RAF Typhoon & Spitfire Synchro Pair
Royal International Air Tattoo 2015 Review
The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford attracted around 150,000 people to the show during Friday 17th to Sunday 19th July 2015. There were 232 aircraft from 27 air arms representing 22 countries that took part at this ticket only event.
The main air displays took part on Saturday and Sunday with each day having about eight hours of flying display acts (10am to 6pm). Friday had a smaller four hour display (11am to 3pm).
Besides the air display there were plenty of activities on the ground located in various zones. This included the
Techno Zone, the
Adrenalin Zone,
Autodrome, the
Vintage Village, and
Royal Air Force Village. There were three 'Service Stations' around the base which included facilities such as food & drink outlets, picnic benches, mobile phone charging, free wifi, cash point, Air Tattoo merchandise, and a covered area. There were also plenty of stalls selling various aviation related products.
The main theme this year was
'Securing the Skies - Past, Present and Future'. This included celebrating the
'75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain'.
Patrulla Aguila
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Patrulla Aguila
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Swiss PC-7 Team
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Swiss PC-7 Team
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Jordanian Falcons
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Jordanian Falcons
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Pat. de France
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Pat. de France
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Red Arrows
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Red Arrows
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Despite the earlier weather forecasts predicting a very rainy day on Sunday, both days were dry with plenty of sun and blue skies which was perfect for the air displays. The positioning of the display aircraft at the western end was also a nice touch.
The air display included the folowing display teams:- the Spanish Air Force
Patrulla Aguila with their seven CASDA C-101EB Aviojets, the Swiss Air Force
PC-7 Team flying nine Pilatus NCPC-7 Turbotrainers, the
Royal Jordanian Falcons in their four Extra EA300L aircraft, the French Air Force
Patrouille de France flying eight Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet E trainers, and the RAF
Red Arrows in their nine BAe Hawk T1/T1A aircraft.
Fast jets, this year, included the
Hellenic Air Force F-16C (Team Zeus) which won the 'Best Livery Award' for the best special paint scheme, the
Finnish F-18C which won the 'Paul Bowen Trophy' for the best solo jet demonstration,
Ramex Delta - two French Mirage 2000N aircraft, the
Belgian F-16A MLU, the
Polish MiG-29, the
RAF Typhoon which put on a great display, and
three Panavia Tornados from the Royal Air Force, German Air Force, and Italian Air Force which represented the 35th anniversary of the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment (TTTE).
During Sunday's display the two French Mirage 2000N aircraft (Ramex Delta) took off to display but it was reported by the commentator that one of the aircraft had unfortunately been hit by a bird-strike. The aircraft landed back safely at RAF Fairford while the other Mirage 2000N managed to put on a display which was very much appreciated by the crowd.
Hellenic F-16C
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Finnish F-18C
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Mirage 2000N
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Mirage 2000N
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Belgian F-16
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Polish MiG-29
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RAF Typhoon
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RAF Tornado
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Italian Tornado
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German Tornado
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Trainer aircraft included the
Slovenian Pilatus PC-9M which won the 'Cannestra Trophy' for the best flying demonstration, the
Czech Air Force Aero Vodochody L-159A ALCA, and the
RAF Hawk T2 Role Demo which included two of the latest Hawk T2 advanced jet trainers performing an airfield attack using pyrotechnics. The two Hawk T2 pilots were Flt Lt Ben Polwin (Ninja 1), and Flt Lt Toby Keeley (Ninja 2).
Slovenian PC-9M
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Slovenian PC-9M
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Czech L-159A
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Czech L-159A
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Hawk Role Demo
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The
Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary Tribute consisted of numerous Supermarine Spitfires, Hawker Hurricanes, a Hispano Buchon, a Messerschmitt Bf-109, and a Bristol Blenheim. There was also a moving commentary along with speeches by Winston Churchill, along with some rousing music. The
Battle of Britain 75th Anniversary Flypast won the 'King Hussein Memorial Sword' which is the top award for best overall flying demonstration.
The aircraft that took part were the
Bristol Blenheim IF (ARC, IWM Duxford, L6739/YP-Q G-BPIV),
Hawker Hurricane I (Peter Vacher, G-HUPW),
Hawker Hurricane IIb (Hangar II Collection, North Weald, G-HHII),
two Hawker Hurricanes IIc (BBMF, RAF Coningsby, LF363/JX-B & PZ865/EG-S),
Hawker Hurricane X (Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, G-PMNF),
Hispano HA-1112-M1L Buchon (ARC, IWM Duxford, G-AWHK),
Messerschmitt Bf 109G-4 (Airbus Heritage/Flugmuseum Messerschmitt, Germany, D-FWME),
Supermarine Seafire XVII (Kennet Aviation, North Weald, G-KASX),
two Supermarine Spitfire Ia (ARC, IWM Duxford),
Supermarine Spitfire IIa (BBMF, RAF Coningsby, P7350/EB-G),
Supermarine Spitfire LFVb (BBMF, RAF Coningsby, AB910/SH-F),
Supermarine Spitfire IXT (Boultbee Flight Academy, Goodwood, SM520/KJ-I),
Supermarine Spitfire LFIX (Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, G-PMNF TA805/FX-M),
Supermarine Spitfire LFIX (OFMC, IWM Duxford, G-ASJV MH434/ZD-B),
Supermarine Spitfire LFIXe (BBMF, RAF Coningsby, MK356/5J-K),
Supermarine Spitfire LFIXe (Historic Flight Foundation, USA, N633VS SL633/JT-10),
Supermarine Spitfire XVIe (BBMF, RAF Coningsby, TE311/4D-V),
Supermarine Spitfire FRXVIIIe (Spitfire Ltd, Humberside Airport, SM845/R), and a
Supermarine Spitfire PRXIX (Rolls Royce, East Midlands Airport, PS853 G-RRGN).
