantage) & about an hour & a half back so no issues
Food Prices - Jeez eye watering almost on a par with the British Grand Prix
Flying Display - Good variety but lots of the manoeuvring was so far away, I know the Regs are tighter since Shoreham but it almost makes it worth not paying to go in to watch the flying
Static's great variety - although I din;t do much of it as it was chucking it down when I chose to go & look

Will I go next year - undecided may do arrivals & departures & maybe a campsite for the display days

[Dan214sqn]

4 days Fri to Mon - Best show I've been too....period. EPIC weekend which had it all

[Freeman Lowell]

Park and view (east) on Monday was great. Well organised and managed. Food prices not too high, if you didn't want to bring your own. Special thanks to the ladies and gentlemen (inc AM in aircrew H5) for taking the grief when they asked the white van man to move his vehicle when he parked in front of the paying public to take his own photographs.
Freeman

[turmo]

The Skyvan took a lot of 'enthusiast' abuse but the type has trained more British airborne forces than any other in recent decades. It's a pity the staff on the Eureka Aviation stall had no interest in it and just wanted to sell Bronco patches!

Departures day was great and really emphasises the community amongst enthusiasts when they can chat and communicate without being drowned-out by inane commentary.

[Nighthawke]

The Skyvan took a lot of 'enthusiast' abuse but the type has trained more British airborne forces than any other in recent decades.

Yes but if it had belonged to one of the more exotic military air arms that operate or have operated the type, everyone would have been drooling over it. Just because it carries a civilian registration it gets abuse. I never did get the extreme military only attitude but that's another issue!

[Rotörhead]

darn good year this year! Did Sunday and Monday (at P&V West) loads of variety, not bad weather I came away with some good shots.

Highlight was the SU-27, sooo cool and pretty damn rare too! Loved all the US stuff although I've never been a fan of the Thunderbirds or the US's attitude towards commentating
Another moan would be the decision to move the Danish Challenger through an area of the crowd during the highlight of the show, the SU-27. Fair play it was an active taxiway but I felt it could have been done at another point, luckily it didn't disturb me as I was to the side, but I feel sorry for the people who were told with no warning to pack up there stuff and move somewhere more crowded from a front row seat. Nice to see the Midnight Hawks again, really liked their display actually in the smart new schemes for the Hawks!

P&V was excellent, I completed my quest to photograph a Phantom in the air before they go out of service completely! And also saw a few other rare types I'd never caught before in the air.

All in all though I had a great time, really good stuff this year!

[WZ744]

Well, as usual I attended from Wednesday to Monday staying at Kempsford. Great quiet spot on the campsite, plenty of space around us and a lot of the same lovely people we see every year.
Did p&v east on Thursday, in the show Friday, Saturday and Sunday then p&v west on Monday. Apart from the poor conditions on Saturday morning, everything was very enjoyable. Sat at 27 end on Friday, loads of room to move about and up at the far west 09 end on Saturday\Sunday where most of the crowd line was almost completely empty. Ok, we didn't get the shots you would get from the centre section of the crowdline but did very well otherwise. I thought the displays were very good and what a great variety of aircraft both on the ground and in the air. Well done everyone involved in organizing the whole event, Roll on Riat 2018.
Colin.

[peasus911]

Very good RIAT for me. Arrived at Totterdown on Friday lunchtime just able to take in the USAF flypasts. Saturday was spent at the campsite watching from my pitch. Sunday was inside the show taking in the very good static and a good position for the flying. Monday was at the park and view for the departures, which was non stop action including the T/Birds, F22's, U2's, kC-135's and a C-17. have seen a variety of opinions on the various forums but I feel I would have to dig deep to remember a better all round show. Can't wait for RIAT 2018 and the RAF's 100th celebrations. Well done RIAT.

[Voodoo1]

You are correct in assuming it was a plastic replica along with a replica reds hawk next to it. These were in the RAF village section of the show by the respective display stalls. Hope this helps!

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

[Bluetail]

"Another moan would be the decision to move the Danish Challenger through an area of the crowd during the highlight of the show, the SU-27. Fair play it was an active taxiway but I felt it could have been done at another point, luckily it didn't disturb me as I was to the side, but I feel sorry for the people who were told with no warning to pack up there stuff and move somewhere more crowded from a front row seat".

The Challenger was positioned deliberately to allow it to leave RIAT on Sunday with a VIP on board. It was put into the static at a place where we could easily move it out, even so the method of moving it required some careful thought due to the public being in attendance. I assume if we hadn't put it into the static someone would have moaned about that as well. And to be honest it was only on the taxiway for about 10 mins before it taxied.

[jasonT1981]

Was the Royal Navy Sea King there? I only recall seeing the German one on static. If so, where was it parked?

[MRTT]

Nope, cancelled on the Wednesday, I believe.

[jasonT1981]

Ahhh thanks, was wondering where it got to.