RIAT - 55 Days to Go, The Season has Started!

Would you believe it, after the long wait of the cold winter months, we have reached May and yet it’s still as cold, however last weekend on Sunday the 6^th of May the Air show season got underway at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon. The Annual Abingdon Air And Country show featured the season debuts of many Civilian and Military acts from Around the country, such as the Breitling sponsored Breitling Wingwalkers, also the newly name changed TRIG aerobatic team who fly two Pitts Aircraft, the show also featured the RAF Hawk, King Air And Tutor season debut’s, as well as the Tucano in all its Splendour of the new Colour scheme, which is a very patriotic and suitable scheme in a year that we British Citizens are celebrating the Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The show at Abingdon was organised by Neil Porter and his team, and despite me not being there, from what I’ve heard it was a very successful event and I would like to congratulate Neil Porter on another year of Success for the Season Starter.

The main show of the Year, at least for those of us in the South of the U.K, is the Royal International Air Tattoo, which is currently held at RAF Fairford, Gloucester. This year the show is shaping up to be a cracker, the team at DBH have confirmed an excellent mix of many Aircraft from Several Air Force’s to visit the show this year, as always. The Flying display is looking to be superb if the weather plays its part, and the Static display is looking to be a great show of Types this year, with one of the three themes for the show being Airlift 2012, I would also expect to see more added in the coming weeks.

The Participants list for this year up until now has been described by many as the Best Participation the RIAT team has secured in Years, the mixture of aircraft down to display is once again very good, the flying display this year will feature 3 Eastern Teams performing at RIAT, the Saudi Hawk’s will return after making their UK debut at RIAT last year, with their 6 BAE Hawk T65’s. The United Arab Emirates team ‘ The Al Fursan ‘ ( The Knights ), will ,make their European Debut at RIAT this year, with their 7 Aermacchi MB339 Trainer Jets, painted in a Striking Black and Gold Colour scheme, with the UAE Flag on the underside of the Wings. Another Eastern Team making their RIAT debut this year will be the Republic of Korea Air Force’s Black Eagles, who fly 8 T-50 Golden Eagle Aircraft; the Team are expected to make their European Debut at Waddington the Week before RIAT; however this is not yet confirmed!

Modern Military Fast Jet solos are often considered to be the Stars of the Flying Display at RIAT, and this year’s line-up of Jets is sure to please any Air show follower around. The Belgian and Dutch F-16 Demo’s will return this year, as will the Swedish JAS39 Gripen Demo and the RAF Tornado GR4 Role Demo, which certainly provides a spectacle and an insight into modern day operations, The RAF Typhoon Demo will make its welcome return this year, after its absence last year, this year the Jet will make the Journey from RAF Leuchars, in Fife, Scotland, to display at RIAT, as the display is flown by a 6 Sqrn Pilot this year. Also making a Return this year is the Armee De Lair’s French Rafale C solo. The Pick of the Bunch of the Fast Jet displays confirmed as of yet has to be the Polish Mig 29 Demo,  the Aircraft type is an ageing one in the Air Force’s that the type still is operations in, and it will be a pleasure to see the 29’ Display at RIAT this year.

Other Display’s currently confirmed for the Flying display include the Brilliant Patrouille Suisee, who fly 6 F-5E Tiger II aircraft, the Boing MV-22B Osprey from the USMC, Vulcan XH558,  the Airbus A400m, the Russian Yak-130 company demonstrator, the Royal Jordanian Falcons with their Extra 300 Aircraft, and the list goes on.. 

RAF Participation in the Flying display this year is outstanding, with all the RAF Solo Trainer Aircraft performing displays, and also the Red Arrows will perform with their usual precision, however this year with 7 A/C. The Typhoon display and the Tornado Role Demo will appear will appear as mentioned above. The BBMF will appear, and also the RAF Falcons will parachute into Fairford for the show. Also expected is an Element of the Diamond Jubilee flypast; however this is yet to be set in stone and no details of which elements are expected have been given.

The Static display for this year is looking to be a Great one, with Aircraft such as the Armee De Lair C-135FR expected to attend. Other aircraft expected to attend for the static display this year include, A DHL 757, Dutch F-16s, A French Navy Falcon 10 MER, A German A310 Tanker Aircraft, an Italian KC-767TT a NATO E-3, and once again the list goes on…

The South American Nation of Columbia is expected to make their Airtattoo debut this year, and will send a C-130 and a T-90 Calima, both for the static. Another South American Nation expected to attend this year, albeit not for the First time, Is Brazil, who will send a C-130 for the static display.

Would you believe it, all the Aircraft mentioned, as well as others, will be available for you to witness at RAF Fairford in just 55 Days’ time, when many, many Nations join together to make the World’s largest Military Airshow! 

Haven’t got tickets yet? You can get them now from: http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/airshow-tickets

To see the full Participation list up to now you can visit: http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/aircraft/aircraft-confirmed

Need to contact General Aviation News? You can do so by Emailing your message to : generalaviationnews@yahoo.co.uk, many thanks, Jamie Cook.