Royal International Air Tattoo 2018 Discussion Thread

[von_trippenhopf]

Well, if you're not able to come today and missed the B2 : you missed nothing.

I still find it odd that years ago they had 2 B-2's at (the then) IAT, one on static & one flying. Now you get one fly past with F-15 escort (why??) and it's gone.
I get the feeling they are doing a P.R. job and trying to make it out to be a lot more 'Spooky' than it really is.
Maybe it's just me.

[Dan213]

Well, if you're not able to come today and missed the B2 : you missed nothing.

Yep, 82-1068 was at RIAT 2012 and, also, was on deployment at Fairford June 2017 at the time of Baltops/Sabre Strike.

Honestly, some people... Just be glad you got to see it!

[seven]

Actually its debut was '97, so no B-2 ever visited IAT.

IIRC all the Global Power flypasts at Fairford have been escorted by F-15's, but when op. from Fairford itself, they were not. Could be wrong there though.

7

[ChrisCwmbran]

Well that's my RIAT for 2018 over and done. The B-2 was a nice surprise but overall I'd say it was a quite disappointing year from my point of view.

Hope the weather holds for those going tomorrow too.

[Blue Diamond]

Have been at RIAT since Thursday and I’ve loved every minute. Yesterday’s weather didn’t help but today more than made up for it. Roll on tomorrow.

[von_trippenhopf]

Actually its debut was '97, so no B-2 ever visited IAT.
7

Ah yes, became Riat in '96 so I was a year out!

[Blackcat1]

Had some lovely passes over Lechlade!!

[graham luxton]

Well, if you're not able to come today and missed the B2 : you missed nothing.

Yep, 82-1068 was at RIAT 2012 and, also, was on deployment at Fairford June 2017 at the time of Baltops/Sabre Strike.

Also visited 7 - 9 June'15. Of the 12 B-2's that have been to Fairford, counting flyby's as well as those which have landed, this has been to Fairford more times than any other B-2. Even so, it was still great to see it.

[phantomjohn]

Any special visitors/flypast for Sunday?

[zoot horn rollo]

I thought the Spanish CN295 departure on the Friday merited the best flying display award. Low level screaming down the runway then stick pulled back for a steep climb.

[Alfie]

I had a great day yesterday, apart from missing a turning on the way in for the Brown route and ending up on the Blue route resulting in sitting in a tailback for 45mins. For the first time this year I upgraded to an enclosure, choosing the viewing garden, money well spent. One of the highlights for me was the Great War Display Team. I thought like some of the previous comments on here they might have been lost on such a large display area, but I thought they put on a cracking show and very fitting to be included in the 100 year celebrations.

[stevep22]

Quick question. I was carting so much stuff around on Saturday I omitted to buy a programme and checklist. Are they still available from anywhere..?

Thanks

Steve

[quid21]

Well, if you're not able to come today and missed the B2 : you missed nothing.

I still find it odd that years ago they had 2 B-2's at (the then) IAT, one on static & one flying. Now you get one fly past with F-15 escort (why??) and it's gone.
I get the feeling they are doing a P.R. job and trying to make it out to be a lot more 'Spooky' than it really is.
Maybe it's just me.

I remember years ago the US participation in airshows abroad was brought to a halt by sequestration - perhaps money is why it's acceptable to fly a training mission with the B-2, rather than fly it over for an airshow which probably costs more dollars than a flyby.

[GaryS]

I thought the Spanish CN295 departure on the Friday merited the best flying display award. Low level screaming down the runway then stick pulled back for a steep climb.

+1

[paddyboy]

Bang on as always, John

Now you know why we NEVER go to a 'RIAT'

Not a patch on an 'IAT' of old

[Alfie]

I'm not sure you can compare The older IAT/RIAT with the present day. I started going to the IAT at Greenham and went to the first ones at Fairford, also if I'm not mistaken one at Boscombe Down. In those long ago days more money was being spent on defence, most of the Air Forces around the world were flying different types of aircraft so there was quite a mixture of types on show and flying and of course the USA were happy to display. Returning to modern times most of the modern front line planes are either F16, F18, or Typhoons so you are bound to get duplications and of course every government has pulled in it's purse strings. I went yesterday had a very good day and will probably return next year, just happy to go to an airshow of such good quality. It is no good looking back to previous shows, or perhaps we all should audition for the next series of Grumpy Old Men if it were to return.

[Nighthawke]

Well for those of us who don't go to shows these days, we only have previous ones to look back on

[James Cutting]

When will we stop comparing current RIATs to 80’s/90’s IAT’s?? It’s like trying to comparing a football club from today’s generation to a generation in the 80’s!!

We need to understand that Air forces, especially ours are not as big as they used to be. And other air forces around the world are starting to buy the same aircraft as other nations, simply because they are that good.

It will NEVER be like the “olden times” - yes, great for reminiscing, but not for being realistic.

For one, it was a great RIAT, yes I saw the same jets a few times, but hey - it’s all we’ve got - so let’s enjoy it before it’s all unmanned in 20-30 years!!

[sgtangel]

As much as I love RIAT (been to nearly every one since 85), and as much as I enjoyed the show, I think it may be the last. The reason? Although no fault of DBH, the flying display is just too high and too far away from the crowd line. I think I need to start looking for a different vantage point.
I felt some of the static was set too far back from the barriers (Norwegian F16s, Flanker, etc being examples) but was pleased that there was so many that were accessible (did not realise how little headroom there was in the cabin of an Osprey!)
Going back to the displays, I still enjoyed them (including the Falcons , PC7 team and the GWDT-shame the Sopwith Tripe and 504 went tech) but i thought the Reds were, well, pants. And that is coming from someone who is a die hard fan, whose later father was a Cheify on the team. Normally on the same level as the Frecce, there just seemed no oomph to their show. Having watched their practice videos from their Greek deployment erlier in the year, I was not expecting much from them and I was proved right (IMHO of course)
Traffic was a breeze. None encountered on the Friday, and on Saturday I headed back to my car after the last act and it only took 10 minutes to get out of the grass car park at the Green end. Brilliant!
By the way, did anyone go to the Tech Zone of Friday? Rammed full of classes of school children, I gave up, but it was pleasing to see so many of them getting so much out of it.

[nescafe37]

Well i enjoyed Sunday but i think most of that is due to the weather being so good as it has been mainly overcast for me in previous years. The only thing that done my nut in was people who insist squeezing between mine and the Wifes chairs and the fence and blocking out view. Was not impressed to say the least.. And on another note i wonder if its just coincidence or not but everyone that seemed to try and squeeze in and stick their backsides in our faces all seemed to be wearing Red Arrow caps? lol