Royal International Air Tattoo 2024 General Discussion Thread

[capercaillie]

It was only due to display between 2am and 2.15am anyway, so without afterburners it would have been a p**s-poor effort!

[JRandall23]

GAF Typhoon Display has announced RIAT as one of their 6 display venues according to Bavarian Tigers and European Airshows

[somerset]

Nighthawk Demo self confirmed according to their socials !!!

Edit : alas it too be a spoof after some deep digging, but their has been rumours of it making an appearance since the US revised their testing and training unit with them ?

I'd say that's a hard no

[Red-Eye-Knight]

GAF Typhoon Display has announced RIAT as one of their 6 display venues according to Bavarian Tigers and European Airshows

Old news I'm afraid already discussed several pages back.

[seven]

And as previously said, they self confirmed last year only to later change to static only. Wait for DBH with this one.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

We're starting this week's update with confirmation of another international formation display team coming to RIAT 2024. We're pleased to announce Patrouille Suisse will be performing in the flying display on Saturday & Sunday! Flying their colourful F-5 Tigers, we haven't seen the team at RAF Fairford since 2017, so we're very pleased to be welcoming them back to RIAT this summer.

Further flying display additions this week come from Germany, who continue their fantastic annual support to RIAT, with an assortment of interesting aircraft committed to this year's show as part of the NATO 75th Anniversary celebrations. In the flying display, we're excited to see solo displays from their Eurofighter and A400M for the first time. On the ground they'll be exhibiting their impressive CH-53G helicopter, a Tornado from Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 ""Immelmann"" (who are hosting this year's NATO Tiger Meet, so fingers crossed for a specially painted jet) and for the first time their Airbus A319 aircraft which is specially modified for Open Skies missions. Finally, as part of our 'Pushing the Boundaries' theme we're very pleased that the Germany's special flight test centre, WTD 61, will also be providing a Tornado for static display.

As we celebrate NATO's 75th Anniversary, we're very pleased to welcome one of their AWACS aircraft to RIAT 2024. The aircraft will be performing a special flypast on Friday (more details in the coming months), and then be on static display for Saturday & Sunday.

We are aware of other aircraft sharing their intent to be at RIAT 2024 online, some of which we are in communication with, others which we have not heard from. A reminder that we must await the formal approval paperwork before we list them on our website as confirmed participants. More news to follow in the coming weeks.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Boom German A-400m and Eurofighter in the flying display, Great support from the Germans especially with the Static aircraft added, Great update today!!!

[witje]

Zambia Air Force will also not come this year

[Red-Eye-Knight]

And there go the talks with Zambia, Was hoping they would attend after last year's cancellation and DBH saying in an update a few weeks back that they hope to attend this year.

[DanBeeden]

Excellent update today - especially looking forward to seeing the German flight test Tornado.

[red leader]

Do we know what the NATO AWACS will be? Do we assume the sentry?

[Mikey1050]

I believe that's the only NATO AWACS.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Yes NATO only has the E-3 Sentry for AWACS duty.

[red leader]

Thanks guys. It would be good to see that.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Thanks guys. It would be good to see that.

Yes it would be great to see the E-3 Sentry but they do have a record of saying they would attend and then cancelling but on the plus side they did attend the 70th anniversary at the 2019 show albeit a day late due to a problem on the way over if my memory serves me correct

[Nighthawke]

There's one in the Mildenhall circuit now

[Gary]

Great to see the CH-53 listed, only a few years left in service now. Hopefully won’t cancel. Like it’s known to do same as the infamous E-3

[Supra]

From the update:

"As we celebrate NATO's 75th Anniversary, we're very pleased to welcome one of their AWACS aircraft to RIAT 2024. The aircraft will be performing a special flypast on Friday"

Now, I like to be positive about these things. So my guess is that all the F-16's on the airfield (both of them!) will fly overhead in a vee formation behind fresh-air where the NATO AWACS Should've been if turned-up for once?

[Red-Eye-Knight]

As I said earlier it turned up the last time it said it would for the 70th NATO anniversary

[Supra]

But not all the others! Ever since the British Government stuffed the RAF again, leaving them & NATO with a capability shortfall, these NATO E-3's are committed to full-time operational sorties?
When they last came it was pre-Covid & pre-Ukraine. Both valid reasons for nothing happening as-advertised or on-time since?
There's never been a stronger case for 'operational requirements' precluding attendance at a glorified Weekend Party imo!