Royal International Air Tattoo 2018 Discussion Thread

[Jakevulcan]

Hope this is true love to see a flanker again

https://www.flickr.com/gp/154415498@N02/FD24uX

anyone got any news on this

[Thor]

But find me an airshow that is on the level that RIAT is (In the UK) and none come close. With ongoing operations etc it's great what we can get. But you can't please 'em all. Don't like it, don't go, is my simple saying.

Yes I think that's what I said too. And people are following that advice.

Going to RIAT costs up to £1000 all-in for people from the UK 'regions'. Put that in perspective, that's 130 hours of work at minimum wage. Nearly a month's labouring.

For that sort of money people have started to look abroad to shows like Radom and Sanicole and even Tiger Meets. That's what RIAT is up against, not Portrush Airwaves or Abingdon Air & Country Show.

Just shrugging and saying "that's what we can get" is no longer sufficient to earn my cash. So I'll be hitting DBH where it hurts, in the wallet.

Couple of things:
1) People have been going abroad to shows for years. I & a group of mates have been doing this for decades now, but it's not an 'or', it's an 'and' - we also keep supporting UK shows.

2) If attending RIAT as a spectator is too expensive, how about volunteering to work at the show? Most teams give their vols time off to see at least some of the show at no cost, accommodation's free, meals are provided and you get some reimbursement towards travel. Plus you get insight into how the show runs and the buzz of giving something back to a show you love, as well as the odd interesting photo opportunity. There are a good number of vols on here, I've been doing it for a few years now. A lot of companies offer paid time off for volunteering too, so you might end up taking less time off for volunteering than you would going as a spectator. Obviously, it's not an option if you want to photograph every last second of every display on every day, but the tradeoff is well worth it IME.

[stevep22]

On the topic of cost to attend the show, my wife and I have opted to do the Saturday on a package with National Holidays. This includes the following:

Coach travel from Leeds to and from RIAT
2 nights accommodation with Bed and Breakfast (Fri & Sat nights)
Dinner Friday night
Entry tickets into the show for the Saturday.

All in for £179 each.

Not bad I thought.

Steve

[Gary]

Today update

Belgium confirms three aircraft today; the F-16 Demo Team, Agusta A109 helicopter demonstration and an Embraer ERJ on static display!

From civilian operators, Hawker Hunter Aviation confirm a second Hunter Mk.58 aircraft on static and the Boeing Centenial Wings Project will be in attendance with a SL-2000 ultralight.

Nice to have the Belgian ERJ back. Could be last time, the Belgians are looking at getting rid of the VIP fleet or their government wants to anyway

Sadly first cancellation
Czech Republic Air Force L-159 ALCA 212/213 Sqn Light Attack
French Air Force Alpha Jet E x2 EAC 00.314 Jet Trainer
Royal Navy Avenger T.1 750 NAS Turboprop

[KINROTATE]

I wonder if one of the RAF F-35's will be added later on, with them flying across the pond next month Still hopeful for RAF tornado too!

Never know what other aircraft will be added mind, closer to the date

If you look on flightline uk it says there is an raf f35 flying

The flypast might just give you a little extra.....

[Knife 04]

£420 for Mach 2 FRIAT (x2 people)
£110 for 4 nights camping (x2 people)

That's just for the cost of RIAT itself. And it would be half that without FRIAT packages, so I don't think it's as bad as it could be. Granted, got to factor in food money, petrol, merch etc etc.

You forgot beer mate! (and of course red wine for Nick and myself and your dad is quite partial to it as well!) - another £400

[paddyboy]

'£400': you lot cutting (no pun intended) back on the sherbets, then

[stevep22]

Another bonus of coming on the coach excursion and not driving is of course the ability to have a few cheeky ones............

[MRTT]

B-1 & B-52 confirmed for static.

[smudger]

Would be great to also see 2 in the flying display aswell but can’t see it. Very happy with today’s update

[red leader]

That is good news.USAF normally give cracking support! Out of interest does anyone know the last time either b1 or b52 were in the flying display?

[MRTT]

B-52 last flew in 2010, B-1 in 2007.

[Del]

Is it worth going to arrivals day on the Thursday ? I'm travelling up there that day anyway and could get there before 10:00 if I wanted to, but would I see much ? (this is my first RIAT)

[MRTT]

Thursday is usually the busiest day for arrivals, fair amount of rehearsals as well.

[Del]

Thursday is usually the busiest day for arrivals, fair amount of rehearsals as well.

ok, thanks - I'll give it a go

[Spitfire88]

Thursday is usually the busiest day for arrivals, fair amount of rehearsals as well.

Don't forget arrivals are Tuesday to Thursday this year.

[MRTT]

Big update today!

Norwegian F-16 x2, Dutch AH-64D/C-130H/Chinook/Do-228/F-16 x2, Danish F-16 x2 & C-130J on static.

[James Cutting]

Big update today!

Norwegian F-16 x2, Dutch AH-64D/C-130H/Chinook/Do-228/F-16 x2, Danish F-16 x2 & C-130J on static.

Where on earth did that come from??? is that all static?

[James Cutting]

can't see it anywhere...better not be winding us up!!

[MRTT]

It's on the RIAT website.

Today we are pleased to confirm a large number of static aircraft from Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway.
The Royal Netherlands Air Force has confirmed the C-130H, F-16 AM/BM, CH-47D Chinook, Do-228 and an AH-64D Apache.
Also in attendance from the Royal Norwegian Air Force is the fantastic F-16.
The Royal Danish Air Force has confirmed that the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the C-130J will be on static display at this year's Air Tattoo.