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The Air Tattoo has now 40 years of history. The first Air Tattoo 1971 took place at the Air Force base RAF North Weald. Later the bases RAF Greenham Common, RAF Boscombe Down and RAF Cottesmore were used. Since 1985 RAF base Fairford is now the venue for the annual Air Show.
Since
1996, this air show is under the royal patronage of Queen Elizabeth II.,
and called: RIAT (Royal International Air Tattoo)
Crowned heads were always a part of the International Air Tattoo. Traditionally the Royal Jordanian Air Force participating since many years at the Air Show. Often former King Hussein of Jordan flew himself one of the Royal Jordanian Air Force aircrafts. Even today, the King Hussein Memorial Sword is awarded for the best flying display at the Air Tattoo.
The
editorial team of WINGS-AVIATION was represented at former Air Tattoo's
in England, so we are noticed the striking changes pretty soon. While
earlier Tattoos were still a purely military matter, it is noticeable
that now also civilian aircrafts are part of the new air show concept.
The end of the Cold War and the consequent reduction, associated with the Air Force, leaves the organizers less scope than before. Under reproached hands it was only a rumor that the Air Tattoo could no longer be held annually. The costs of the organization-team increased massively, especially regarding security matters for such a big event.
Surely
it is common, at least since the 11th September 2001, when passenger’s
hand luggage is scanned. But during a flight meeting? … Well, times have
probably changed. What not has changed was the British sense of humor.
Ok, Andy had bother with our "entertainer" who have tried, even in the
pouring rain, to spread a staunchly positive mood, sorry with moderate
success. Unfortunately I am not familiar with his name but this man is a
factotum of the RIAT every year.
FRIAT oder Mach 3
On
previous visits we were already members of the FRIAT (Friends of
International Air Tattoo). This year the membership was almost mandatory.
Besides the opportunity to visit the base before the official opening,
we could photograph the fly in and fly out at our own leisure.
Furthermore, the luxury of having your own grandstand, a reserved seat
in a separate area of the site is not to be underestimated.
We felt sorry for all the spotters on the edge of the airfield, which often stood against the light and didn’t see the aircrafts taking off. The tribune of the MACH 3 ticket holders is positioned just in front of the runway almost at the lift-off point, exactly in front of our camera-lenses.
Lockheed C-5B Galaxi (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Lockheed C-5B Galaxi (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Mc Donnell Douglas C-17A Globemaster (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Mc Donnell Douglas C-17A Globemaster (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Mc Donnell Douglas C-17A Globemaster (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Mc Donnell Douglas KC-10A Extender (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Mc Donnell Douglas KC-10A Extender (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Air Transport
Air
transport was the theme of the 2012 edition of the Tattoo. Various
transport planes from around the world had found their way to Fairford.
Certainly one of the exotic ones was a Japanese Boeing KC-767. Japan is
the 53rd nation to take part at the Air Tattoo 2012. But also from other
countries transport planes were present, especially the good old C-130
Hercules. Brazil, Venezuela (a particularly nicely painted aircraft),
USA, Jordan, Abu Dhabi, Norway, Denmark, etc. found their way to good
old England.
The
Royal Air Force (RAF) showed in a Fly-past all, currently, used
transport aircrafts, which are now summarized at the RAF base at Brize
Norton. Various other nations were represented with transport aircraft
as the pictures show below.A "highlight" was certainly the new NATO
Transporter, an Airbus A-400M, which we were able to admire a few days
later again at Farnborough.A special moment in Fairford was probably the
name giving ceremony of the A-400M to its final name "ATLAS".
Bombardier CL-601 Challenger Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Antonov AN-26 Hungarian Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Antonov AN-26 Hungarian Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Antonov AN-26 Hungarian Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Boeing KC-767J Japanese Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Boeing KC-767J Japanese Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Boeing KC-767J Japanese Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Boeing KC-767A Italian Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Boeing KC-767A Italian Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Boeing KC-767A Italian Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Tranall C.160 German Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Tranall C.160 German Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Vickers VC-10 Royal Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
(Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Beech 1900 Swiss Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Casa 296 Armée de l'Air (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Grumman Gulfstream Omani Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Casa 295 Polish Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Polish Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Polish Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Grumman Gulfstream 4 USAF (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Airbus A-400M Atlas (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Airbus A-400M Atlas (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Airbus A-310-300 10+25 German Air ForcePicture courtesy Andreas Herzog) (
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Lockheed Hercules Line up at RAF Fairford (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Lockheed C-130H Hercules Jordanian Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Lockheed C-130H Hercules Jordanian Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Lockheed MC-130P Hercules USAF (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Lockheed C-130H Hercules UAE Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Lockheed C-130H Hercules Brazilian Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader))
Lockheed C-130H Hercules Brazilian Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader))
Lockheed C-130H Hercules Dutch Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
The Olympic Torch on a Herc (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
The Olympic Torch on a Herc (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Lockheed C-130H Hercules Columbian Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Lockheed C-130H Hercules Columbian Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Lockheed C-130J Hercules Norwegian Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Lockheed C-130H Hercules Belgiian Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Helicopter
In addition to conventional transport planes also several helicopters were demonstrated. Here the flight performance of the Boeing CH-47D Chinook Vertol of the RAF was particularly impressive. Most, however, of helicopters in the show did not take part in the daily flying display.
Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey US Marines (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey US Marines (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey US Marines (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey US Marines (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Bell-Boeing MV-22B Ospres US Marines (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Sikorsky MH-60G Blackhawk USAFE (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Sikorsky MH-60G Blackhawk USAFE (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Sea King HC-4 Royal Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Westland Sea King German Navy (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Westland Commando HC-4 Fleet Air Arm (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Sea Lynx Mk.80 Danish Navy (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Agusta A-109 Begian Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Boeing Vertoll HC-3 Chinook Royal Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Bomber
Boeing B-52H Stratofortress (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Boeing B-52H Stratofortress (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader
Northrop B-2A (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Northrop B-2A (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader )
Solo demonstrations
Highlight of the solo flying display was the demonstration of the mighty Avro Vulcan. The privately operated V-bombers from the period of the cold war had been grounded for an engine failure just before RIAT air show took place. Luckily the aircraft was fit again to be part of the show. An exciting program also featured the Boeing CH-47D Chinook Vertol of the RAF and the two RAF Tornados which simulated an attack on ground targets.
Boeing Vertoll HC-3 Chinook Royal Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Boeing Vertoll HC-3 Chinook Royal Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Boeing Vertoll HC-3 Chinook Royal Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Boeing Vertoll HC-3 Chinook Royal Air Force (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Avro Vulcan B-2 (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Avro Vulcan B-2 (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)
Avro Vulcan B-2 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader
Avro Vulcan B-2 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader
Avro Vulcan B-2 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader
Avro Vulcan B-2 with Bonbbay open (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader