Royal International Air Tattoo 2025 General Discussion Thread

[Ollie]

They say it is hoped to be seen during arrivals and departures so going by that it’s the current plan. But of course unfortunately plans change so it is a matter of wait and see I imagine.

[GVLCN]

Considering it’s listed on the confirmed aircraft list on RIAT’s own page, if it didn’t make an appearance now it would be very disappointing them announcing something that was never due? Certainly one of the stars for me will be this if I manage to see it during arrivals or departures.

[Amp]

Is the Pakistan AF IL78 due to land at Fairford or will the JF17's separate from it elsewhere. It would be great to see a landing and departure of it on on the Monday.

It would seem to me from the 5 posts above yours that there's somewhere between Bob Hope & no hope of either on any given day?
Logistics & rumours suggest the IL-78 will separate from the fighters over France & land there (Istres ?) ready to rendezvous with them on Monday homeward bound.
Sounds to me like a cunning plan to circumvent French ATC 'traditional' reluctance to allow transit flights & cause delays to Flight Plans?

This would seem a fair bet, but as always, time will tell. Show is looking great.

[jasonT1981]

Lancaster returned to base today after declaring 7700 and a smoking engine.

Not sounding too good for next weekend

[DutchAvPhotography]

Still showing as support on the web page. Do you have a source for this latest revelation please?

It did say it was a going in the static, but not anymore. Now looks like it will not stay at Fairford but go to France.

https://www.airtattoo.com/the-airshow/a ... -78-midas/

And where exactly is the information from that it'll go into France? I don't see Riat AirOPS confirming it on their page if there's no visit expected to Fairford at all

And I quote ''The Pakistan Air Force will be sending one of their Il-78MP ‘Midas’ Aerial Refuelling tankers to RAF Fairford in support of their JF-17 Thunders who will be appearing on static.''

[NorvilleRogers]

It did say it was a going in the static, but not anymore. Now looks like it will not stay at Fairford but go to France.

https://www.airtattoo.com/the-airshow/a ... -78-midas/

And where exactly is the information from that it'll go into France? I don't see Riat AirOPS confirming it on their page if there's no visit expected to Fairford at all

And I quote ''The Pakistan Air Force will be sending one of their Il-78MP ‘Midas’ Aerial Refuelling tankers to RAF Fairford in support of their JF-17 Thunders who will be appearing on static.''

So just the JF-17s in the static in the above quote.

The web site states.. https://www.airtattoo.com/the-airshow/a ... t-updates/

There will be a pair of JF-17s, both from 8 Squadron, parked alongside a C-130E Hercules from 6 Squadron. The Pakistan Air Force's deployment to the UK will be supported by an IL-78 tanker, however, this jet from 10 Squadron won't be joining the static display.

[DutchAvPhotography]

And where exactly is the information from that it'll go into France? I don't see Riat AirOPS confirming it on their page if there's no visit expected to Fairford at all

And I quote ''The Pakistan Air Force will be sending one of their Il-78MP ‘Midas’ Aerial Refuelling tankers to RAF Fairford in support of their JF-17 Thunders who will be appearing on static.''

So just the JF-17s in the static in the above quote.

The web site states.. https://www.airtattoo.com/the-airshow/a ... t-updates/

There will be a pair of JF-17s, both from 8 Squadron, parked alongside a C-130E Hercules from 6 Squadron. The Pakistan Air Force's deployment to the UK will be supported by an IL-78 tanker, however, this jet from 10 Squadron won't be joining the static display.

The IL78MP was never expected to go into the static, although rumours with quite okayish sources are going around saying it is apparently expected for the static now, but it's just a waiting game

My point being is that there's no reason for RIAT AirOPS to add the IL78 to the confirmed aircraft page if the aircraft isn't expected to at least visit Fairford on either Wednesday, Thursday or Monday, going into France to then wait for JF17s who still have to come from the UK just because of the flightplan issue which is known to happen above France, is frankly unlogic because it doesn't prevent even a single issue from happening