Fairford RIATs of Yester Year

[mancman]

Only a month to go before RIAT. The last one I went to at Fairford was 1998, then I got married, went abroad, had a family and then got old! Hence I'm more of an online enthusiast these days.

Looking at some of the forums as to what may turn up this year, I'm glad I attended when I did.

Here's a reminder of what we used to see in the "good old days". Feel free to add your own memories.

MM6918 F-104S Italian AF July 1995 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

F-104G x 4 Luftwaffe July 1985 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

1874 Mig 21 Hungarian AF July 1993 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

52 Su-30 Russian AF July 1997 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

0702 Mil 24 Czech AF July 1995 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

85835 F-117 USAF July 1997 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

115 Mirage F.1EJ R Jordanian AF July 1989 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

38078 C-141 USAF July 1985 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

23 TU-95 Bear Russian Air Force Fairford 1994 by Andy Bird, on Flickr

4 x F-4 Phantom RAF 1991 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

6 F-8E Crusader French Navy 1987 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

37376 JA37 Viggen Swedish Af July 1997 Fairford by Andy Bird, on Flickr

[binbrook87]

Some great shots there but the 4 x Luftwaffe Hooters will live long in my memory

[Mustang531]

Yes, the good days and weren't we lucky to see all these. Forty years since those German Hooters displayed at the first Fairford IAT, it was also the day of Live Aid at Wembley and the day I forgot the sun tan lotion, got a bit sunburnt in the end, but worth it. Remember the Hungarian MiG 21s too in 1993, although the Russians stole the show that day, for the wrong reasons. Good job nobody got hurt.

[binbrook87]

Oh yeh I forgot that IAT 85 was the Live Aid weekend! I remember going with some school mates on a coach trip on the Sundays display, then borrowing my mates Walkman on the way down to re listen to the Saturdays concert. We queued for hours and hours to get in and while static in the traffic at the Whelford end the Victor came into land right over the top of the coach following it's refuelling demo! This vision still lives long in my memory! I think I quickly bought the Matchbox kit after this. I remember the weather being really dark and gloomy though! Fantastic memories from my first really proper BIG airshow.