RIAT 2022 Discussion Thread

[sideeffectwhu]

Hi hope you don't mind me changing the topic a sec but my son has been selected to attend the event through the air cadets and I was wondering whether they actually stay on the field or on a campsite nearby. If it's on the airfield then I will not go as I don't want him to feel pressured by me being on the airfield.

Many thanks.

[boff180]

Hi,

Good question.

Air Cadets usually camp all together on an official (and secure) RAF Air Cadet campsite located on Site 15. This is the bomb dump the opposite side of the road from the entrance to Park and View East.

He'll love it and if he is as busy as most Air Cadets are at the show, he won't even know you are there.

Ta

Andy

[sideeffectwhu]

Thank you for that information I live in London and I'm not sure if I really want to go as I now prefer camping at airbase that are not having airshows. All depends on finances.

Thanks again

John

[Gripenjetphotos]

RIAT website updated with the ‘Aircraft List’ and ‘Latest Updates’ pages as of 23/02/22.

[jasonT1981]

Frecce Tricolori domestic dates are out, and are free RIAT weekend.

https://www.air-shows.org.uk/2022/02/ai ... ates-2022/

[RIAT Air Ops]

If an aircraft is ready to be announced, it’ll be announced. Until then, we will all have to remain patient.

Afternoon All,

Now the new airtattoo.com website has gone live, we should be all systems go for weekly aircraft updates to begin tomorrow!
Lots of work going on across DBH to ensure RIAT 2022 is worth the 3 year wait for you all and lots of exciting projects ongoing for all the team.

Cheers,
Peter

[jasonT1981]

If an aircraft is ready to be announced, it’ll be announced. Until then, we will all have to remain patient.

Afternoon All,

Now the new airtattoo.com website has gone live, we should be all systems go for weekly aircraft updates to begin tomorrow!
Lots of work going on across DBH to ensure RIAT 2022 is worth the 3 year wait for you all and lots of exciting projects ongoing for all the team.

Cheers,
Peter

The day many of us have been waiting for (Outside of actually getting to Fairford in July) Thanks for the update, Peter

[Gripenjetphotos]

If an aircraft is ready to be announced, it’ll be announced. Until then, we will all have to remain patient.

Afternoon All,

Now the new airtattoo.com website has gone live, we should be all systems go for weekly aircraft updates to begin tomorrow!
Lots of work going on across DBH to ensure RIAT 2022 is worth the 3 year wait for you all and lots of exciting projects ongoing for all the team.

Cheers,
Peter

Aha, the news I (and many others) have been waiting for. It’s been a long few years, looking forward to this!

[Tommy]

Looking forward to it!

[phreakf4]

Given the purported Russian invasion of Ukraine currently underway it is likely that the US Air Force would deploy further assets to Fairford as a result of which I would not be at all surprised to see RIAT cancelled for another year, which would in my opinion be the final nail in the coffin of RIAT.

I would be very sad to see it go as I have been attending since the 1970s.

[G-CVIX]

Given the purported Russian invasion of Ukraine currently underway it is likely that the US Air Force would deploy further assets to Fairford as a result of which I would not be at all surprised to see RIAT cancelled for another year, which would in my opinion be the final nail in the coffin of RIAT.

I would be very sad to see it go as I have been attending since the 1970s.

I think we've probably all thought that the situation in Ukraine could have implications for the show but I'm curious as to why you think that a cancellation would be the final nail in the coffin?

[phreakf4]

I think we've probably all thought that the situation in Ukraine could have implications for the show but I'm curious as to why you think that a cancellation would be the final nail in the coffin?

Because they have had virtually no income for the past two years despite having to continue with planning and preparation and I doubt they would have the reserves to finance a show in 2023 if the 2022 show is cancelled, given that the vast majority of current ticket holders would probably require refunds rather than roll over for yet another year. FRIAT would probably not be so seriously affected, but we make up only a very small minority of the attendance

[spellow3010]

Let's be positive. Hopefully some Ukranian Su-27s will attend with kill stars on them.

Thinking more widely and directly towards the show, good luck to DBH and event organisers for a successful build up and show delivery. Enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts. We're all a long time dead.

[boff180]

I think we've probably all thought that the situation in Ukraine could have implications for the show but I'm curious as to why you think that a cancellation would be the final nail in the coffin?

Because they financially can’t survive another late cancellation…. It would be all down to whether their insurance would cover cancellation in time of war.

Which, correct me if I am wrong is a standard industry exclusion on any type of insurance policy.

I asked Paul about the implications of cancelling so late in my RIAT 50th Article for UKAR regarding the 2021 cancellation - this is what he said….

The big game changer was that there was no cancellation insurance available anywhere in the world against communicable diseases and COVID in particular. We could see a financial hole about to open up in front of us as we started to contract more of our suppliers for the showground who we would be obliged to pay in the event of cancellation, with no insurance to cover these costs. Having cancelled RIAT 2020 we had lost our sole source of income and we could not have survived the financial implications of a second cancellation at a late stage"

Looking forward to the update today!

