RIAT 2024 - discuss most things thread

[Nath30]

Looking at the Show hub it seems that the Red, Blue and green zones are no more.

“ The tallest flags are orange and tell you what number location you are at, and the navy flags in between tell you which amenities, activities and enclosures are there or close by. “

[Wissam24]

It's interesting that for the "tooled up" demo to show how little the aircraft is affected by it Boeing have decided to give it a loadout that would have almost no effect on performance anyway...

Far more impressive would be A2G stuff, fuel tanks, things that would actually impose a drag and g penalty on the aircraft like the Typhoon demos have been in the past.

[JMC]

There's videos emerging from The Spirit Of St Louis airshow of the F-15QA from crowd centre and it looks extraordinary.

However, the display does seem to be very very short.

[JW22]

There's videos emerging from The Spirit Of St Louis airshow of the F-15QA from crowd centre and it looks extraordinary.

However, the display does seem to be very very short.

The Super Hornet was only ever about 6 minutes I believe and that was always superb. The F-15 looks absolutely ridiculous and it’s not a specified demo team that will do loads of shows it’s doing a select few so was never going to be longer. I’d rather have 5 or so minutes of it being thrown about than none

[CWS]

Just the fact an Eagle is in the flying program is such a rarity! From the videos, although a short demo, it certainly packs a punch!

[JMC]

Oh yeah no complaints whatsoever, just an observation!

In the past couple of years, I thought we might have seen our last ever F15 demo at RIAT (2007) but that doesn't seem to be the case.

[Flare Path]

Oh yeah no complaints whatsoever, just an observation!

Yes, a poor one.

[Airwolfhound]

Saw the videos of the F15 demo tooled up. Doesn't look as impressive as the Typhoon tooled up display in my eyes, but, hey, I'll still photograph it lol !

[JMC]

Considering most jet displays are around 10 minutes, noticing that the one display that everyone is looking forward to is half that, I wouldn't say so. Again it's an observation, not a 'Oh boo that means the display is poor'.

My observation that the display is short (erm which it is?) is a poor observation, would you care to elaborate?

[Flare Path]

My observation that the display is short (erm which it is?), would you care to elaborate?

I would rather have 5-6 minutes than none at all. After witnessing the display in Dubai, I believe its duration will leave no room for doubt.

[JMC]

As I mentioned, the display I think looks extraordinary.

5 minutes of F-15 will no doubt be more exciting than say 10 minutes of Grob Tutor.

[CWS]

As I mentioned, the display I think looks extraordinary.

5 minutes of F-15 will no doubt be more exciting than say 10 minutes of Grob Tutor.

100% agree, going to be a star item

[Morgangalley]

I agree, as someone who never got to see the f-15 ACC demo I’m very excited that an f-15 is coming at all. I’d much rather a 5-6 minute f-15 display that is of very high quality rather than a meh eurofighter display that is the Italian one that lasts 8-10 minutes. Quality over quantity. However I’ve always known jet displays to be around 10 minutes, so as an OBSERVATION, it does look short. Much like for example the UAE F-16 display. Only 6 minutes long but boy is it a quality display!

[Jameslw1993]

I agree, as someone who never got to see the f-15 ACC demo I’m very excited that an f-15 is coming at all. I’d much rather a 5-6 minute f-15 display that is of very high quality rather than a meh eurofighter display that is the Italian one that lasts 8-10 minutes. Quality over quantity. However I’ve always known jet displays to be around 10 minutes, so as an OBSERVATION, it does look short. Much like for example the UAE F-16 display. Only 6 minutes long but boy is it a quality display!

The Italian Typhoon demo has always been decent.

[Bodz156]

I agree, as someone who never got to see the f-15 ACC demo I’m very excited that an f-15 is coming at all. I’d much rather a 5-6 minute f-15 display that is of very high quality rather than a meh eurofighter display that is the Italian one that lasts 8-10 minutes. Quality over quantity. However I’ve always known jet displays to be around 10 minutes, so as an OBSERVATION, it does look short. Much like for example the UAE F-16 display. Only 6 minutes long but boy is it a quality display!

The Italian Typhoon demo has always been decent.

