RIAT and the future

[PeteHemsley]

Morning all. With RIAT 2019 drawing to a close, it's now time to start looking at the future. Lots of controversy flying around everywhere. Whilst sharing drinks in the bar in fairford village, the owner spike to several enthusiasts about next year's RIAT being the last one or the last to be held at fairford anyway.....

He didn't show any document or anything, but claimed that local authorities, stores and feeding troughs (pubs and take aways) have received letters informing them of the role change at RAF Fairford. This included information about planned aircraft deployment/basing, up to 380 base personnel moving into the area and the end of the annual airshow.

Did anyone else on the boards hear the same thing or was this yet another wind up? It's not exactly good for business by stating such things so why else would it be mentioned?

[Campbell89]

There is a post here (3rd most recent at the time of posting) by Tornado17 that alludes to the Rivet Joints moving to Fairford and an increase in based personnel by 1000 however no mention of moving / ending RIAT.

viewtopic.php?f=287&t=108625&start=880

[jamesg23]

It wouldnt surprise me if it ended or moved. Look at waddington airshow, as soon as the rivet joint moved in then the airshow came to an end. One reason i heard was that the americans saw it as to much of a security risk. The same at mildenhall post 9/11 so once there are USAF aircraft there permanently i can see riat at fairford coming to an end.

[Vulcanone]

Waddington has more than just RC-135 crews working on base. There are some sad unwashed FWITs who don't like them being used.

Hint..... 13 and 39 Sqn have them, and 31 Sqn gets its replacment

[jamesg23]

Im aware of them and like i said the americans thought waddington was to much of a risk. Its an excuse they can use and we have no argument. The same happend with mildenhall shows post 9/11.

[Fighterfoto]

Waddington Show went because it was too great a burden for a busy operational station to continue to hold.

[sgtangel]

The air tattoo managed perfectly well when the KC135s were based there. Being a local, who works closely with some sections on the base, and knowing what will be happening on the base in the future, I see no reason, nor have I heard anything (rumour or otherwise), that RIAT will go

[JASTREB]

Well, my local haunt at Fairford - were I have stayed for the past 12 years - already has next years show dates. All the regulars who stay there are already booked for next year.

[MRTT]

RIAT won't be moving anytime soon. The show has recently had their contract extended.

If he apparently received this documentation, why didn't he offer to show it to you?

[Stroudy]

I am a Fairford resident. The documentation mentions the details and personnel numbers about the bases new role, it doesn't say anything of the sort about the end of the annual airshow.

I was at a meeting recently with the base commander who said publicly the show will continue, referencing the fact that they managed with many tankers there historically so 2-3 RC-135's on the non-public accessible side of the base will cause no problems at all as there is ample space for both.

Just false rumours and hearsay.

[ShoreRam]

It's implausible to suggest that RIAT won't be impacted by the changing nature of the base, I'm not saying it won't happen but maybe it will be scaled down - The show organisers effectively take control of the base for weeks, I can't believe that will happen on an active base?

[Stroudy]

It's happened before and no reason why it can't happen again. The RC activities will be enclaved in a relatively small part of the airbase, not accessible to the public and easily restricted to tattoo staff, so there shouldn't be an issue. It has some of the biggest areas of hardstanding of any airbase in the world so with dwindling aircraft numbers at the show each year through natural succession it won't be a logistics issue.

[Dan214sqn]

was he drunk?

[EgDlYm]

Re the RC-135-RIAT debate, surely the central issue is whether the RC-135s can get airborne quickly if a military emergency need arises during RIAT displays. Is there yet a list of departure A/C, callsigns, times, yet available on Fighter Control or elsewhere.

Richard

Morning all. With RIAT 2019 drawing to a close, it's now time to start looking at the future. Lots of controversy flying around everywhere. Whilst sharing drinks in the bar in fairford village, the owner spike to several enthusiasts about next year's RIAT being the last one or the last to be held at fairford anyway.....

He didn't show any document or anything, but claimed that local authorities, stores and feeding troughs (pubs and take aways) have received letters informing them of the role change at RAF Fairford. This included information about planned aircraft deployment/basing, up to 380 base personnel moving into the area and the end of the annual airshow.

Did anyone else on the boards hear the same thing or was this yet another wind up? It's not exactly good for business by stating such things so why else would it be mentioned?

[Mikepaparomeo]

Andy Armstrong, RIAT CEO (leaving post this year) was interviewed Friday morning on the Air Tattoo radio station and was quite clear that he saw no reason why the AT could not continue at FFD after the base is permanently re-activated and indeed that he expected that it will continue. The only days when operational military movements might be tricky would be the Fri/Sat/Sun and even then it would just be a matter of timing. I am sure the USAF can make a plan for that! Like, maybe, pop one over at Brize 'in case' for a day or two. And then aircrew would not need to relocate from FFD area...
Regards, Mark

[ChrisCwmbran]

Who does the OP mean by the "owner"?

[Nighthawke]

The bar owner I guess.

[Hustler72]

I now its different times which have changed greatly
but in the early years didn't the airtattoo take place on an airbase that had ground based nuclear weapons bunkers on it. On a different trend of thought there is no mention of an official theme for next year, are they running out of idea's??

[ChrisCwmbran]

The bar owner I guess.

Ok, sorry I feel dumb now. I took it to be the "owner" of RIAT he meant lol.

[Nighthawke]

No need, I had to read it twice to make sure. Too hot to think anyway.