[Tom105]

Baby Blue flying, P47 and Sally b on static for first update

[edhunter]

Latest Update - 24 February 2022
Welcome to the first of our weekly updates from the RIAT Air Operations Department as we look ahead to RIAT 2022 and the world's Air Arms returning to RAF Fairford.

First up this week, we are very pleased to receive confirmation from the Royal Danish Air Force that as part of our operational theme focusing on training aircraft, they will send their Baby Blue Display Team to RIAT for the first time. The last time we saw one of their T-17 Supporter aircraft at RAF Fairford was back at RIAT 2010, so their appearance is warmly welcomed.

We can also confirm the first aircraft which will form part of our unique static display which will celebrate the United States Air Force's 75th Anniversary, with iconic American warbirds parked alongside their modern-day counterparts. Both B-17G Flying Fortress "Sally B" and P-47D Thunderbolt "Nellie" will form part of this static display at RIAT 2022.

We are in communication with our friends from the Austrian Air Force, Hungarian Air Force & German Army who have all indicated their intent to send aircraft to participate in the flying display at RIAT 2022. Discussions continue with formal confirmations expected in the coming weeks.

We are aware that the Swiss Air Force have published their intent online for two of their display assets to participate at RIAT 2022, however we await formal confirmation through our official channels before publishing details on our participation list.

[jamyt123]

Latest Update - 24 February 2022
Welcome to the first of our weekly updates from the RIAT Air Operations Department as we look ahead to RIAT 2022 and the world's Air Arms returning to RAF Fairford.

First up this week, we are very pleased to receive confirmation from the Royal Danish Air Force that as part of our operational theme focusing on training aircraft, they will send their Baby Blue Display Team to RIAT for the first time. The last time we saw one of their T-17 Supporter aircraft at RAF Fairford was back at RIAT 2010, so their appearance is warmly welcomed.

We can also confirm the first aircraft which will form part of our unique static display which will celebrate the United States Air Force's 75th Anniversary, with iconic American warbirds parked alongside their modern-day counterparts. Both B-17G Flying Fortress "Sally B" and P-47D Thunderbolt "Nellie" will form part of this static display at RIAT 2022.

We are in communication with our friends from the Austrian Air Force, Hungarian Air Force & German Army who have all indicated their intent to send aircraft to participate in the flying display at RIAT 2022. Discussions continue with formal confirmations expected in the coming weeks.

We are aware that the Swiss Air Force have published their intent online for two of their display assets to participate at RIAT 2022, however we await formal confirmation through our official channels before publishing details on our participation list.

Plus not participating so far:

Royal Australian Army, Chilean Navy, French Army Air Corps, Royal Saudi Air Force, Kuwait Air Force

[G-CVIX]

Nice additions - disappointing about the Saudi Air Force & French Army.

[Tommy]

We are in communication with our friends from the Austrian Air Force, Hungarian Air Force & German Army who have all indicated their intent to send aircraft to participate in the flying display at RIAT 2022. Discussions continue with formal confirmations expected in the coming weeks.

Awesome to see this sort of comms again - fantastic stuff, DBH.

The Austrian flying participant is interesting! The usual (and itself a little gem) Saab 105 have all been retired now, haven’t they?

Likewise the German Army - some helicopter participation? Sounds tops.

Great to see Baby Blue - not the most noteworthy to the general public, but I’ve got a lot of time for those T-17s!

Great to be talking about RIAT participation again!

[Gripenjetphotos]

Austrian AF could be a Typhoon at long last! German Army could potentially be the Tiger or NH90. Either way, will be nice to see both the B-17 and P-47 on the ground at Fairford, along with the Baby Blues in the air.

[Berf]

Indeed it is great to be talking about RIAT participation but its all overshadowed for me by thoughts of our Ukrainian friends who had provided the highlights of past RIATS with their people, aircraft and indeed the largest and most diverse 'tat' stand ever, now trying to survive cruise missiles raining down them and their homeland.

[farnboroughrob]

Its a start. Always liked seeing tose Danish T-17's in the past, used to be a common sight back in the 80's at many UK shows, although there are still some I have not seen.

[JJC]

Cracking update with some promising news.

Just what we all needed!

Baby Blue are something different, enjoyed their brief but enjoyable appearance at Cosford 2019.

Good to see a new team attending so early on.

[rockfordstone]

a small start, but i do like the way the update was more than just a participant announcement and gave us an idea of who else is coming.

[capercaillie]

I have to be honest, and I'm aware that there will be the usual barrage of you can't criticise, blah, blah, blah....... (hard hat is on).

That has to be the most bizarre opening aircraft announcement in the history of IAT/RIAT. Having waited until the last Thursday in February, we get two static (why not flying if we are celebrating the USAF formation) warbirds and a display team that will be fairly lost in Fairford's mammoth skies (btw I like Danish T-17s).

Hardly the opening blockbuster I thought we may be building up to.