Yep, was particularly good last year I thought - in my top 4 with the Belgian Viper, Finn Hornet & French Rafale. Other opinions are available of course....

[rdchawk]

Swedish gripen has always been a nice polished display.

[BenTheBritishGuy]

I really enjoyed the Italian Typhoon demo last year

[CWS]

I agree, as someone who never got to see the f-15 ACC demo I’m very excited that an f-15 is coming at all. I’d much rather a 5-6 minute f-15 display that is of very high quality rather than a meh eurofighter display that is the Italian one that lasts 8-10 minutes. Quality over quantity. However I’ve always known jet displays to be around 10 minutes, so as an OBSERVATION, it does look short. Much like for example the UAE F-16 display. Only 6 minutes long but boy is it a quality display!

The Italian Typhoon demo has always been decent.

Yep, was particularly good last year I thought - in my top 4 with the Belgian Viper, Finn Hornet & French Rafale. Other opinions are available of course....

In recent years I agree with the Belgian Viper, Finn Hornet and Rafale being top 3. I'm not sure where to place the Italian Typhoon, we get spoiled by so many fast jets they sometimes mould into one!

[CWS]

Swedish gripen has always been a nice polished display.

Yeah the Gripen just displays so well. Seems to keep it within the airbase boundaries on some demos!

[capercaillie]

Swedish gripen has always been a nice polished display.

True and the Hungarian and Czech are also well flown. Trouble is I just can't get over enthused by Gripens, partly I suppose I still hold them guilty of retiring the far more charismatic Viggen thundering around the sky. They just seem a bit puny by comparison.

Whereas the Rafale has taken the mantle on from the Mirage 2000 solo very well.

[CWS]

Swedish gripen has always been a nice polished display.

True and the Hungarian and Czech are also well flown. Trouble is I just can't get over enthused by Gripens, partly I suppose I still hold them guilty of retiring the far more charismatic Viggen thundering around the sky. They just seem a bit puny by comparison.

Whereas the Rafale has taken the mantle on from the Mirage 2000 solo very well.

Seeing in 2022 the Draken Viggen and Gripen togther, the Viggen just looked a monster! Like you said the Gripen is actually a good watch but not got the same level of menace as the previous

[capercaillie]

Saw the videos of the F15 demo tooled up. Doesn't look as impressive as the Typhoon tooled up display in my eyes, but, hey, I'll still photograph it lol !

Then again the Typhoon wasn't tail sliding with a load either. Although the Su30 demonstrator was doing that 30 years ago at Farnborough!

[Lpuente]

Its my first time attending RIAT I’m extremely excited I’m from Los Angeles it boggles my mind how most of the enthusiasts don’t see USAF often which is crazy to me because I see the F-35A/B/C
F-22 F-15 F-16 F18 demos almost 5-10 a year but I never see any typhoons or gripens it’s insane to me what’s normal to you guys isn’t normal for us but what’s normal to me isn’t normal to you

[capercaillie]

Its my first time attending RIAT I’m extremely excited I’m from Los Angeles it boggles my mind how most of the enthusiasts don’t see USAF often which is crazy to me because I see the F-35A/B/C
F-22 F-15 F-16 F18 demos almost 5-10 a year but I never see any typhoons or gripens it’s insane to me what’s normal to you guys isn’t normal for us but what’s normal to me isn’t normal to you

I'm sure you will certainly enjoy it.

Thirty years ago when we had six operational USAF bases with at least four holding a show each year, all the USAF stuff was regular to us as well, sadly we've lost most the bases and all the shows these days so we have to make the most of any USAF flying assets we see these days.

[CWS]

Its my first time attending RIAT I’m extremely excited I’m from Los Angeles it boggles my mind how most of the enthusiasts don’t see USAF often which is crazy to me because I see the F-35A/B/C
F-22 F-15 F-16 F18 demos almost 5-10 a year but I never see any typhoons or gripens it’s insane to me what’s normal to you guys isn’t normal for us but what’s normal to me isn’t normal to you

Welcome! Hope your enjoy your first time!
We still do get USAF assets but nowhere near as much as the last couple of decades. The mad thing like you said is that it is normal for us to get most fast jets Europe has to offer every year, easy to take for granted. Have you got any displays that you are most looking forward to seeing this year?