The Royal International Air Tattoo for many aviation enthusiasts is the highlight of the aviation calendar. It remains the largest airshow in Europe and the hundreds of thousands who attend, expect a full day's entertainment and get exactly that. This years display theme, was to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of the United States Air Force and once again the show met with overwhelming approval of those that went. Crowds this year exceeded last year's total of 160,000 by up to 10%, two-thirds of which came on the Saturday due to the better weather forecast.

What comes with such a large event however, and since 911 in particular, are huge security problems. It was reassuring to know that everyone was searched before they gained entry. However on the downside, long queues formed to get in, from as early as 7:30 a.m., but they were not too onerous. The static aircraft park was extensive and is very well laid out, most exhibits were separated to aid the photographer. Personally I prefer to photograph aircraft in action, so a good part of my time, over the action packed weekend, was spent on the crowd line. A crowd line, when compared with many European air shows, that is as close as you would wish. Most of the display aircraft these days are parked close to the spectators. All the preparations for flight can be seen easily, for photographers there are excellent opportunities for those start up and taxiing shots.

The 'The Thunderbirds' - USAF's Air Demonstration Squadron.
Precision flying combined with precision parking.

Its true people might have expected the USAF to provide more aircraft for the show, but no other European show has anywhere the same level of USAF involvement as RIAT. The USAF Thunderbird display team with their F-16C/D Fighting Falcons were top of the bill and quite rightly so. They don't often cross over to the UK, the last time being seven years ago, it was their first display at RIAT. The Thunderbirds bring their own commentary team from Nellis AFB with extensive supporting equipment. Unfortunately for members of the media they were allocated a spot right in front of the media compound, blocking shots of the take-off and landings. The extensive Thunderbird display more than made up for any missed shots.

The B-1B Lancer from the 7^th Bomb Wing display was impressive, for once offering stunning topside passes to delight the thousands of photographers. An F-117A Nighthawk from the 49^th FW at Holloman AFB flew perhaps for the last time in Europe before its retirement and 15 years since its first public showing at Mildenhall.

RIAT was not just a USAF 60^th anniversary event of course, many air forces as usual from around Europe and beyond, attended the show. The most exotic being Indian Air Force, who had just completed exercise Indra Dhanush at RAF Waddington with 25 Squadron's Tornados, were persuaded to bring an IL-78MKI Midas and a pair of Sukhoi Su-30MKI Flanker's for the static display. They also briefly flew on the Saturday only another to complete a very special RIAT first.

The extensive flying display was concluded each day, Saturday in the much better weather, with a 'Tactical Role Demo'. This elaborate event consisted of Tornado GR.4's attacking Fairford with impressive pyrotechnics, were supported by an RAF E-3 Sentry for AWACS cover. Tornado F.3's, Chinook and Hercules completed the demonstration package.

Next year's show will be held on the weekend of July 12-13, the same one chosen by Duxford's Flying Legends show! I can't imagine why this would be done deliberately as many enthusiasts want to attend both shows in their entirety.

The F-16C's and single F-16D of the Thunderbirds.......

The Thunderbirds bring their own commentary team from Nellis AFB with extensive supporting equipment. Unfortunately for members of the media they were allocated a spot right in front of the media compound, blocking shots of the take-off and landings. The extensive Thunderbird display more than made up for any missed shots.

Three Spitfire PR-19's (PS853 'C', PM631 and PS915) and Hurricane (LF363 'YB-W') created the best sound heard at RIAT. 
They were flying to mark the BBMF's 50th anniversary.

Left to right: Indian Air Force Ilyushin Il-78MKI (RK-3452).
Polly Vacher's PA-28 Cherokee Dakota on the 'Wings Around the Britain' tour of every UK airfield.
Slovenian Armed Forces (Letalska Eskadrilja) Pilatus PC-9M (L9-61 '61') just about to start its flying display.

Left to right: Czech Air Force Mil Mi-24V Hind (0788) and a for me a very welcome site at Fairford Belgian Air Force Sea King Mk.48 (RS02).

The Role Demo at the end of the show.
E-3D Sentry AEW.1 (ZH105) of 8/23 Squadron, Tornado F.3 (ZG780) 25 Squadron special, Chinook HC.21 (ZA705 'AN') of 18/27 Squadron and Tornado GR.4 flying through the black 'bomb' smoke.

Photography Note: I was using a Canon 20D with a Canon 100-400mm L IS lens or Canon 300mm f2.8 lens with or without a x1.4 extender. I was positioned at the mid-point of the runway, this is an ideal position for all the fast jet take-off's and for the displays themselves. I used ISO settings of 100 or 200. For jets an aperture of around f.8 was used, for props the setting was changed to no more than 1/350th, for helicopters I went down to 1/125th at times. 

Right: The FRA Falcon 20EW crossover, a challenge for all photographers to capture. I just missed out getting the perfect shot this year. I will increase the ISO to obtain a shutter speed of 1/2000 or more to try a freeze both aircraft.