Royal International Air Tattoo 2019 Discussion Thread

[luke28]

This year is far from a classic but it is still arguably the best and varied line up you're going to see in the world. DBH consistently do it year after year while making a profit which sees a sizeable portion go to Charity. There is no logical reason to think about making it bi-annual.

[Gary]

Lots of rumours of a B-2 flypast on Sunday according to various facebook pages.

[plmc135]

If you accept that the two events at North Weald in the early 70's were the birth place of IAT and RIAT, then you must remember that a Britannia Airways Boeing 737 was one of the "highlights" of the show in 1972 and a Trans Meridian CL-44 was on static display. So going back to square one would men more "civil junk" than now. Time for RIAT to take a break and re-assess where it wants to go. The cow cannot be for ever milking.

Entirely agree that RIAT has lost its way, perhaps it should become a bi-annual show as it once had been and feature a much stronger central theme. This year there are fewer funds across the Globe, and Countries like France are heavily committed to conflicts like Mali, and they had Bastille Day last Sunday, what a line up they assembled for that.
Yes, full marks to RIAT but...

STRONGLY disagree on RIAT becoming Bi-Annual. Would be a nightmare to have to wait two years instead of just one. Already bad enough that it’s been a week or so longer to this one.

No doubt you are aware that IAT/RIAT was a bi-annual event at one time. It actually made the wait even better because in those days it was worth waiting for. I think there are now several other shows in Europe that seem to attract better participants than RIAT. Volkel got F-35A's, RIAT struggling to get an F-35 at all.

[MRTT]

That as may be but, I don't seem to remember Romanian MiG-21s, Ukrainian Su-27s or Spanish AV-8Bs at Volkel?

[luke28]

RIAT has had the F-35 for the past 4 years, what a strange example to give.

[James Cutting]

Lots of rumours of a B-2 flypast on Sunday according to various facebook pages.

[Tronk 11]

Looking for some advice. I went to the west loop last year which was fairly chilled, but missed a few that turned off early. Can anyone tell me what the east park and view is like, and which is the best?

[MRTT]

If you want to see everything airborne, then East is by far the better option. Busier than West but, if you arrive early enough, it shouldn't be a problem.

[Tronk 11]

Thanks mrtt.

[James Cutting]

Agree there, though for departures it's different. If they are on 27 end (East) you may want to be at 09 end (West) to get anything airborne.

If for arrivals then MRTT is on the money (again, runway depends).

[fisherman]

Entirely agree that RIAT has lost its way, perhaps it should become a bi-annual show as it once had been and feature a much stronger central theme. This year there are fewer funds across the Globe, and Countries like France are heavily committed to conflicts like Mali, and they had Bastille Day last Sunday, what a line up they assembled for that.
Yes, full marks to RIAT but...

STRONGLY disagree on RIAT becoming Bi-Annual. Would be a nightmare to have to wait two years instead of just one. Already bad enough that it’s been a week or so longer to this one.

No doubt you are aware that IAT/RIAT was a bi-annual event at one time. It actually made the wait even better because in those days it was worth waiting for. I think there are now several other shows in Europe that seem to attract better participants than RIAT. Volkel got F-35A's, RIAT struggling to get an F-35 at all.

I guess that perhaps it comes with age and the memories of the past. There have been fabulous shows all over Europe and beyond with extremely rare aircraft, but RIAT holds the title of the Worlds biggest military show... perhaps a harder claim to hold on to in the modern time.

[Nighthawke]

Note that the word "military" is not qualified by such words as "solely, "purely" or " only"

[Zonan]

Lots of rumours of a B-2 flypast on Sunday according to various facebook pages.

If that's true, at what time would that be?
And is it possible to see this from outside riat? I don't have Sunday tickets and my flight from Bristol departs around 17:40 so maybe I could be able to catch it still

Also, is there any chance it lands at Brize? I will most likely be going there on Sunday and Friday

[seven]

It's just a rumour, and until confirmed by DBH or the USAF thats all it will be.

If by any chance one does turn up, it'll most likely be late afternoon, as has every other global power flypast. And they usually do not land in the UK afterwards.

7

[jasonT1981]

RIAT has had the F-35 for the past 4 years, what a strange example to give.

2016 & 2018 are the only times RIAT has had an F35 though?

Volkel got F-35A's, RIAT struggling to get an F-35 at all.

Not really struggling. The RAF doesn't have a fully worked up display and the one of the only F35 displays is in America and booked elsewhere yet RIAT has the F35 down for 2 of the show days. Looks like only one F35 in Volkel flying too.

[StrawdogUK69]

Well here we go ... enough of the waffle and moaning... let's just enjoy the RIAT . Have a great time everyone

[StrawdogUK69]

Well here we go ... enough of the waffle and moaning... let's just enjoy the RIAT . Have a great time everyone

[ShoreRam]

Well here we go ... enough of the waffle and moaning... let's just enjoy the RIAT . Have a great time everyone

Quite - Excitement up to the max, wind direction looks good for me :-)

[StrawdogUK69]

Weather wise.... NW Storm radar app... live weather ... 5min delay on actual weather but perfect for seeing if rain etc heading your way.
As for lightning , I use Blitzortung Lightning Monitor.
Once again very accurate.
Hopefully we won't need to be checking these apps at ALL...

[Flightech]

It looks like it's rain Fri PM and heavy rain on Fri night which means the grass will be soaking wet on sat and it's light rain for the while day. May need some wellies !