general thoughts etc

[luke28]

I like this thread idea

Too many happy memories from IAT 96 onwards, I genuinly love everything about the base and the occasion, its my favourite thing of the year, I look forward to it more than Christmas, holidays, football (I'm a Villa fan )..... I do miss the old bridge that you had to come over that was by the Eastern end of the runway, it was the first chance you got too take it all in and spot tails etc, but even now I still get a buzz when approaching the base and you spot your first tail in the distance.

My favourite RIAT is definately 1997, Shaw/Cannon F-16's, B-2, Czech Mig-23, F-100, Russian Su-27 and Su-30...

My favourite display? Thats an almost impossible question to answer, I'm first and foremost a fast jet fan but do love anything military that flys, how do you decide which is your favourite display from a B-1, Russian Su-30, French F-8 duo, Ramex Delta, Ukranian Su-27, Rafale, F-100, Polish Su-22 duo, Polish Mig-29, German F-4, Black Eagles, Ukranian Falcons....... I think if I had too pick just one I'd go for the Czech Mig-23 from 1997, I remember the burner stretching out and doubling the size of the jet!

Roll on 2016

[reheat]

Remember back in the mid eighties a flypast of 15 Hercules, 5 flights of 3 at a height of around 500 feet. Also, remember seeing 9 Harriers launch all at the same time.Possibly 1 squadron.

[paddyboy]

Oh yes! The famous 'Balbo' of Herks in 1987; wonderful, or what about the French Crusader at the same show nudging the sound barrier.

What about those Hungarian Fishbeds, or the Fitters, or the awesome Viggen making the ground shake whilst standing straining at the leash with full 'burner engaged.

I could go on, but.......

Cracking idea for a post, so lets get answering peeps, so's we can all enjoy your memories

Cheers

Paddyboy

[Knife 04]

SR-71 arrivals and departures at IAT 83 & 85 - nothing has ever compared to them - flyby's, touch and go's both before landing and after lift off!

Cheers

Darren

[phantommadman]

Fairford is by far the best time of year for me too.Being a fan of all military aviation,the RIAT team always manage to pull in some absolute belters!

There are so many aircraft beauties to chose from,but I'll try to list my top 10
Colombian Hercules,Mirage 4,Kuwaiti F18,Polish/Czech Fitters,Swedish Viggen,Lansen,Drakens,Spanish Matadors,Israeli Westwind,Turkish Starfighters..........arghh there's too many to list

My favourite years were '93 and '94 with so many rarieties on show


My all time favourite moment has to be at the departures day '93 and being in awe of the Bear taxiing past the enclosure and the sound of those engines will stay with me The fact that only a few years earlier reading about these beautiful monsters of the skies at school in my tatty aircraft books, one is in front me shaking the ground ahhhh happy happy days

I just want to say that the RIAT team really do put on a wonderful show and I really really can't stand the people who moan about the prices or it's not value for money are they for real????? There is no better value for money that I can think of.Thankyou so much guys for putting on the event of the year

Bring on July!!!!!!!!!!

[darkman]

Only been to RIAT twice -2012&2014
Highlights for me were
Belgian F16
Osprey
Solo Turk
Fitters
Apache display
Coming from NI we are limited in what we can tempt across so to get my fix I have been coming to England to get a better variety.
RIAT and Yeovilton being my main destinations.
As above I think its excellent value for £35. No real gripes about the show except maybe for slight traffic delays in and out of the show. Thursdays also an eargerly awaited day for new additions etc.
This year I intend to do departures to hopefully see the F4s leaving.

[grahamdevizes]

I've been attending RIATs for more years than I care to remember, after all, it's not that far from home here. So many great memories that it's just too hard to single out the best. Some of the memories are good memories of the exotic aircraft seen, some are bad memories because a tragedy has unfolded before everyone's eyes. I guess one of the best was getting close up to a B-52 for the very first time, but don't ask me what year that was. Where else can you see a wonderful array of aircraft such as RIAT puts on each time? Fantastic value for money and the highlight of the aviation year for me. And of course, all the money it raises for such a worthwhile cause.

