RAF Fairford – Royal International Air Tattoo- 2007

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is a fixture on every connoisseur’s calendar. One of the biggest airshows in Europe, this year 320 aircraft from 24 countries and 37 air arms took part.  The weather looked ominous for the Sunday extravaganza, the clouds laden with enough moisture to rival Niagara Falls. Despite the murky skies, the shrill whine of jet engines spooling up indicated the delights about to defy gravity. 

RAF Fairford is a sprawling active airbase nestled in a picturesque portion of Gloucestershire.  The transformation of the base into RIAT is spectacular, chocked full of hardware, fighters, transports and soldiering relics of the cold war.  Most notable was the Luftwaffe F-4E’s and the Greek A-7 Corsair still making an appearance. 

The Hellenic A-7, a regular to RIAT was dressed in its usual fetching tiger striped cat suit.  The US contingent brought forth the usual suspects- the F-16’s F-15’s a pair of back to back Warthogs grinning above their Avenger cannons…and the F-117 Nighthawk. Then just beyond the whispering angular grim reaper, was the contrast in the form of the Thunderbirds.  Attendants garbed in Thunderbird flight suits busily fussed over the pristine F-16’s.

Zulu time 08:45: first up a mid life crisis upgraded F-16 from the Royal Netherlands 313 Squadron performed an impressive routine. Not to be outdone a Swiss F/A-18A Hornet from Fliegerstaffel 18 incinerated a few clouds with its afterburner.  Between these two a sneaky Czech Mi-24V Hind slipped in to scoot low over the runway, sniffing like a bloodhound for the would-be insurgents destined to invade the airfield.

USAF – 60th Anniversary

One of the celebratory tributes of the Tattoo was the 60^th anniversary of the USAF, and what better way to kick off the festivities than a rare F-86A doing a fly by.  A range of flying machines from most eras were represented, hence the appearance of the civilian Catalina and the P-51 Mustang.  The F-15E performed with amazing grace to thundering rock anthems thanks to the Strike Eagle demo team.  A sharp intake of breadth later and we marvelled at the formation flypast of the Mustang and the same Eagle now very much subdued in the company of the Merlin-engined Cadillac of the sky. 

The Oracle, Buff & Bone…..

The enigmatic F-117 Nighthawk inconspicously whispered into the skies as soon as the Mustang’s tyres kissed the runway. Groom Lake’s favourite denizen flew straight and level for most of its display. As shadowy soothsayer conveyed words of wisdom to the show birds waiting at the apron, a lithe B-1 Lancer of the 7^th Bomb Wing and behemoth B-52H lumbered along their catwalk taxiways to the end of the runway.  Both ‘Buff’ and ‘Bone’ surprised us this year by staying aloft a lot longer, executing a number of high speed fly bys.

Thunderbirds are GO!

The appearance of the USAF’s cutting edge demo team seemed reason enough for half the UK populace descending upon Fairford.  You couldn’t help but notice the extensive support personnel and the ‘pimp my ride’ Thunderbirds truck towing its command centre bristling with screens and a PA system.

Shock and suitably awed, the  Thunderbirds lived up to the hype and more. The commentator – Major Tad Clark was pivotal in helping us mortals catch the high G gut wrenching action as the diamond formations worked seamlessly with the two solo F-16’s. 

Smoke on! The Brits are coming!

RIAT is a showcase of the most skilled flying and the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows offered stiff competition to the T-Birds.  They graciously made their presence known flying in formation with a gaggle of Spitfires and one Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.  But the Arrows soon lost their reserve and claimed the skies with their usual flawless and thrilling display.

Agile and Adaptable – The Art of War.

Tight formation flights and corkscrewed smoke trails aside, the RAF demonstrated what they did during normal business hours.  A pair of GR4 Tornados working in concert with a Chinook and a Hercules (executing a Khe Sanh landing) pulverised the pesky insurgents invading the airfield. They splashed two pretend MiGs (RAF Hawks as adversaries) with the help of an orbiting E-3 Sentry AWACS.  Strafing runs stitching the airfield and a few specious pyrotechnics later and the base was secured with the help of our Special Forces.

Civvie Street  & Whirlybirds

A nice surprise was the Oasis airlines 747-400 majestically undertaking a few low passes before successfully landing on the short runway. This was followed by a bit of barnstorming nostalgia was in form of the Guinot sponsored wing walkers balanced upon their Stearmans doing their best in the sprinkling rain. 

Apart from fixed wing antics there was plenty of helicopter action.  Most notable was the ever-entertaining Royal Navy Black Cats Lynx team, the feline pair dancing around one another with claws retracted. The Army Air Corps Blue Eagles followed on with their Lynx and Gazelle contingent. 

Back on the fast jet arena we had an extraordinary and humorous display from the Italian Air Force Frecci Tri-colour 11 strong MB-339 jets.  The Spanish Patrulla Aguila’s CASA Aviojets spun and weaved as did the RIAT regulars Royal Jordanian Falcons in a quartet of Extra 300s.   Finland and Belgium Air forces rounded out the foreign representation with an F-16 and F-18. But it would have been nice to see the Indian Air Force Sukhoi 30 Flankers fly. They were tucked under a tarpaulin next to a leviathan IL-78 transport.  Apparently one did take to the air on Saturday albeit briefly. A worthy competitor to the F-18, the Eurofighter Typhoon in Spanish and RAF colours kept the snappers busy, as they pulled high banking turns just before the crowd line.

The kerosene burners may have hogged most of the show but BBMF Spitfires along with the repainted Lancaster added some nostalgic flavour in celebrating their 50^th.   Despite the weather this was an enjoyable show, and there’s something for everyone from funfairs to the racing attractions. Looking forward to 2008.