Royal International Air Tattoo 2025 General Discussion Thread

[capercaillie]

Nice to see the US Army again. USAF AMC listed as declined so possibly no heavies from the Americans. Unless the an Reserve on ANG accept

Yes still possibly get a C-17, the last couple of years it has appeared under a Reserve flag rather than the 437th.

Very quiet update though this close to the show. There are some very good bits on the list, just far fewer than we are used to at this point in time!

[jasonT1981]

Small change on website - Tunisia moved to declined, but Italian Army in discussions.

[Red-Eye-Knight]

I thought today's update was not bad at all, Glad the RAF Poseidon will be there very appropriate for the main theme.

Still not heard anything about flypasts that were mentioned in a previous update, Also still nothing about what they are doing for Apache 50th which was mentioned a few weeks back.

All in all still looking like a good show to me 4 updates to go then its nearly RIAT week!!!

[Red-Eye-Knight]

Nice to see the US Army again. USAF AMC listed as declined so possibly no heavies from the Americans. Unless the an Reserve on ANG accept

Good to see you back posting about RIAT Gary I am with you good to see the US Army but for me it's not again it's the 1st time so really looking forward to seeing a US Apache hopefully beside all the other Apaches on static.

I do hope there are some heavies from the US as they always fill up the static park quite nicely will just have to see what happens in next 4 updates.

[Viper743]

Unfortunately for anyone hoping for a return of the Skyhawk, not looking likely, A-4 fleet is spread very thin in July according to a couple mates I’ve got that still work there. We’ve still got a bit over a month though, hoping for some late highlights to confirm and be released soon.

[Harkins]

So, RIAT Air Ops posted late last night over on UKAR that (I paraphrase) he is happy with this year’s line up and although lower in numbers this year, once 5 more things are announced, people will be glad they secured their tickets.

Head over to page 88 of the UKAR RIAT 2025 thread to read it.

I honestly can't decide whether he's genuine, or being sarcastic or just simply winding people up because he’s hacked off with the questioning of how good or not the participation list is looking this year.

IF there are still 5 more announcements of things that might really please the enthusiast community (not Peter’s words), then that could be a spectacular last few updates. I actually think they shouldn’t announce them now and let it play out. In fact, I wonder if going forward they could scrap the announcements all together. It largely sells out regardless, so I don’t think they need to do it to sell tickets.

[capercaillie]

I honestly can't decide whether he's genuine, or being sarcastic or just simply winding people up because he’s hacked off with the questioning of how good or not the participation list is looking this year.

IF there are still 5 more announcements of things that might really please the enthusiast community (not Peter’s words), then that could be a spectacular last few updates. I actually think they shouldn’t announce them now and let it play out. In fact, I wonder if going forward they could scrap the announcements all together. It largely sells out regardless, so I don’t think they need to do it to sell tickets.

I don't think sarcastic posts by someone in his position would go down terribly well, if absoluely nothing came of a post like that in the coming weeks. I'm sure we'll be seeing three or four more eyecatching items added to the list in the weeks to come. That's not to say whether it will make it a classic to remember or just a good show above the standards of most other European shows, we can only judge that in late July.

I also don't believe we can hold them to ransom to announce everything now and see how it plays out, some things may be sensitive, others may be from air forces who do not want items released until a specific date, others may be awaiting final signing off - as per RIAT's rules, not ours.

We know the score, tickets will sell out, if you want to be there, you have to buy, if its not as good as you would have liked, you have the choice for the next year, but lets face it, its all that is left in the UK of a show with any kind of quality and substance and if it disappears you'll all be bemoaning the fact there are no shows anymore to go to and wasn't 2025 really good when that Egyptian ......... turned up?

[Harkins]

I don't think sarcastic posts by someone in his position would go down terribly well, if absolutely nothing came of a post like that in the coming weeks....

[/quote]

I agree. It just crossed my mind that a post late-ish on a Friday evening may just have been made with some irritation at some of the commenting that the show could be better. But yes, whilst understandable, it could also be deemed a little unprofessional to rise to it and post a wind-up.

I also don't believe we can hold them to ransom to announce everything now and see how it plays out....

Just to clarify, what I meant when I said they shouldn't announce them, is that by saying absolutely nothing before the show, there could well be a few very nice surprises that we only learn of on the day via the sheet of lies. A bit old school style. The thing is now, there is perhaps already an expectation that there are potentially 5 things to be announced that are top billing items.

[falconfighting]

Even if something juicy was announced the big bad RAF Chinook complete with jazz-hands will scupper any chances of it getting airborne just like the Romanian Mig-21 and the B-2 flypasts in recent years

[seven]

I can't recall ever seeing a Bulgarian MiG-21 at RIAT. The Romanian ones were most welcome though!

[falconfighting]

I can't recall ever seeing a Bulgarian MiG-21 at RIAT. The Romanian ones were most welcome though!

My bad, will edit - I would have got a better look to remember it by if it wasn't for the wokka hogging the display timetable and going over

[Viper743]

I can't recall ever seeing a Bulgarian MiG-21 at RIAT. The Romanian ones were most welcome though!

My bad, will edit - I would have got a better look to remember it by if it wasn't for the wokka hogging the display timetable and going over

The Wokka’s fairly short this year, it’s the Germans taking up slots with an NH-90 nobody asked for that I’m more cross with this year, plus just what seems to be an abnormally high number of warbirds? Maybe I’m wrong on that and last year was just below average.

[Gary]

Sad case when RIAT have to put out a official statement about the false cancellation rumours circulating on social media. One idiot and the whole thing snowballed

[RunAndBreak]

it’s the Germans taking up slots with an NH-90 nobody asked for that I’m more cross with this year

Agreed, and can the Jordanian falcons either upgrade to something more interesting or stay put?

I have no desire to see extra 300s do a duplicate of the red arrows display but smaller.

[Nighthawke]

Well that's "toilet breaks" sorted for you two then.

[Viper743]

Well that's "toilet breaks" sorted for you two then.

Is it bad that my partner and I are both aircraft engineers, and yet we see certain announcements (including the NH90 and RJFs) and literally say this exact thing?
We are both very keen on the Portuguese Merlin demo though, that should be cracking.

[seven]

Shame the Coaler isn't flying, but what a catch. Great update for the static displays.

Also a shame the AAC demo is Friday only, as Duxford this weekend is now more or less the only full show to have it

Edit, Red Eye Knight/Gary not on the ball today...

[seven]

This week, we’re very excited to welcome a new nation to RIAT this year! We can confirm that the Egyptian Air Force will be joining us at RAF Fairford next month as our 59th nation with their Antonov An-74T Coaler on the static line up!

More additions to the static line up come from the Royal Netherlands Air Force with a pair of Chinooks, plus a C.16 Tifón from the Spanish Air and Space Force. Also, we can announce our fourth AH-64E Apache for static display from the Army Air Corps, as well as a Wildcat AH.1.

On the Friday only, we’re pleased to welcome the Army’s new display team with two Apaches and a Wildcat performing together accompanied by pyrotechnics.

Due to the Whirlwind being unable to attend, we’re pleased to confirm that Historic Helicopters will be sending their Sea King HAR.3 for the static display instead. Plus, a further Royal Air Force addition to the static display with the F-35B Lightning II, as well as a King Air 350 and Leonardo AW139 from QinetiQ.

To view every aircraft confirmed for RIAT25 so far visit our website: https://www.airtattoo.com/the-airshow/a ... d-aircraft

[falconfighting]

I wondered where 'Helidays' had gone - good to see it is back and moved from Weston.