[luke28]

i used to do loads of iat's back in the 90's, then stopped for a while, then did 2014 & have tickets for 2016

the 40th anniversary of the hercy bird was very memorable for me, seeing so so many of them lined up, it was insane

sitting in the cockpit of a Russian Backfire was awesome despite my young age, so was the once regular site of the Bear

in terms of the displays, loved the Czech hinds back in the 90's, the mass flypast when so many aircraft lined on the runway, choppers were behind them hovering above the grass - can't remember the year

that crash back in 1993 still lives long in the memory - the horror of it, then the relief of seeing the two chutes, followed by the flying recommencing! that would never happen now, everyone would just be told to go home

best memory was seeing the B2 for the very first time, i think it flew in during the saturday & i don't remember it shutting down, did it stay to refuel then go again or am i making that up?

And then the pilots lighting up cigarettes at the side of the runway like they didn't have a care in the world

[paddyboy]

It was always a bone of contention, as to whether the 'fight' ever took place, but they were certainly miffed with each other

What sticks in my mind is the way the Herk rocked on its wheels after the impact nearby

[Mike]

It wasn't a "fight" as such, one pilot wandered over to the other one and gave him an almighty smack in the gob.

Luckily they both survived, but the wreckage could have easily landed on the campsites over that way i.e. Totterdown and Rhymes Farm.

Yup, the Belgian Herc's tail took a beating but it lived to fight another day.

[Blackcat1]

Remember the Mig collision well, was talking to a Tornado pilot at the time and I was in so much shock as a 12 year old I couldn't lift my camera up! Never forget the Parouille Suisse with their Hunters going on next, must have been a bit daunting for them after an accident but good on them, they did as usual a great display.

[Nighthawke]

1993 will certainly be one that sticks with me. It wasn't until I took my tape to the police 2-3 hours later that I found out the pilots had banged out and landed safely. Until then I thought the worst and that really shook me even after the good news. Crash aside though, star was of course the Bear albeit static only but I did get the departure - eventually - on the Monday.

1985 was my first IAT and as such holds a special memory place. 15 Hercs was a particular highlight from 87 an 89 stands out with the Tiger Meet.

My last visit was departures day in 1995 with my wife who was pregnant at the time. We took a Z-bed for her comfort whilst I spotted and when the Czech Hind lifted and crossed the grass field, bed went flying (not with wife! she was photographing said helo.) One hell of a downdraft - and yes we were in a legitimate car-park.

Haven't been since - can't justify the cost and really don't so shows much anyway.

[mark.alan.barnes]

80p per week. Less than 12p a day. I would find it hard NOT to justify going.

As others have said, I spend all year looking forward to Fairford.

Over the years the 'confirmations' seem to get later and later. The American input is missed but it is still well worth the effort.

I think you don't truly appreciate what you have until it's not there but it is getting increasingly hard to find a 'slot' to go for a wander/toilet break as it used to be easy, 'Utterly Butterly' Wingwalkers and an hour of stuff I had no desire to see.

Last year was superb. Loved the Spitfire and Hurricanes. Airbus Gustav was exceptional. Reds and the Vulcan.

Highs in previous years have been the B2 flanked by the F15s. F117 and F22. A222 crash after spectacular Khe San approach but superb display before including rolls. I should add that I didn't know there was a problem at the time as I was up left of the grandstand.

Traffic management is a damn site better than it used to be.

This year is looking good already.

[Wrathchild]

To disagree - I was at Farnborough and watched the B-52 do its flypast at Blackbushe. That did happen. 100%.

The 'smack in the gob' incident is one of those urban myths. Rest assured, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. nor did the B.52 display over Blackbushe all those years ago [although it DID fly by, due to an ATC error re speed control.] Aviation is full of urban myths mostly false. Closest thing to anyone being hurt in the Mig incident was the woman on top of the Belgian Hercules, who fell off, and managed to cling to an aerial halfway down the fuselage.
Very, very lucky escape for everbody that day!!!. [Including my Belgian Press friend, videoing in the middle of the field, having a four foot section of Mig 29 land six feet from him. It's on his video!!!!.]
I understand that both pilots called 'lost contact' but the procedures failed somehow. They were probably about a mile apart by parachute, according to the video I took of the accident, rather than standing by the side of the runway.

[pb643]

For me the greatest moment at any RIAT has to be the arrival at Boscombe Down of Anatoly Kvotcher flying his Su-27 (1992?) - The jet came in alongside the Tu-134 support aircraft and as the Tu touched down the Su-27 was kept in formation alongside at an apparent height above ground of about 6' all down the runway before powering away!
Just stunning and definitely an 'it could only be at IAT' moment...

That was amazing, I managed to buy a photo years later as mine were all rubbish. Without doubt my most memorable IAT/ATI moment of many.

