AVIATION-SHOTS   

The Royal International Air Tattoo is considered the biggest and most spectacular air show in the world, and the 2017 edition’s numbers are here to confim this statement: 246 aircrafts, 32 air arms, 26 nations, 160.000 spectators and 2.000 volunteers represent this year fantastic event.

The air show took place over three days, with a reduced four hours display on Friday and an eight hours non-stop display on Saturday and Sunday. As usual on Wednesday and Thursday it was possible to see the arrivals and on Monday to follow the departures of the participant aircrafts.

The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprised, along with an “army” of volunteers, each year organizes the airshow in an excellent way from both the logistic and the media point of view, also thanks to the development of a variety of digital platforms such as the web site, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and a dedicated “app” continuously updated.

This year the main theme was the USAF 70th anniversary, celebrated with a series of spectacular flypasts and jaw-dropping air displays. For the occasion was organized a special flypast with five of the main aircrafts equipping the US Air Force: the KC-135R Stratotanker, the C-130J Hercules, the F-15C Eagle, the F-15E Strike Eagle and the F-16C Fighting Falcon. As part of the celebration, the USAF also sent to RIAT one of the world’s most advanced fighter jet, the Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor. This is a stealthy, fifth generation fighter, with thrust vectoring engines, giving it cutting edge capabilities and an incredible agility as shown during the air display. To pay tribute to the USAF 70th anniversary was also one of the most popular demonstration team: the Thunderbirds. Composed by six F-16C Fighting Falcons, the team performed a mix of formation flying and solo routines that highlight the maximun capabilities of the multi-role fighter jet. The Thunderbirds crossed the Atlantic ocean from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada to the UK for the only European date of the year, since their appearance at the Air Tattoo in 2007. Only on Friday, the team joined the nine Red Arrows’ Hawks for a dramatic flypast to open the show. A special surprise, announced on Sunday, was the appearance of one stealth B-2 Sprit bomber that was taking part in a long 23 hours transatlantic “Global Power” training flight directly from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The bomber performed two breath-taking flypasts, escorted by a couple of F-15C fighters of the near Lakenheath Air Force Base. Least but not last was the presence in the static display of two of the most bigger and famous strategic bombers of the USAF: the B-52H Stratofortress and the B-1B Lancer. They are not a rare presence here in Fairford, because of the frequent redeployments for joined excercises.

Another important guest star was the spy plane U-2S, that joined the static display along with other american aircrafts such as the C-17A Globemaster III, the HC-130J Hercules, the CV-22B Osprey and the P-8A Poseidon, just to name a few.

Almost unexpected was the Ukrainian Air Force, that confirmed their presence only few days before the beginning of the air show sending a couple of Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker. One was a Sukhoi Su-27P single-seater fighter jet that performed the air display on Saturday and Sunday, while the other one was a Sukhoi Su-27UB two-seater fighter jet admired by the crowds in static display. The Flanker was a major highlight this year at the Air Tattoo, and the spectators were astounded by the extraordinary manoeuvrability of this heavy air superiority fighter, designed by the Soviets during the Cold War in contraposition to the US Air Force’s F-15 Eagle.  Supporting the two ukrainian fighters, and placed close to the Su-27UB, was the huge Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft.

Representing the French Air force were two fast jet display teams: the solo Dassault Rafale C multi-role fighter and – for the first time – the new Couteau Delta team of two Dassault Mirage 2000D strike aircrafts. The Couteau Delta has replaced the disbanded Ramex Delta pair and their display consists of various tactical manoeuvres like those used in real combact. One aircraft was painted with a desert camouflage scheme called “vanilla and chocolate”, whilst the other showed a special tail and external tanks paint scheme.

The Italian Air Force’s Reparto Sperimentale Volo was present with three remarkable flying displays: a special color Tornado IDS, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the 311° Gruppo, winner of this year Best Paint Scheme Award; the transport plane C-27J Spartan, showing off its “aerobatic” capabilities and tactical short landings; and the Aermacchi M-346 Master, one of the most advanced jet trainer in the world.

A jump in the past to the time of the Second World War was performed by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, this year marking its 60th anniversary. The BBMF display is always a moving moment of the the airshow, because it commemorates those who have fallen in the service for their Country. The flight features an Avro Lancaster heavy bomber, three Supermarine Spitfire fighters and a Hawker Hurricane fighter, and performed a synchonised flying display, followed by the Lancaster solo display.

In addition to the Thunderbirds, other aerobatic teams filled the Fairford’s sky during the three days of the air show: the Royal Jordanian Falcons with their extremely monoeuvrable Extra 300, the Patrouille Suisse on board their supersonic F-5 Tiger, the finnish Midnight Hawks painted with a new livery, and the nine colorful BAE Systems Hawks of the world famous Red Arrows.

As far as the solo displays are concerned, here is the list of the other fast jets and propeller aircrafts that entertained the public with their agility and roaring sound: F-16 Solo Turk, F-16 Belgian Air Component, Swedish and Czech Air Force’s JAS 39 Gripen, RAF Eurofighter, Spanish F-18 Hornet, Austrian Saab 105, Czech L-159 ALCA, Civilian Airbus A400M Atlas, Belgian Sea King, UK Army Air Corps WAH-64D Apache, RAF HC.4 Chinook, US Air Force Special Operations Command CV-22B Osprey, Civilian P-51 Mustang and the Preservation Trust’s B-17 Flying Fortress.

The 2017 Air Tattoo has been a spectacular air show with a fantastic mix of aircrafts, both in the air and on the ground. The 2018 will mark the RAF’s 100th anniversary and I’m sure the organizers will work hard to put on a memorable edition of the Royal International Air Tattoo.