RIAT 2022 Discussion Thread

[RIAT Air Ops]

By my reckoning the Fleet Air Arm could provide the following distinctly different airframes:
Avenger T1, Dauphin II, Juno HT1, Merlin HM2, Merlin HM2 (AEW variant), Merlin HC4, Wildcat AH1, Wildcat HMA2

However...
Dauphin: contractor operated and not tasked by JSATO who plan RN air displays. (Doesn't mean I've given up trying..!)
Juno: Whilst there's a Naval squadron, 1FTS at RAF Shawbury is very much Royal Air Force controlled when it comes to air displays.
Merlin HC4: Joint Helicopter Command asset.
Wildcat AH1: Joint Helicopter Command asset.

Apparently Team Phoenix [Yak-52 (x 2)] will display on the 15th only? Anyone knows if this is true?

It's news to me if so...!

Anyway - anybody else got the invitation to the FRIAT form this Friday? be good to catch up.

I'll be there!

Cheers,
Peter

[spellow3010]

Looking forward to the German Orion arrival... Already looking for the smoke in the distance. And after missing RIAT for a couple of years, a big thumbs up for our Jordanian friends.

[CJS]

F-117 added to the flying display this morning from their own twitter account by the looks of things too!

[Luke28]

F-117 added to the flying display this morning from their own twitter account by the looks of things too!

Do you know what day it is mate?

[JMC]

F-117 added to the flying display this morning from their own twitter account by the looks of things too!

Do you know what day it is mate?

[CJS]

F-117 added to the flying display this morning from their own twitter account by the looks of things too!

Do you know what day it is mate?

Quite...

[spellow3010]

April 1st or not, I am 'expecting' (hoping really) that a 117 will feature in the display at Edwards AFB later this year. Surely a chance of a flypast there.

I'm still intrigued by the Austrian role demo coming to RIAT this summer. Looking forward to that.

[CJS]

April 1st or not, I am 'expecting' (hoping really) that a 117 will feature in the display at Edwards AFB later this year. Surely a chance of a flypast there.

Off topic I know, but really?

Edit: I take it all back, it seems they have been publicly out in the open again

[jasonT1981]

Is the Royal Navy Wildcat display announced yesterday the Black Cats team?

[bobby 1211]

Yep, unfortunately it seems that it will be the solo demo again. The paired display was much better :/
Also, is it known if the AAC Apache will be on the airshow cricut this year?

[jasonT1981]

Yep, unfortunately it seems that it will be the solo demo again. The paired display was much better :/
Also, is it known if the AAC Apache will be on the airshow cricut this year?

Thanks, Apache said last year they'd be back in 2022. But not heard anything since. It would be great to see them again.

[Cole]

The apache being one of the punchiest helicopter demos that can actually hold a crowds attention at RIAT I really do hope so

[verreli]

April 1st or not, I am 'expecting' (hoping really) that a 117 will feature in the display at Edwards AFB later this year. Surely a chance of a flypast there.

I hope you're right. If the B-21 has its public unveiling there must be a chance of it being at least on static given the 'stealth' chronology and the guaranteed B-2 attendance. I'm going for a no-show at RIAT though

[Tommy]

RAF participation update.

Nice little surprise announcement.

[Frogfoot]

I wonder why today’s update hasn’t been saved for Thursday?

[verreli]

I wonder why they haven’t saved today’s update for Thursday?

Thursday is 100 days to go. My guess is it's time for the USAF anniversary participants to be officially announced. Next week is the Easter announcement too so perhaps a nice Easter Egg to look forward to?

[JMC]

I'm wondering if we'll see a US anniversary flypast similar to that in 2017?

[bobby 1211]

No Chinook and Tutor?

[boff180]

Chinook displays are decided by the Joint Helicopter Command and not the RAF

[bobby 1211]

Thanks for the info Surprised about the Tutor missing though, especially that this year's theme is training aircraft.

[Mike]

I believe it’s already allocated to Little Wibbling village fete that weekend.

[JMC]

I believe it’s already allocated to Little Wibbling village fete that weekend.

It's to make space for the French TBM700 display

[CJS]

Thanks for the info Surprised about the Tutor missing though, especially that this year's theme is training aircraft.

They've not updated their display dates yet so maybe it's undecided where they will display this year?

It's not exactly everyone's cup of tea, as has been discussed at length on here in the past, but it's also a stalwart so I agree, it would be a surprise if the Tutor didn't feature at some point. I'm sure there will be at least one on the ground if not in the air.

Personally although it's usually a very well flown display, it's not something I would particularly miss from the flying display but that's just my opinion.

[Tommy]

The Tutor has a big recruitment value though. It’s, to my knowledge, the only aircraft in any flying display that recruiters can point to in front of young teenagers, or university students and say “join the cadets/UAS, and you can fly that”.

It’s absolutely appropriate to have a Tutor display at RIAT, given the theme, and there’s something a bit plucky with a lowly little Tutor holding its own flying display slot amongst fast jets and helicopters.

From an AvGeek PoV, it’s another type (like Griffins, Sea Kings, Hawk T1s etc) we take for granted until it’s gone.

[JMC]

Well said Tommy.

Off topic, unsurprisingly no Swedish Historic Flight.