Phil

[karlbutler]

I think I have to agree with an earlier post, for me the highlight of the many years Ive attended RIAT, IAT, Boscome, Cottesmore etc was the French Crusader, closely followed by the 2 different variants of bear at the one show .........ah those were the days ! . The absolute pinnacle for me was being introduced to IAT by my now late father, Aviation was his passion and he passed it on to me............now I am privileged to be able to do the same with my son........3 generations of aviation enthusiasts over 30 years of airshow.............that's my RIAT memory :-)

[Voodoo1]

Interesting read this thread. Great to hear everyone's memories and highlights.
I've only been to RIAT twice, my first in 2005 and last year. Two totally different shows and a lot has changed (not just aircraft)

In 2005 it was a scorcher on the Sunday & I remember the lines of Typhoons, Phantoms and Vipers on static when I first arrived on my first visit along with the 3 x Sea Harriers, B-52 in the air. The A-10s, C-5 and KC-135 at the back of the yard with the A-7s. So much going on.

Last year was totally different. All shops looked the same, static a lot smaller but flying was good.

Still an enjoyable show and looking forward to this year.



Sent from my HTC One_mate using Tapatalk

[peasus911]

I remember the Crusader landing after the flyby. took a photo of it passing me seconds before it popped a tyre on landing.
one of the stand outs for me was the D-Day finale with all the aircraft lined up on the runway including F-117 and F-7's with multiple missing man formations flying overhead.

[razor23uk]

No good with years, but a few stand outs for me.
My first RIAT with a scanner and I heard the F14 pilot call sign over the radio....TOPGUN......loved it!
When the F22 was waiting on the 27 threshold to depart to Farnborough and asked atc if he could do a display take off and fly past before leaving. ATC said yes and the whole crowd in the enclosure and at the road (where I was) stood up in unison!.....we waited...and waited...and waited some more...then the pilot called up that there was not enough gap in the clouds and departed to Farnborough.....booooo..hiss. An hour later the scanners picked him up on the way back. On finals we all had scanners on, bins locked on, a squillion quids worth of lenses locked on, all ready for a straight in on 27. He then asked atc "Can I give the crowd what I couldn't do earlier?) (or words to that effect)...to which they said "Yes!". I swear he was about 200 meters out over the field at about 100ft high, when the lights went out, the gear flew up and the doors closed. The noise was horrifying the down draft threw chairs, brollys, picnics, small children, the lot, all over the place!....I will never ever forget that!

The SAC ATTACK launch?....about 15 mins of huge metal taking off one after another.
The Thunderbirds were great to see, but will never forget the pilots and crew with their OTT routine before hand....some sort of Britains got tallent street dancers!
And of cours any one of the jets just nudging the sound barrier

[Timmo]

I've got many fond memories of IAT/RIATs. I'm in my 30s now and have only missed 2 shows since 1989. I started going as a youngster with my father and it was always my highlight of the year. The 90s for me were all brilliant shows. My father and I would always leave home early and I always used to know we were close when I could spot the tail of a C-5 or C-141 poking up behind the trees on the way in. We'd dash to get a spot at the front of the crowd line (we joined FIAT/FRIAT in the late 90s), read the programme, watch the charters arrive, take in the whole flying display before dumping stuff back in the car for a leisurely walk up and down the static park (and spending all my saved pocket money in the stalls!) before leaving around nine. Days I would love to relive!

I miss the big static park of old with great numbers of aircraft (the C-130s in '94, the sky tanker line up in '95 etc.), they were always fantastic. There are so many flying display highlights that I could write a book on the subject but items that stand out for me were things like the Tracor Flight Systems F-100 Super Sabre and the Mig-23 Flogger from '97, the first time I saw the SU-27 in '96, seeing XH558 return in '09, the Italian F104 Starfighter from '99 painted all black bar the white nose and stars fading back. All fantastic memories.

I still look forward to the show and have been a FRIAT member for some years now. RIAT always seems to attract something new to the UK and long my that continue. The flying displays are still terrific and although the static is thinner on the ground, I understand it's a result of the changing world we live in and no fault of RIAT. I'd like an extra half an hour at the end of show days to walk the static when it's quieter, it sometimes feels like we get hustled out by 1930hrs on the dot now.

Along with living close to Lyneham and having a father who was enthusiastic about aircraft, the Air Tattoo fueled my passion for aviation that will last a lifetime. Long may it continue