Royal International Air Tattoo 2025 General Discussion Thread

[Nighthawke]

It may not be staying for the duration.

[Thunder]

Any info on flight plans for the Pakistanis would be more than appreciated.

[Supra]

Possibly closer to the day somebody will oblige with details?
For now, it's Pakistan to Fairford via somewhere not near India, Iran or Israel. (or possibly France?)

[nashwa]

Any realistic hope of raptors gone then? I mean wasn’t the B-2 a surprise in 2017 so I’m gonna be delusional and stay hopeful.

I'm sure the request was made and declined.

Well trying to stay optimistic, do you think if they’re still over here there two could do like a PD on one of the arrival days as part of a regular sortie, just to give us something, or would ATC not accommodate it because of how busy it would be with everything actually coming?

[RunAndBreak]

Well as someone pointed out earlier, the display pilot has to be accredited by the USAF, so it won't be a display.

Flypast? Maybe, but I certainly wouldn't expect it. They're here to do a job, after all.

[NorvilleRogers]

Just wondering if the B1 in the flying programme will be an additional one to the already announced one? Or will it be a second one operating from Fairford?

Cheers Sam

Difficult to tell from the way its worded, possibly.

Also the lack of RAF heavies is noticeable. Though at least they can manage a C-17 flypast on Sunday.

When was the last time WT001 flew!?

WT001 is due to fly today.

[Steven]

Well trying to stay optimistic, do you think if they’re still over here there two could do like a PD on one of the arrival days as part of a regular sortie, just to give us something, or would ATC not accommodate it because of how busy it would be with everything actually coming?

Just give it up mate. RIAT is not as important to the USAF as it is to you - they won't be trying to think of ways "just to give you something"

[James Cutting]

I'm sure the request was made and declined.

Well trying to stay optimistic, do you think if they’re still over here there two could do like a PD on one of the arrival days as part of a regular sortie, just to give us something, or would ATC not accommodate it because of how busy it would be with everything actually coming?

Here's an idea - get over to Lakenheath.

[Rob666]

Just wondering if the B1 in the flying programme will be an additional one to the already announced one? Or will it be a second one operating from Fairford?

Cheers Sam

Difficult to tell from the way its worded, possibly.

Also the lack of RAF heavies is noticeable. Though at least they can manage a C-17 flypast on Sunday.

When was the last time WT001 flew!?

No RAF heavies as they don't trust anyone else to do the security.

[Nighthawke]

E-7, P-8,RC-135, A.400M and C-17 all making appearances at some point. What else is there?

[Plane enthuiast]

As a sidenote but still related satatlite imagery of Grand Forks AFB has been updated to show 11 B-1s sat on the main ramp with potentially a 12 with its tail sticking out of a maintenance hangar

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@47.95858 ... FQAw%3D%3D

[Gary]

Ready 4 Duty arriving Thursday according to their latest Facebook post

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DkLmhJcMy/

[carlowspotter]

The AirTask Dash-8 had disappeared off the update on the RIAT site unfortunately

[seven]

Unless that's a glitch, it must now take the Zambian C-27's record then

[Steven]

So just to be clear from todays announcements:

FRIDAY

B-1B USAF - Launch from Fairford & Flypast before BTF mission
E7 - Boeing/RAF - Flypast with Red Arrows & solo flypast
RC135 Rivet Joint RAF - Flypast
F-35B Lighting RAF - Flypast & Hover

SATURDAY

B-1B USAF - Launch from Fairford & Flypast before BTF mission
P-8A RAF - Flypast with Red Arrows & solo flypast

SUNDAY

P-8A RAF - Flypast with Red Arrows & solo flypast
C-17A RAF - Flypast

[Bilvo]

Interesting reference to the B-1 flying as part of a Bomber Task Force mission, so possibly more than 2 coming over and staying longer than the RIAT weekend? Or maybe the USAF are justifying the trip as a BTF deployment for budget reasons? I can't see them putting on much of a flying display but a banana pass with wings swept would be nice!

Er, why? A B-1 can perform a BTF mission on its own. As the B-2 has done in the past when its been on a "Global Power Mission" on its own and included a flypast at RIAT as part of the mission (with an undocumented overnight stop at Machrihanish to boot!).

It will be one B-1 flying, one on static, and no more.

[Bilvo]

Well trying to stay optimistic, do you think if they’re still over here there two could do like a PD on one of the arrival days as part of a regular sortie, just to give us something, or would ATC not accommodate it because of how busy it would be with everything actually coming?

Here's an idea - get over to Lakenheath.

Harsh! And rather "Keyboard warrior" reply. How do you know nashwa's circumstances James? Maybe nashwa can't drive yet or has no means of getting to Lakenheath!?

[James Cutting]

[B58Hustler]

He's probably not considering Lakenheath due to crowds/parking, so doing RIAT instead.

[James Cutting]

Which has bigger crowds