Royal International Air Tattoo 2024 General Discussion Thread

[JRandall23]

Would be nice for an RAF F-35 display team?!

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Or Navy F-35 but I cannot see that happening for a few years yet.

[The Cat]

That's a pity you cannot do FRIAT with your Dad as you both would have loved it but still Sunday showday and Departures will be awesome if the weather plays nice.

Best tip I can give for grandstand is don't get up out your seat when something is flying as people will moan about you being in the way of them trying to take photos.

Being a 'Dad' myself I can understand 6 days a bit much. Make the most of it with your Dad while you can....RIAT with my son is the highlight of my year !

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Link to Facebook page saying Saudi Hawks coming back to RIAT this year and showing their new aircraft and colour scheme for when they retire the Hawk Mk65.

https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?id= ... 8391925175

[warthog56]

Fitting that the Saudi team should attend since they also fly early Hawks. Part of the tribute to 60 years of the Reds? Wonder if the static will include an example of a Gnat in "Yellowjacks" colours as well as one in the "Reds" colours. But, I must confess, I thought the Saudi display (at Waddington) last year was better than that of the "Reds". Just need the Finns to bring the "Midnight Hawks" team as well and a mass formation flypast by all tree teams!

[Skywatcher]

Now that would be neat +1 for that
RIAT always like to have a special formation of different teams
Agree on Saudi hawks they where very smooth and professional,same for the UAE team to Al Fursan

[pbourke_photography]

since the Spanish Navy and Finnish Airforce are confirmed my best guess is we will be getting a f18 or a harrier announcement later today.

[Mike]

since the Spanish Navy and Finnish Airforce are confirmed my best guess is we will be getting a f18 or a harrier announcement later today.

The 'General Discussion' thread is here :- viewtopic.php?f=335&t=237200

No need for a new thread!

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Welcome to our first aircraft update of 2024! Following on from our special unveiling in December, where we revealed a Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Demo, we are now naming participating aircraft every week ahead of this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo.

As you can see from the traffic light system below, we have been busy working with a variety of nations and civil aircraft operators to ensure a fantastic assortment of aircraft for you to enjoy this summer.

In this week’s announcement, we’re pleased the Spanish Navy will be returning to RIAT with their iconic Harrier The EAV-8B, known as 'Matador' in Spanish service, set to perform a solo flying display.

Meanwhile on the static display, as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)’s 75th anniversary celebration, we will have a Finnish Air Force Hornet, which we hope to park alongside aircraft from fellow NATO nations.

Elsewhere, under our ‘Pushing the Boundaries in Air and Space’ theme, a British Antarctic Survey Twin Otter, in a bright red colour scheme, will also be visiting. This aircraft operates in incredible conditions as it conducts scientific work, which makes it an aircraft not to be missed when you’re visiting RAF Fairford in July.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Ongoing discussions

CZECH REPUBLIC AIR FORCE ONGOING
FRENCH AIR AND SPACE FORCE ONGOING
GERMAN ARMY ONGOING
INDIAN NAVY ONGOING
ROYAL JORDANIAN AIR FORCE ONGOING
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION ONGOING
ROYAL NETHERLANDS AIR FORCE ONGOING
ROYAL NORWEGIAN AIR FORCE ONGOING
POLISH LAND FORCES ONGOING
QATAR EMIRI AIR FORCE ONGOING
SERBIAN AIR FORCE & AIR DEFENCE ONGOING
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE (RESERVES) ONGOING
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AIR COMBAT COMMAND ONGOING
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IN EUROPE AND AFRICA ONGOING

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Not participating

EGYPTIAN AIR FORCE, GERMAN NAVY, ITALIAN ARMY, ROYAL AIR FORCE OF OMAN

[jasonT1981]

Lovely first update, pity the nations were accidently published on Tuesday before being removed so most of us who saw kinda assumed it was the Harriers

[Gary]

Great update, can’t wait to see the Twin Otter

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Czech Airforce schedule for 2024 has RIAT on it, Gripen flying L-159 on static and C-295 as support.

https://www.europeanairshows.co.uk/sche ... e_vignette

[Red-Eye-Knight]

This week we add four civilian operated aircraft to our RIAT 2024 static aircraft displays.

Firstly, another aircraft used for scientific research and flight testing, as part of our 'Pushing the Boundaries in Air and Space' theme, in the shape of Cranfield University's SAAB 340 aircraft, which is used as the National Flying Laboratory Centre. This aircraft is returning to RAF Fairford after it's debut last year and will be on static display on all three days of this year's show. We hope to park a number of the aircraft coming to the show as part of this special theme together, near to the centre of the showground.

Another returning aircraft comes from Hawker Hunter Aviation. With the Hawker Hunter operated by many North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Air Arms during the alliance's early years, as we celebrate the NATO 75th Anniversary at RIAT 2024 we're pleased to have an example of this classic jet in attendance. Our aspiration is that following appearances of different machines from their fleet in recent years, we should see ZZ191 this year in it's eye-catching splinter camouflage colour scheme, although that is subject to change over the coming months.

In addition, we will also welcome a Leonardo AW169 from Uni Fly for the first time, exhibiting their new winch-equipped helicopter, and the Slingsby Nipper which nearly made it to the show last year, should be with us on static display to take the award for smallest aircraft at the show!

This week, work has continued with a variety of nations who hope to send their aircraft to RIAT 2024. For most Air Forces, whilst initial planning has begun, it is not until the Spring when we can expect to receive formal confirmation of their participation, and add the aircraft to our participation list. Of particular interest this week is the intent from Zambia to send an aircraft, after their last minute cancellation in 2023.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Ongoing discussions

AUSTRIAN AIR FORCE ONGOING
CZECH REPUBLIC AIR FORCE ONGOING
FRENCH AIR AND SPACE FORCE ONGOING
GERMAN ARMY ONGOING
INDIAN NAVY ONGOING
JAPAN MARITIME SELF-DEFENSE FORCE ONGOING
ROYAL JORDANIAN AIR FORCE ONGOING
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION ONGOING
ROYAL NETHERLANDS AIR FORCE ONGOING
ROYAL NORWEGIAN AIR FORCE ONGOING
POLISH LAND FORCES ONGOING
QATAR EMIRI AIR FORCE ONGOING
SERBIAN AIR FORCE & AIR DEFENCE ONGOING
SPANISH AIR FORCE ONGOING
SWISS AIR FORCE ONGOING
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE (RESERVES) ONGOING
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AIR COMBAT COMMAND ONGOING
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IN EUROPE AND AFRICA ONGOING
ZAMBIAN AIR FORCE ONGOING

[Gary]

Bit of a strange update, would have been more suited to padding out other announcements. Always good to see the static park taking shape though. Can’t imagine the average punter walking past saying wow a Slingsby Nipper

[jasonT1981]

Hopefully the Hunter can arrive on the Friday again. Not many chances to see one fly these days.

[Alanm28]

O well , I was looking forward to seeing some different 16’s for this years anniversary!
Noticed on the traffic light board today , that the Egyptian airforce has already declined.
Fingers crossed for Chilean and Romanian

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Still plenty of time for loads of F-16s to be confirmed as it's only the 2nd update of the year.

Egypt declined on last week's update there was no new countries declined this week.

Bit far for Chilean F-16s to travel would be good if it happened but Romanian F-16s could be possible, Would love to see Bulgarian F-16s too.