Royal International Air Tattoo 2010 Review

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This year saw 155,000 people attend the Royal International Air Tattoo over the two days at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The weather was much better on Saturday but although very cloudy the rain held off for Sunday. In total, 246 aircraft took part in the Air Tattoo, from 30 air arms representing 17 nations.

The themes this year included the 'Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary', 'Training', and 'Cadet150'.

A selection of warbirds performed flypasts to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain which included four Hurricanes, seven Spitfires, Buchon (Me-109), Messerschmitt Bf109G-4, and Nord 1002 Pingouin (Messerschmitt 108). There was also a Multi-national flypast from air forces involved in the Battle of Britain including Hawk T1/T2 & Tornado F3 (UK), F-15C Eagle (USA), F-16A (Belgium), Mirage 2000 (France), and Boeing 757-200 (New Zealand) although this took place on Saturday only

Hurricane

Spitfire

Me-109G

Spitfire

Spitfire

Buchon

Hurricane

Spitfire

Harvard

Warbirds

Trainer aircraft included the Swiss Pilatus PC-21, French Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet E, as well as the RAF Tutor T1, Tucano T1, Hawk T1/T2, and King Air B200.

Display Teams included the Red Arrows (9x BAe Hawk T1/T1A), Patrouille Suisse (6x Northdrop F-5E Tiger II), Patrouille de France (8x Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet E), and the Royal Jordanian Falcons (4x Extra EA300L). The Italian WeFly! Team also displayed in three Texan 550 aircraft. Based at Caposile, near Venice, the WeFly! Team is the official representative of Baroni Rotti, the foundation of Italian disabled pilots.

Patrouille France

Patrouille France

Red Arrows

Red Arrows

Red Arrows

F-22A Raptor

F-22A Raptor

F-22A Raptor

F-22A Raptor

F-22A Raptor

One of the highlights of the display was the Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor from the 1st Fighter Wing, US Air Force Air Combat Command based at Langley Air Force Base. The F-22 Stealth Fighter was a welcome addition to the display after the disappointment of RIAT 2008, when they last came to RAF Fairford, the event was cancelled due to heavy rain and flooding. No such problems this year, and the Raptor put on an awesome display of its power and manoeuvrability. The Raptor is the world's first and only operational 5th generation fighter, combining stealth, super-cruise (supersonic cruise without afterburners), thrust vectoring giving it super manoeuvrability, and advanced intergrated avionics.

F-16/Apache

King Air

Tornados

Typhoon

Belgium F-16

Belgium F-16

Belgium F-16

Saab Gripen

Saab Gripen

Super Hornet

Other Jet fighters in the display included the US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet, RAF Typhoon F2, Swedish Saab Jas39C Gripen, Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16AM, the superbly flown Belgium F-16A MLU (loved the fast flypast on Sunday), and the Multi-national flypast which included the French Mirage 2000, RAF Tornado F3, and USAF F-15C which displayed on Saturday.

The RAF displayed their Tutor T1, Tucano T1, Hawk T1 & new T2, Typhoon F2, Chinook HC2, King Air B200, the Harrier GR9 making a welcome return, and a Tornado GR4 Role Demo which involved some very loud pyrotechnics and which kept the fire crews busy putting out the resulting fires.

Super Hornet

Super Hornet

Super Hornet

PC-21

Aermacchi M-311

Harrier GR9

Harrier GR9

Role Demo

Tornado GR4

Alpha Jet

Another highlight of the display was the Avro Vulcan B2 which took off with its distinctive whine after the USAF B-52H Stratofortress had passed overhead. This year is the 50th anniversary of the first flight of Avro Vulcan B2 XH558 which is the last flying example of its type remaining in the world. In recognition of this achievement the words 'The Spirit of Great Britain' have been added to her nose.

Making its UK public debut was the new Airbus A400M four engine turboprop military transport aircraft. This aircraft is intended to replace the Lockheed Hercules, and the Transall being used by many European nations. The A400M will operate as a cargo transport, troop transport, medical evacuation, aerial refuelling, and electronic surveillance. It is intended for use on short, soft landing strips, and for long-range cargo transport flights. The propellers on each wing turn in opposite directions while the four Europrop TP400-D6 engines turn in the same direction.

A400M

Superjet 100

Vulcan

Vulcan

Jordanian Falcons

Vulcan

Vulcan

Vulcan

Vulcan

Patrouille France

Also displaying were the 352nd Special Operations MC-130 Hercules, USAF C-17A Globemaster III, Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker, Dutch AH-64D Apache which flew alongside the Dutch F-16AM, and the Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100. The Superjet is a modern fly-by-wire regional jet with 75 to 95 seat capacity and is designed to compete against the Embraer E-Jets and the Bombardier CRJ programs. The Superjet 100 has been described as the most important and successful civil aircraft program of the Russian aerospace industry.

For me, one of the other main highlights of the display was the Spitfire and Typhoon synchro-pair which gave an amazing display at the end of the show. The manoeuvrability of the Typhoon F2 and the gracefulness of the legendary Spitfire made for a stunning display. Both these aircraft are from RAF Coningsby, and the Spitfire LFIXc is part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Typhoon/Spitfire

Typhoon

Typhoon

Spitfire

Spitfire

As with every Royal International Air Tattoo, trophies are awarded to the best display aircraft. Unsurprisingly, F-22A Raptor pilot, Major David “Zeke” Skalicky won three awards including the top award, 'King Hussein Memorial Sword', 'Paul Bowen Trophy', and 'FRIAT Award' (As the Crow Flies Trophy). Flt Lt Steve Kenworthy flying the Harrier GR9 of IV (R) Squadron was presented with the 'Sir Douglas Bader Trophy'. Commandant Michel “Mitch” Beulen flying the F-16AM of 349 Squadron, Belgian Air Force received the 'Lockheed Martin Cannestra Trophy', and Flt Lt “Wally” Walton and Sqn Ldr Dunc Mason flying the Typhoon/Spitfire Synchro Pair were presented with the 'Steedman Display Sword'. Best Livery award went to Captain Torstein Eikenes, Captain Pal-Frode Larsen and Lt Erlend Stueland of 338 Squadron, Royal Norwegian Air Force with their F-16.

Thanks to the organisers for putting on another excellent display. The dates for next year's Royal International Air Tattoo are 16th-17th July 2011, and will mark the Air Tattoo's 40th anniversary. A 'Tiger Gathering' is planned for next year!

Article by Dave Key - www.military-airshows.co.uk