Airshow Aviation Photography by Henk Tito
Airshow Aviation Photography by Henk Tito

Royal International Air Tattoo RIAT Fairford Park & View WEST (18th of July) 2022 UK

Royal International Air Tattoo RIAT Fairford Park & View WEST (18th of July) 2022 UK

Royal International Air Tattoo RIAT Fairford Park & View WEST 18th of July 2022 UK

History of the Royal International Air Tattoo

The first Air Tattoo was staged at North Weald Airfield in Essex in 1971, with just over 100 aircraft taking part. The event was founded by Paul Bowen and Timothy Prince, who were CAA air traffic controllers, and Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling. From 1973 to 1983 it was held intermittently at RAF Greenham Common, initially under the title of the Royal Air Forces Association, South Eastern Area, Air Tattoo before moving to RAF Fairford in 1985. The show became the International Air Tattoo in 1976, and recognition of its unique status was granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1996, when the current Royal International Air Tattoo title was adopted. The show took place at Fairford every two years until it became an annual show from 1993. Due to redevelopment work at RAF Fairford the show was held at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland in 2000 and 2001. Guinness World Records have recognized RIAT 2003 as the world’s largest ever military airshow, with 535 aircraft in attendance. In 2014 224 aircraft from 32 air arms were on display. The event has had a number of air show firsts, including the first display and landing of the B-2A Spirit stealth bomber outside the United States of America during the 1997 “50 Years of the USAF” event and in 2008 the first landing of the Lockheed F-22 Raptor in Europe. The show is a showcase for the world’s military, and has become an important precursor to the Farnborough Airshow, which takes place a week after RIAT, every ‘even’ year. It allows the military aerospace industry to display and present its products outside the commercial pressures of the Farnborough show. (source Wikipedia).

_HDC6154.jpg
Oil Spill Response Boeing 727-2S2F
_HDC6158.jpg
Oil Spill Response Boeing 727-2S2F
_HDC6160.jpg
Oil Spill Response Boeing 727-2S2F
_HDC6164.jpg
C-130J MM62178 / 46-43 2 Gruppo TM Italian Air Force
_HDC6184.jpg
Sk37E SE-DXO Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
_HDC6196.jpg
Sk37E SE-DXO Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
_HDC6205.jpg
Spanish Air Force EF-18 Hornet
_HDC6206.jpg
Oil Spill Response Boeing 727-2S2F
_HDC6212.jpg
Oil Spill Response Boeing 727-2S2F
_HDC6213.jpg
Sk37E SE-DXO Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
_HDC6219.jpg
Oil Spill Response Boeing 727-2S2F
_HDC6221.jpg
JAS-39C 31 MH 59. Sz.D. R Hungarian Air Force
_HDC6229.jpg
JAS-39C 31 MH 59. Sz.D. R Hungarian Air Force
_HDC6233.jpg
JAS-39C 31 MH 59. Sz.D. R Hungarian Air Force
_HDC6243.jpg
Tp84 84005 / 845 71 Airlift sqn Swedish Air Force
_HDC6246.jpg
JAS-39C 40 MH 59. Sz.D. R Hungarian Air Force
_HDC6248.jpg
JAS-39C 40 MH 59. Sz.D. R Hungarian Air Force
_HDC6253.jpg
JAS-39C 40 + 31 MH 59. Sz.D. R Hungarian Air Force
_HDC6255.jpg
JAS-39C 40 + 31 MH 59. Sz.D. R Hungarian Air Force
_HDC6257.jpg
JAS-39C 40 + 31 MH 59. Sz.D. R Hungarian Air Force
_HDC6265.jpg
Sk35C SE-DXP Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
_HDC6268.jpg
Sk35C SE-DXP Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
_HDC6271.jpg
Sk35C SE-DXP Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
_HDC6284.jpg
Sk35C SE-DXP Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
_HDC6287.jpg
J32D SE-RME Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
_HDC6294.jpg
Sk35C SE-DXP Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
_HDC6299.jpg
Sk37E SE-DXO Swedish Air Force Historic Flight
_HDC6316.jpg
CH-53GS 84+79 HG64 German Army
_HDC6324.jpg
Sk35C SE-DXP Swedish Air Force Historic Flight