Royal International Air Tattoo 2023 General Discussion Thread

[James Cutting]

Yes agreed with that sentiment!

You can join the waitlist though as I think some people have managed to get tickets this way - https://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/tickets/park-and-view

[jasonT1981]

Said in the Flying Legends thread, but RMT announced their strike dates for July and RIAT weekend is clear. They are striking the 2 following weekends. 20th, 22nd & 29th July.

Phew. I was quite worried about it and had started looking at alternative arrangements if it came to it.

[plmc135]

Could the deteriorating situation in Russia lead to Fairford staying open as an operational base with the B-1's, with the consequential affect on RIAT.

[POL]

Probably not, no.

[Discodaz]

Cheers mate. We would be at east. Tbh, it crossed my mind to just risk it. Worse that can happen is he has to watch from the fence. I would feel bad being inside though while he couldn't get in.

Daz

[PeteHemsley]

Could the deteriorating situation in Russia lead to Fairford staying open as an operational base with the B-1's, with the consequential affect on RIAT.

Stop bringing this rubbish into the RIAT section

[city42]

Could the deteriorating situation in Russia lead to Fairford staying open as an operational base with the B-1's, with the consequential affect on RIAT.

Stop bringing this rubbish into the RIAT section

total agree no need for this rubbish and plus its over now

[GVLCN]

A lot of rubbish posted on this forum lately, RIAT is looking good since pre covid. As I drove past the base all the marquees are getting in place. Can’t wait!

[POL]

RIAT is looking good since pre covid.

In your opinion, of course.

[jasonT1981]

Friday starting to take shape

FRIDAY

DENMARK - ROYAL DANISH AIR FORCE
General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon

FRANCE - FRENCH AIR AND SPACE FORCE
Boeing C-135FR Stratotanker

ITALY - ITALIAN ARMY
Agusta AH-129D Mangusta

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA - ROYAL SAUDI AIR FORCE
BAE Systems Hawk Mk.65 (x7)

SPAIN - SPANISH NAVY
McDonnell Douglas EAV-8B Harrier II

SWEDEN - SWEDISH AIR FORCE
SAAB SK.60

UNITED KINGDOM - ROYAL AIR FORCE
BBMF Avro Lancaster/Hawker Hurricane/Supermarine Spitfire
Red Arrows BAE Systems Hawk T1 (x8)
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4
Airbus Voyager KC3
Airbus Atlas C1

ARRIVALS
Hungarian JAS-39C
NATO MMU A330-MRTT
AAC Apache AH2
AAC Wildcat
AAC Gazelle x2
RN Merlin

[James Cutting]

Hopefully get some form of confirmation from the US Navy today

Bordering on the wishlist; wonder if we'll get the Air Defender scheme A400M and Tornado in their refueling demo? Fingers crossed

[somerset]

Hopefully get some form of confirmation from the US Navy today

Bordering on the wishlist; wonder if we'll get the Air Defender scheme A400M and Tornado in their refueling demo? Fingers crossed

Can only imagine it being a P8 .......unless a carrier appears on the south coast .......its

[milaviation]

Time for my weekly update prediction which I’ll 100% screw up:

Brazil:

KC-390 (S)

__________________

Slovenia:

PC-9 (F/S)

___________________

Still Ongoing:
US Navy
____________________

Declined:
Zambian Air Force
_____________________

[James Cutting]

I'd stick a fiver on that as a betting man, if I could

[milaviation]

It’s either that or the Iranian Tomcats

[James Cutting]

I'll keep my fiver then

[milaviation]

Well you can keep that fiver, or you can buy this totally legitimate leak to get the update early:

Latest Update: 29th June:

Starting this week off with…

[James Cutting]

Hey, it worked!

With the show getting closer, today we announce the final additions to our RIAT 2023 flying displays! Starting close to home, we're pleased to confirm the Royal Air Force's F-35B Lightning will be seen in the air on Friday, Saturday & Sunday! A special treat for Friday visitors, when the F-35B willl perform a formation flypast with the BBMF's Lancaster to commemoriate the 80th Anniversary of Op Chastise, commonly known as the Dambusters Raid. Whilst the F-35B will not be performing a full aerobatic display, visitors will have chance to see the aircraft flying conventionally and also in V/STOL mode whilst hovering.
Another addition to our SKYTANKER23 theme this week, from the 352nd Special Operations Wing based at RAF Mildenhall. On Saturday & Sunday, their MC-130J Commando II will perform a simulated air-to-air refuelling flypast with a CV-22B Osprey. The Osprey will also perform a solo flying demonstration. Examples of both aircraft types will also be available for closer inspection in the static displays.

An exciting addition to the static displays this week, as the Zambian Air Force plan to send their C-27J Spartan to RIAT 2023! This will be the first time we welcome an aircraft from Zambia to the show, and they will become our 58th Nation to participate at the Air Tattoo.

We're very excited to be welcoming SAAB and their Gripen E aircraft for it's UK debut. This impressive combat jet will perform in the flying display on all three days, with another example on static display in our Showcase Area in the centre of the showground. Also on static display, and likely to be a highlight for many aviation enthusiasts, will be their SAAB GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft.

From the US Navy, we welcome their TACAMO aircraft, the Boeing E-6B Mercury. This aircraft will be on static display on Saturday & Sunday.
A small update from the Italian Air Force; we will now also have a F-2000A Typhoon on static display in our special ITAF100 area, with the static jet coming from 36° Stormo. In total there will be three Italian Typhoons at RIAT (1x Flying Display, 1x Spare Aircraft for the Flying Display and 1x Static Display). In addition, it is planned that the C-27J Spartan for static display will actually be a YEC-27J JEDI aircraft, fingers crossed!

Finally this week, as the show approaches a number of operators have been forced to sadly withdraw their aircraft from RIAT 2023, due prority operational taskings. These include the Dutch Hercules, French Navy Caïman & Dauphin, German Air Force H145M and Italian Air Force HH-212A. In addition, O-1 Aviation have also withdrawn their Cessna Bird Dog from RIAT 2023.

[red leader]

A very good update but such a shame about so many helicopter cancellations!

[seven]

Wow! Gripen E flying is a bit unexpected! Also, bit odd that I'd literally just acquired an Italeri C-27J to build a Jedi airframe

Shame about the cancellations, but yet another cracking update from DBH. Keep up the good work