Royal International Air Tattoo 2025 General Discussion Thread

[thevulcan]

RIAT 2012 had a C-5M present and was the last time one attended the show.

C-5B?

[seven]

Correct on the year, wrong on the type unfortunately

[RNexpat190]

I missed that one - I was looking through the Scramble Show Reports.

RN.

[seven]

C-5B?

That's he.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

This week we have an assortment of aircraft joining our 'Eyes in the Skies' theme at RIAT25. Firstly, we're excited to confirm what will be one of the highlights of the flying display programme courtesy of the French Navy, with a rare appearance from their Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft. This aircraft will be coming from Flottille 23F, based at BAN Lann-Bihoué, and will be performing in the flying display on both Saturday and Sunday.

We're very pleased to be welcoming the rare Grob 520 Ergrett to join the static displays. This is one of the world’s largest fully composite manned aircraft with extremely high aspect ratio wings, perfect for high-altitude surveillance missions (like the U-2). We're thankful to Grob Aircraft SE for bringing this fantastic aircraft to the show in July. In addition, we'll also have their Grob 120TP on static display. These aircraft will be parked together near the centre of the showground and visible on all three days.

Also as part of our Eyes in the Skies theme, we're pleased to be welcoming a CP-140M Aurora from the Royal Canadian Air Force! This will likely be the last visit of an Aurora to RIAT as they approach their retirement from Canadian service, due to be replaced by the Poseidon. Our Canadian friends will also send a CC-130J Hercules to join the static displays.

Appearing at the Air Tattoo for the first time in two decades, we're very pleased to welcome the Guardia Costiera back to RIAT, with their ATR 42 aircraft joining our 'Eyes in the Skies' static display line-up. Fantastica! In a similar fashion, we're pleased that His Majesty's Coastguard will be returning to RIAT, with one of their Sikorsky S-92 search and rescue helicopters joining the static display. Our current plan is for the search and rescue helicopters to be parked together in a themed area alongside ground displays. Some of this line will be visible on Friday, but the full line-up will only be available to view on Saturday & Sunday.

Finally, we're pleased to be welcoming one of the Royal Air Force's newest aircraft to RIAT for the first time. The Envoy IV, flown by 32 Squadron at RAF Northolt, will be joining the static display line-up.

The Air Operations office is now getting very busy, with many key events such as our ATC Training Day conducted this week. More aircraft news next week..!

[Red-Eye-Knight]

That's a brilliant update today really please to see the ATL2 Atlantique back after having to depart early before the 2018 show.

5 updates still to go and from what we have so far i think it's looking to be another cracking show.

[cat1]

I cant help but respect your enthusiasm

[freebird]

Some people are easily pleased.

[seven]

That'll be the FRIAT hint out then!

Great catch with the G520, and good support from Canada.

[thevulcan]

Based off a post on UKAR this was not the FRIAT hint announcement so something else may be in the pipeline.
Cracking update though lots of interesting types let's hope the French Navy get to complete their displays after 2018's last minute tasking.

[seven]

Can't see what else it could be, but hey-ho.

Talking of FB comments:
'Doesn't look like we'll be seeing any Turkish/Greek Phantoms this year...'
RIAT replies, 'We can confirm the Turkish Air Force will not be participating at RIAT this year'.
Hmmm...

[falconfighting]

Can everyone please stop talking in code please.

[seven]

Can everyone please stop talking in code please.

What do you need cleared up?

[Harkins]

Can't see what else it could be, but hey-ho.

Talking of FB comments:
'Doesn't look like we'll be seeing any Turkish/Greek Phantoms this year...'
RIAT replies, 'We can confirm the Turkish Air Force will not be participating at RIAT this year'.
Hmmm...

I saw that too, but someone commented about no Greek Phantoms, and then someone replied to that 'or Turkish'. RIAT replied directly by name to the guy who said 'or Turkish' that the Turkish AF won't be participating. So I can see how you could take hope that a Greek Phantom could still be possible, but the way the exchange went I felt it wasn't quite as much a tease that a Greek F-4 isn't ruled out.

I know I like to bang on about numbers, but we're now at 133 aircraft (by my reckoning) and as the claim from DBH was they had about 200 listed a few weeks back, that's still a big difference. And I really cant see around 70 more aircraft being added, unless there's to be a sudden huge rush of display teams.

I know it's not all about numbers, it's just as much about quality, if not more so. But from the perspective of someone there for the full duration, numbers do make a difference to how enjoyable Wed and Thurs arrivals are. Even if we make 150 aircraft over the five remaining updates, that puts us around 100 aircraft down from last year. That'll certainly make for notably quieter arrivals and departures.

Anyway, three good additions today in the Atlantique, CP-140 and ATR 42.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Can everyone please stop talking in code please.

What code?

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Can't see what else it could be, but hey-ho.

Talking of FB comments:
'Doesn't look like we'll be seeing any Turkish/Greek Phantoms this year...'
RIAT replies, 'We can confirm the Turkish Air Force will not be participating at RIAT this year'.
Hmmm...

As usual absolute muppets on Facebook Turkey cancelled ages ago and Greece already confirmed they are sending 2 Mirage 2000s.

[Harkins]

Can't see what else it could be, but hey-ho.

Talking of FB comments:
'Doesn't look like we'll be seeing any Turkish/Greek Phantoms this year...'
RIAT replies, 'We can confirm the Turkish Air Force will not be participating at RIAT this year'.
Hmmm...

As usual absolute muppets on Facebook Turkey cancelled ages ago and Greece already confirmed they are sending 2 Mirage 2000s.

Not that I'm even remotely expecting Greek F-4s, but I'm sure additional aircraft have come from nations that have already confirmed aircraft in the past. I even have a feeling that might have been the case with Greece last year with the F-16s and F-4s.

[falconfighting]

Can everyone please stop talking in code please.

What do you need cleared up?

FRIAT Hint Announcement - I have no idea what that is.

Also as a general rule I am really struggling with the Headsup section of late - quite often there is no mention of aircraft type and just presumed that everyone is in the know, but some of us are not.

A big fan of the forum but hard to get involved when I don't know what is meant.

[punkmonkey22]

What do you need cleared up?

FRIAT Hint Announcement - I have no idea what that is.

Also as a general rule I am really struggling with the Headsup section of late - quite often there is no mention of aircraft type and just presumed that everyone is in the know, but some of us are not.

A big fan of the forum but hard to get involved when I don't know what is meant.

FRIAT is a premium membership type thing for the airshow where they get more info than is shared publicly. Amongst all the bitching about the show being poor here and other forums, somebody who is a FRIAT member mentioned that there was an item not yet shared that was a showstopper and would shut the whiners up.

This fact was confirmed by others, but they have all managed to keep what it is quiet so far. Other than today to confirm the "Star item" has still not been confirmed and is still to look forward to.

[thevulcan]

I'd also just like to add that we aren't keeping the star item a secret to spite other people but air ops have told us to not leak anything as the paperwork is still in the process of being signed off.