RIAT 2017: Looking ahead to Europe’s biggest military airshow

Red Arrows Synchro Cross
Red Arrows Synchro Cross

With the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford just over a month away we look ahead to Europe’s biggest military airshow.

Crowds from across the UK and the rest of the world flock to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire each year to see the latest military jets and classic heritage aircraft perform in 3 full days of flying displays and to look around the hundreds of aircraft on the ground.

The airshow, which takes place on the 14th, 15th & 16th July, will see around 150,000 people attend over the 3 days.

Tickets for the event must be purchased in advance and are currently available from £39.00.

Highlights for this years show include the USAF Thunderbirds in their F16’s flying precision aerobatics and the latest 5th Gen Jets including the F22 Raptor along with heavy bombers such as the mighty B52!

The Red Arrows will be in attendance once again to wow crowds with their aerobatic display along with representatives of the UK’s Army Air Corps, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

Confirmed Aircraft for RIAT 2017

Australia Squadron Type
Royal Australian Air Force
E-7A Wedgetail 2 Squadron ISTAR
Austria Squadron Type
Austrian Air Force
J105Öe Düsentrainerstaffel Advanced Trainer
J105Öe Düsentrainerstaffel Advanced Trainer
Belgium Squadron Type
Belgian Air Component
C-130H Hercules 20 Squadron Transport
F-16AM 31/349 Squadron Fighter
F-16AM 31/349 Squadron Fighter
Sea King Mk48 40 Squadron Helicopter
Civilian Squadron Type
Civilian
A400M Airbus Defence and Space Transport
Extra 300L x4 Royal Jordanian Falcons Aerobatic Team
Grob 120TP Affinity Flying Services Trainer
Jet Provost T.5 Jet Aerobatics Trainer
P-40 Kittyhawk Hangar 11 Fighter
P-51D Mustang Hangar 11 Fighter
Phenom 100 Affinity Flying Services Trainer
T-6C Affinity Flying Services Trainer
Czech Republic Squadron Type
Czech Republic Air Force
JAS-39 Gripen (x2) 211th Tactical Squadron Fighter
L-159 ALCA TBC Light Attack
L-159 ALCA (x2) TBC Light Attack
Denmark Squadron Type
Royal Danish Air Force
CL-604 Eskadrille 721 Transport
Finland Squadron Type
Finnish Air Force
Midnight Hawks Hävittäjälentolaivue 41 Aerobatic Team
Finnish Army Aviation
NH90 TTH 2.HK/HekoP Helicopter
France Squadron Type
French Air Force
Alpha Jet x2 TBC Trainer
Mirage 2000D Couteau Delta Demonstration Team
Rafale Solo Display Team Fighter
Germany Squadron Type
German Air Force
A400M LTG-62 Transport
Eurofighter EF2000/T TLG-73 Fighter
Eurofighter EF2000/T TLG-74 Fighter
Tornado PA200 IDS/ECR TG-51 Fighter – Ground Attack
Transall C-160D LTG-61 Transport
German Navy
EC-135 Marinefliegergeschwader 5 Trainer
P-3C Orion Marinefliegergeschwader 3 Maritime Patrol
Sea Lynx Marinefliegergeschwader 5 Multi-Purpose
Greece Squadron Type
Hellenic Air Force
F-4E Phantom 117 Combat Wing Fighter
Italy Squadron Type
Italian Air Force
C-27J Spartan TBC Transport
M-346 Master TBC Trainer
Tornado A-200 TBC Fighter
Jordan Squadron Type
Royal Jordanian Air Force
C-130H 3 Squadron Transport
NATO Squadron Type
NATO
E-3A AEW&CF ISTAR
Netherlands Squadron Type
Royal Netherlands Air Force
C-130H-30 336 Squadron Transport
Do-228 334 Squadron
KDC-10 334 Squadron Tanker
Slovenia Squadron Type
Slovenian Air Force
Let 410 107.Letalska Baza Transport
PC-9M LETŠ Trainer
PC-9M LETŠ Trainer
Spain Squadron Type
Spanish Air Force
EF-18AM Hornet x2 TBC Fighter
Sweden Squadron Type
Swedish Air Force
JAS 39C Gripen TBC Fighter
JAS 39D Gripen TBC Fighter
Switzerland Squadron Type
Swiss Air Force
F-5E Tiger II Patrouille Suisse Aerobatic Team
United Kingdom Squadron Type
Army Air Corps
Defender 4000 651 Sqn Utility
WAH-64D Apache HQAHF Helicopter
Wildcat AH.1 TBC Helicopter
Royal Air Force
Chinook HC.4 TBC Helicopter
Hawk Red Arrows Aerobatic Team
Lancaster BBMF Heavy Bomber
Puma HC.2 33/230 Sqn Helicopter
Spitfire x 4 BBMF Fighter
Tucano T.1 72 (R) Sqn Trainer
Typhoon FGR.4 29 (Reserve) Squadron Fighter
Vigilant T.1 2FTS Trainer
Viking TX.1 2FTS Trainer
Voyager KC2/3 10/101 Squadron Tanker
Royal Navy
Hawk T.1 736 NAS Trainer
King Air / Avenger T.1 750 NAS Trainer
Merlin HC3/3A 815 NAS Helicopter
Sea King ASaC.7 849 NAS Helicopter
Wildcat HMA.2 TBC Helicopter
United States of America Squadron Type
US Air Combat Command
F-16 Fighting Falcon Thunderbirds Demonstration Team
US Air Force
B-1 Lancer 28th BW Heavy Bomber
B-52 Stratofortress 2nd BW Heavy Bomber
F-22 Raptor Air Combat Command Fighter

Information supplied by RAFCTE & is correct as of 23/05/2017