Jet Blast Area - The Royal International Air Tattoo

US Air Force Boeing E-4B Nightwatch | 73-1676

Romanian Air Force Antonov An-30 Clank | 1104

Royal Navy Lockheed F-35B Lightning II | ZM157

Finnish Air Force Hawk T.1 | HN-341

Belgian Air Force General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon | FA-136

Hungarian Air Force Mil Mi-24 Hind | 331

The Royal International Air Tattoo

The Royal International Air Tattoo is one of the biggest airshows in the world, and also one of the oldest. The first Air Tattoo was organized in 1971 at North Weald Aerodrome and was organized by the Royal Air Force Association. 100 aircraft took part to the meeting. 5 years later, in 1976, the first International Air Tattoo took place at RAF Greenham Common. It was in 1996 that the IAT received the Royal recognition and became the Royal International Air Tattoo. Indeed, the organizers were the RAF Benevolent Fund Development, which purpose was to raise money and awarness for the Royal Air Force, as well as to aid recruitment. It was in 2004 that the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust was established to take over the organization of the RIAT.

The show took place at various locations at first, then it moved to RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, in 1985. It was organized every two years at first, before becoming an annual air show from 1993. The location was only changed in 2000 and 2001 to RAF Cottesmore, Rutland due to works in Fairford.

Every year, hundred of thousands of visitor gather for 3 days in July to catch the many military aircraft that come to the air base. Due to its reputation, the RIAT attracts some of the finest aircraft of the world, some of them coming from the farthest countries to take part to the static or the flying display.

The air show has had a lot of 'firsts'. For instance, the first display and landing of a B-2A Spirit bomber took place in 1997, when the USAF sent an example of their bomber to RAF Fairford for RIAT. The first landing of F-22 Raptors in Europe was also at the occasion of the air show, in 2008.

Royal Jordanian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules | 345

Turkish Air Force McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II | 77-0296

Spanish Navy McDonnell Douglas EAV-8B Harrier II | VA.1B-24

Romanian Air Force MiG-21 | 6824

US Air Force Boeing KC-10A Extender | 79-1950

Ukraine Air Force Sukhoi Su-27UB | 71 Blue

For every military aviation lover, the Royal International Air Tattoo is the place to be. Every year, some truly unique aircraft come to take part to the show, some of them never to be seen anywhere else. It is a mix of old aircraft that you're not sure you'll see anymore, and of new aircraft that have not yet appeared anywhere else.

I was able to go the RAF Fairford for two occasions of RIAT, in 2019 and 2022. Amongst others, I could catch Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 Flanker, Romanian Air Force Mig-21 and An-30 Clank, Spanish Navy AV-8B+ Harrier, USAF E-4B and U-2S and many more interesting aircraft. One thing is certain: I'll be back one year or another.