One of the best opportunities to become immersed in the Royal Air Force's centenary celebrations will come on the eve of the aviation industry's main trade event at Farnborough, with multiple special events planned during the preceding Royal International Air Tattoo.
Staged at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, RIAT attracts a spectacular array of military aircraft from around the world, with the activity supporting the fundraising efforts of its organiser – the RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE).
Running this year from 13-15 July, RIAT will see the usually sleepy Cotswold village and its US Air Force-managed airfield become a magnet for aviation enthusiasts from around the globe.
Visitors will be drawn by an extensive flying programme that will last for some 7h each day – and by the chance to view a diverse range of other attractions in the site's vast static display area.
RIAT's 2018 show will be dominated by contributions linked to the ongoing RAF100 programme, with a special massed flypast to be staged on the opening day. This will be followed by additional formations over the weekend that the RAFCTE describes as "unique aerial set pieces".
The centenary of the RAF's formation fell on 1 April, and a centrepiece flypast will be made over The Mall in London on 10 July, with up to 100 aircraft due to be involved.
RIAT's organisers are keeping details of its centenary specials under wraps for now, in expectation of bumper interest. "Whilst every Air Tattoo is special, it's not every day that we get the chance to stage such an important national salute," says head of marketing Helen Webb. Reflecting the historic nature of the RAF100 activity, this year's Air Tattoo has been extended to span three full public days, rather than the usual two.
BIG ATTRACTION
Accordingly, the RAFCTE is confident that it will beat a record attendance set at the last year's show, which attracted 160,000 visitors. Highlights included events to mark the 70th anniversary of the US Air Force's formation, with attractions having included the Lockheed Martin F-16s of its Thunderbirds aerobatic display team.
Other key attractions this year could include a first chance to see a UK-operated Lockheed F-35B Lightning II, following the type's recent arrival at RAF Marham in Norfolk. Four aircraft flown by 617 Sqn pilots made the trip from MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina to their home base in early June. The US Air Force is also due to have an F-35A taking part in the flying display, drawn from its heritage flight team.
In 2016, two F-35Bs from the US Marine Corps' VMFAT-501 training unit at MCAS Beaufort were deployed to the UK, accompanied by one of the UK's examples. These remained positioned at RAF Fairford for the type's trade show debut at Farnborough.
Having debuted at RIAT in July 2016, the F-35B could make an appearance at this year's event in the hands of the UK's famous 617 SQN
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As the UK starts its operational transition to the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B, the RAF is also nearing the removal from service of its last Panavia Tornado GR4 strike aircraft. With the type due to be retired from use by April 2019, this will be the last RIAT at which visitors will be able to see it in UK colours. A pair of the RAF Marham-based aircraft will be in the static display: one each from the service's remaining operational units: 9 and 31 squadrons. Additional examples of the variable-geometry type will also be on static display from the German and Italian air forces.
Still involved in the UK's Operation Shader activity over parts of Iraq and Syria, the UK's Tornado force has been continually committed since the first Gulf War in 1990. The RAF retired the last of its F3-model fighters in 2011, with its GR4's responsibilities also now transitioning to the Eurofighter Typhoon before the F-35B transitions to combat status over the next few years.
With the RAF and the other UK air arms making substantial contributions, the line-up will also include newly introduced types via the UK Military Flying Training System programme. These will include the fixed-wing Embraer Phenom 100 and Grob G120TP Prefect, plus the Airbus Helicopters H135 Juno and H145 Jupiter rotorcraft.
As with every RIAT, the event this year has attracted some long-distance commitments, notably of a Royal Australian Air Force Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control system aircraft, and Lockheed C-130 tactical transports from nations including Jordan, Oman and Pakistan. In a repeat of its contribution from 2017, Ukraine will send a pair of Sukhoi Su-27 fighters, accompanied by an Ilyushin Il-76 transport.
A Romanian air force Mikoyan MiG-21 will take part in the daily flying display, with Bucharest's commitment being made in recognition of the RAF's contribution to supporting its national quick reaction alert needs. UK Typhoons have twice provided this cover for the NATO ally, with multiple aircraft deployed to Mihael Kogălniceanu air base on the Black Sea coast since 2017. The aged MiG-21 will be accompanied by a Romanian Leonardo C-27J Spartan medium transport.
In all, more than 350 aircraft from 30 nations are expected to participate, including contributions in the three-day event's flypasts and civilian assets. Industry-deployed attractions will include the Airbus Defence & Space A400M airlifter, joining RAF examples, and Embraer's KC-390 transport/tanker; due to be delivered to the Brazilian air force from later this year.
AEROBATICS
The show will also have its usual strong presentation from aerobatic display teams, with the RAF's Red Arrows being joined by the Royal Jordanian Air Force's Falcons and the Italian air force's Frecce Tricolori.
This year's RIAT will also include a Royal Review and a ceremonial parade involving the Queen's Colours Squadron. Organisers will be hoping that this can pass without a repeat of the uniform-ruining tempest which drenched all-comers during Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's attendance at the 2008 show. Also notable for the debut transatlantic appearance by the USAF's Lockheed F-22, that year's show had to be cancelled because of safety concerns linked to already waterlogged car parks around the show site prior to its first public day.
With its place firmly established on the major show calendar, RIAT's organisers have already confirmed dates for the next four years. The 2021 event will represent a half-century since the first Air Tattoo was staged in 1971. Held at North Weald airfield in Essex, this attracted just over 100 aircraft.
Source: Flight International
