RIAT 2017 Awards

[Steven]

Here again for 2017 are the OFFICIAL Awards.

http://www.airtattoo.com/news/2017/jul/ ... air-tattoo

The King Hussein Memorial Sword (Best Overall Flying Demonstration): French Air Force - Dassault Rafale C

The 'As the Crow Flies' Trophy (FRIAT Trophy): Ukrainian Air Force - Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker

The Steedman Display Sword (Best Flying Demonstration by a UK Participant): Royal Air Force - Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4

The Paul Bowen Trophy (Best Solo Jet Demonstration): US Air Force - Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor

The Sir Douglas Bader Trophy (Best Individual Flying Demonstration): Slovenian Air Force - Pilatus PC-9M

The RAFCTE Trophy (Best Flying Demonstration by an Overseas Participant): Czech Air Force - Saab JAS-39C Gripen

Best Paint Scheme Award: Italian Air Force - Panavia A-200 Tornado

RIAT CEO Award: US Air Force Thunderbirds Demonstration Team

What do you all think to these? I'm sure there will be some disagreements here!!!

[timb]

Pretty accurate I would say, although I think after doing such an incredible display on Saturday in dreadful weather conditions perhaps the Czeck Gripen pilot should have walked away with more than one trophy as well as the Finnish for doing an excellent [but curtailed]display and still managing to land 4 Hawks in formation, amazing stuff !

[Gary]

Can't believe my fellow FRIATer voted for the Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker don't get me wrong it was a good display just outshone by the Raptor, F-18, PC-9 & Rafale C. A case of voting for what it was rather than what it did

Also could be a case of voting in FRIAT closed at 2pm on Sunday, not everyone got to see the F-18 until after than because of the weather and being unable to make arrivals on Wednesday

[mrjolly]

I'd if personally gone with the A400m display over the typhoon

[nescafe37]

The Jordanian Falcons never got anything????????
SU27 was good to see it flying but did not do anything special so not sure what happened there?
Thunderbirds???? Well was not impressed by there display either
And what about the Italian Spartan display??

Im not sure the people who voted was watching the same show as me?

[MRTT]

Su-27 won an award because... it's an Su-27, in a British flying display.

Have to agree with your last point, Italian Spartan is a fantastic display and was worthy of an award.

[Blackcat1]

F22 was great. Loved the noise of the Thunderbirds. Is it me or did the Flankers display on the Friday seem to be a good distance from the crowdline? Or was it the angle I was watching it from?

[gibson617]

Blackcat , The Flanker display on Friday must have been one hell of a way from the crowdline as it did not display that day at all .

[Blackcat1]

Whoops I meant Thursday! Its been a long few days without much sleep lol

[gibson617]

Thats what I thought but you were right , it was a long way from crowdline !

[Steven]

I attended Sunday and for me I'd have chosen the Chinook display for the UK award as it was a great sequence in shocking weather (but most people had gone home by then).

For best solo jet demonstration I'd have picked the Spanish Hornet as it was my favourite display of the day with a polite nod to the Swedish Gripen which I thought was better than the Czech display.

As for the RIAT CEO award I assume that's a one off to prevent the Thunderbirds going home empty handed

[PeteHemsley]

I can not believe that the Spanish f-18 didn't even get a mention. That was an insane display and showed a completely different dynamic routine to the past years.

[peasus911]

I agree with timb, the Gripen was very worthy of his award.

[NickC]

Congratulations to all the winners, all well deserved.

The Spanish F-18 display on Sunday afternoon was the best of the entire show for me though, really showing off the capabilities of the aircraft (something the Spanish often seem to do).

[turmo]

Also could be a case of voting in FRIAT closed at 2pm on Sunday, not everyone got to see the F-18 until after than because of the weather and being unable to make arrivals on Wednesday

Yes that caught me out, I went into the FRIAT marquee around 14:00 on the Sunday and they were binning the remaining voting forms. I was told ( rather abruptly ) that the winners had already been selected by then.

A bit like selecting Man of the Match at half-time. You'd think they'd show some flexibility given the weather on Saturday, it's not like the awards are Urgent Must Announce. Most folk, even FRIAT, go home on Sunday without knowing who won what.