Page 38 - World Airshow News Q3 2024

tHE ROYAL INtERNAtIONAL AIR tAttOO Report and photography by Norman A. Graf

It’s a RIAT

T he mission of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Charitable Trust was the Viper Line, a static display of F-16s, many sporting special

is to promote the RAF and inspire young people and RAF
liveries.
Also celebrating their 50th anniversary were the BAe Hawk and
personnel to fulfill their potential in air, space, and tech-
nology. It does so primarily through the annual Royal In-
Red Arrows, RAF Flying Training School, Qatar Emiri Air Force,
ternational Air Tattoo (RIAT), held this year at RAF Fairford in the Panavia Tornado. In commemoration, Hawks from the RAF
Gloucestershire, England, July 19-21. Finnish Air Force, and the Royal Saudi Air Force Saudi Hawks
Since its founding more than fifty years ago, RIAT has become flew past in formation. Both the Italian and German Air Forces
the world’s largest military airshow. This year’s sellout crowd of sent specially marked Tornados to mark that aircraft’s milestone.
150,000 spectators was able to view more than 250 aircraft un- The Red Arrows and the Swiss Air Force’s Patrouille Suisse cel-
der surprisingly pleasant weather conditions. The twenty hours ebrated their 60th anniversaries with a joint flyby. This might be
of flying displays over the three-day weekend were augmented the Patrouille’s last year flying their iconic F-5 Freedom Fighters.
by two days of arrivals and Monday’s departure day. Other military display teams on hand were the Finnish Air Force
RIAT marked the 75th Anniversary of NATO with a series Midnight Hawks, Norwegian Air Force Yellow Sparrows, Royal
of formation flybys that showcased various aircraft types from Jordanian Falcons, Saudi Hawks, and Royal Navy Black Cats
many of the 28-member state air forces. The appearance of four The Royal Canadian Air Force celebrated its centennial by
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II jets (two each from the bringing their CF-18 Hornet Demo Team’s full display, flying the
Greek and Turkish Air Forces) was one of the highlights. Hornet in formation with the Red Arrows, and a CF-18 Heritage
RIAT’s celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the F-16 Fight- Flight with the Spitfire Mk Vb “City of Winnipeg.” A wide variety
ing Falcon featured a number of F-16 flying demonstrations, of RCAF aircraft, both modern and vintage, were on static display.
most notably that of the Royal Danish Air Force and the Turkish RIAT 2024 was more than just historic anniversaries. The show
Air Force’s SoloTurk flight demonstration. Another highlight also saw the debut of the RAF’s Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning

www.airshowmag.com 38 Quarter 3, 2024