Bristol Blenheim
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Bristol Blenheim
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Bf-109G-4
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Bf-109G-4
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HA-1112 Buchon
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Spitfire
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Spitfire
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Hurricane
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Hurricanes
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Seafire
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Helicopters in the flying display included the
German Army Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Bo 105P1 which won the 'Sir Douglas Bader Trophy' for best individual flying display,
Swiss Air Force Super Puma which also flew in formation with the Swiss PC-7 Team,
Royal Netherlands Air Force AH-64D Apache,
Czech Air Force Mil Mi-24V 'Hind',
RAF Chinook putting on its usual impressive display, and the
Army Air Corps Apache AH1 Role Demo which included two Apache helicopters simulating an airfield attack using pyrotechnics.
German Bo 105
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German Bo 105
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Swiss Super Puma
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Puma/PC-7 Team
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Dutch Apache
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Czech Mi-24V
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Czech Mi-24V
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RAF Chinook
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AAC Apache Demo
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AAC Apache Demo
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Avro Vulcan B2 'XH558' performed its last ever display at RIAT and Saturday saw her power her engines up for a dramatic take-off for such a large aircraft. Sunday's display was a little more sedate but also very memorable. XH558 also performed a couple of flypasts in formation with the Red Arrows. The Vulcan won the 'As the Crow Flies Trophy' for the best overall flying demonstration as voted by members of the 'Friends of the Royal International Air Tattoo (FRIAT)'.
This is the last time we will see Vulcan XH558 display at the Royal International Air Tattoo, and when it finishes its display season this year it will remain at Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster in the heritage hangar. There are plans for XH558 to be the centre of an exciting engineering education initiative which will attract local, national and international students. The aircraft will also perform regular fast taxi runs.
Vulcan XH558
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Vulcan XH558
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Vulcan XH558
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Vulcan XH558
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Vulcan XH558
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Vulcan XH558
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Vulcan XH558
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Vulcan XH558
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Vulcan/Red Arrows
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Vulcan/Red Arrows
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We also had a display by the
RAF Typhoon and Spitfire synchro pair. This impressive display included RAF Typhoon FGR4 (ZK349/GN-A) of 29(R) Squadron, and Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIa (P7350/EB-G) both based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. The Typhoon was painted in a Battle of Britain era camouflage paint scheme. This display act won the 'Steedman Display Sword' for the best flying demonstration by a UK participant.
Typhoon/Spitfire
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Typhoon/Spitfire
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RAF Typhoon
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RAF Typhoon
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Spitfire
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This was the first time that a Japanese military aircraft had taken part in the flying display at a UK air show. The
Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Kawasaki P-1 took part in the flying display and another aircraft was part of the static display. The four-engined Kawasaki P-1 maritime aircraft was developed to replace the Lockheed P-3C Orion in Japanese service. As the UK is presently without a maritime aircraft after the cancellation of BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 in 2010, this was an opportunity for the Japanese to market their new aircraft as an alternative to the American Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime aircraft which could be seen in the static display.
The United States Air Force displayed their
Bell Boeing CV-22B Osprey multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft. This aircraft can take-off and land like a helicopter with its rotors in the vertical position or fly at speed like a turboprop aircraft with the rotors in a horizontal position. The United States Marine Corps use a different variant of this aircraft called the MV-22B Osprey which they fly from ships for transporting troops, equipment and supplies.This particular CV-22B Osprey is based at RAF Mildenhall with the 352nd Special Operations Group (SOG), 7th Special Operations Squadron (SOS).
Kawasaki P-1
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Kawasaki P-1
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Kawasaki P-1
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Kawasaki P-1
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CV-22B Osprey
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CV-22B Osprey
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CV-22B Osprey
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CV-22B Osprey
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A400M Atlas
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A400M Atlas
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The four-engine turboprop
Airbus A400M transport aircraft also took part in the flying display. In RAF service, this aircraft has been named 'Atlas' and will replace the Lockheed C-130K Hercules to provide a tactical air lift and strategic oversize lift capability. The aircraft, which is operated by two Pilots and a Weapons Systems Operator, will be capable of carrying a load of 25 tonnes over a range of 2000nm at speeds comparable with pure-jet military transports. The RAF will receive a total of 22 aircraft by 2019.
CV-22B Osprey
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P-8A Poseidon
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Polish Su-22
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A-10 Thunderbolt
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Czech Mi-24
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More photographs of the aircraft in the static display can be found by clicking here.
The Royal International Air Tattoo is held in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. The money raised is used to support Royal Air Force personnel, both regular and reservists, and also to encourage young people to develop an interest in aviation and aerospace.
Thanks to the organisers for putting on another excellent display and the dates for next year's Royal International Air Tattoo are the
8th-10th July 2016.
Article and photographs by Dave Key - www.military-airshows.co.uk
More RIAT 2015 photos (Phil Catleugh).
Trophy Winners Press Release.
RIAT 2015 Checklist.
RIAT page.
Official RIAT website.
