RIAT 2022 Discussion Thread

[jasonT1981]

Boeing B-52H Stratofortress 23rd Bomb Squadron Static
Boeing B-52H Stratofortress 96th Bomb Squadron flying

US Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon static

[Tommy]

Yaaaas - excellent news.

[AARDVARK]

B52 flying

[JMC]

Last time I saw one fly was at RIAT 06! Absolutely over the moon!

[CJS]

That's ridiculously good.
(please be both weekend days, please be both weekend days, please be both weekend days...)

[blackcat]

B52 FLYING!!

And Static

[jasonT1981]

Blades flying, massive boost to static

[CJS]

Is the Blades flying a new update? I lose track!

Edit to my last post - B52 flying Sat and Sun (phew...)

[jasonT1981]

Is the Blades flying a new update? I lose track!

yup, Friday display only.

B52 is Saturday and Sunday.

[Tommy]

Also note re the Bldes that the 727 has quietly been added to the Friday flying (unless it always was and I forgot)

“Visitors on Friday 15th July will see The Blades perform a special formation flypast with the 2Excel Boeing 727, however The Blades will not be performing a flying display routine.”

I think it’s listed as static on the confirmed aircraft page.

[Bodz156]

According to the blurb the Blades will only be 'flying past' when the 727 arrives on Friday....no display.

Glad to see the B-52s although one flying doesn't fuss me that much. The take-off and landing is impressive though.

PC-12 from Ireland was on my personal wishlist, so hopefully the special scheme example!

[jasonT1981]

Also note re the Bldes that the 727 has quietly been added to the Friday flying (unless it always was and I forgot)

“Visitors on Friday 15th July will see The Blades perform a special formation flypast with the 2Excel Boeing 727, however The Blades will not be performing a flying display routine.”

I think it’s listed as static on the confirmed aircraft page.

No that is new

I've been wanting to see ther 727 flying for a long time, in formation sounds great.

[UKTopgun]

The update we all wanted, the Blades

Seriously though, Bring on the Barksdale bird! Fabulous addition.
Of course she will be Sat and Sun, the organisers know there would be rioting otherwise!

Expect Sun to sell out very fast now.

[frank]

B52 FLYING!!

1 flying and 1 static is how I read that.
USN P8A Poseidon static

[AARDVARK]

Highlight is B52 ,have to say thou a little disappointing other than that, I was hoping flashing French Navy would be Rafales and shame no Phantoms this year ,or anything else from Turkey, unusual , but there you go.

[jasonT1981]

This week we are pleased to announce some heavyweight hardware from the US Air Force that will be appearing in both our static and flying display. A pair of B-52H Stratofortress will be based at RAF Fairford for the duration of the show, one from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB will be on static display all weekend whilst a second will fly on the Saturday and Sunday from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB. These will also be joined on static display by a US Navy P-8A Poseidon from VP-46 at NAS Whidbey Island.

Making their RIAT debut on static after being delivered in 2020 will be an Irish Air Corps PC-12NG Spectre multi-mission aircraft which will appear alongside the Xingu from the French Navy.

We will also be visited by a number of static aircraft including the Italian Fly Fano team, Gazelle Squadron and Textron will be sending their Grand Caravan and Wolverine demonstrators. Finally, on the Friday the RAF will be showcasing their aspirations for a sustainable future in the static display by providing their Ikarus C42 which has been operating on 100% synthetic fuel.

[JMC]

I just bought my Sunday ticket!

I wonder if we're basing the B-52 display on years gone by or it could play a part in something else?

We're expecting take off - 2 passes - land. But fingers crossed it's more than just that (a good few passes), or it takes off and does a fly by with some Lakenheath birds?

[UKAirshowTour]

Highlight is B52 ,have to say thou a little disappointing other than that, I was hoping flashing French Navy would be Rafales and shame no Phantoms this year ,or anything else from Turkey, unusual , but there you go.

They literally said on this forum don’t read too much into the traffic light system

[jasonT1981]

As our colleagues in Ground Operations begin the main efforts for the RIAT 2022 Site Build this week, Air Operations continues to be a hive of activity to ensure arrangements are in place for the 280 aircraft descending on RAF Fairford next month.

Brilliant news from US Global Strike Command, as they commit a pair of B-52 bombers to RIAT 2022! We will have one example in the static display (to be parked alongside the B-17) and another example which will launch from Fairford on Saturday & Sunday to perform a flypast during the display, a very welcome addition to our USAF 75th Anniversary celebrations.

Supporting the deployment of their Silver Swallows Display Team, will be one of the Irish Air Corps's new Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. The aircraft is planned to remain at RAF Fairford for static display over the weekend, with the ambition for it to registration '280' which is painted in special colours to mark the Irish Air Corps Centenary.

The US Navy joins RIAT 2022: They will participate with a Poseidon on static display, coming from their detachment at NAS Sigonella. We did specifically explore the potential attendance of the E/A-18G Growlers currently deployed in Europe, however their operational tempo sadly prohibits their attendance to the Air Tattoo.

Continuing the Naval theme... the French Navy have committed one of their Xingu training aircraft to the static display, which is very appropriate for our training theme.

Multiple other civilian aircraft have been added to the static display line-up this week, including a contingent from the 'Fly Fano Team' from Italy, helicopters from the Gazelle Squadron and Textron Aviation demonstrators.

Finally, we can now announce that 2Excel Aviation will perform a special flypast on the Friday only, with the four Extra 300 aircraft from The Blades in formation with their Boeing 727. The Boeing 727 will then land ready to be on static display over the weekend. The Blades will not be performing a flying display.

Sadly, as the show approaches, we've had a couple more aircraft cancellations, with Martin Baker unfortunately no longer able to send their Meteor, as a priority tasking for the Slovenian LET-410 meaning it can no longer make the show.

[UKTopgun]

I just bought my Sunday ticket!

I wonder if we're basing the B-52 display on years gone by or it could play a part in something else?

We're expecting take off - 2 passes - land. But fingers crossed it's more than just that (a good few passes), or it takes off and does a fly by with some Lakenheath birds?

Given that the BUFF turns like a Tesco shopping trolley, Burford usually get a great display!

[bobby 1211]

From what I understand the 727 and blades will do a few flypasts - no display. Then the 727 lands and goes into static.
Also whats up with the Comco Ikarus C42 being on static just for the Friday

[AARDVARK]

Highlight is B52 ,have to say thou a little disappointing other than that, I was hoping flashing French Navy would be Rafales and shame no Phantoms this year ,or anything else from Turkey, unusual , but there you go.

They literally said on this forum don’t read too much into the traffic light system

Ooo yes i know ,but you can’t help but hope!

[bobby 1211]

and the B-52 is a flypast, but I dont really care, just do a few passes and it will be great. I am looking forward to the take off the most.

[bobby 1211]

We did specifically explore the potential attendance of the E/A-18G Growlers currently deployed in Europe, however their operational tempo sadly prohibits their attendance to the Air Tattoo.

That would have been great too!

[Tommy]

Launching from Fairford is the take-home experience, as it were. The noise and the smoke etc


Very cool. Nice little snippets in the updates too - fair play to the team for trying to bag an EA-18G and making special requests for certain airframes from air arms. Ok, it didn’t come off, but credit for trying.