RIAT 2015

Today was a not-untypical English summer’s day...a chilly morning with lots of gloomy clouds threatening rain, a gentle shower at lunchtime - just as the sun breaks through, and then a blazing hot afternoon with temperatures in the mid-20s C (mid 70s F).

It was the last day of RIAT, the annual Royal International Air Tattoo and the world’s largest military airshow. An estimated 150,000 spectators viewed the extravaganza over the three days that it was in operation this year (including myself and younger son today). It started from modest beginnings 44 years ago, is volunteer-run and operated by the RAF Charitable Trust.

This year there were (by my count) a total of 143 aircraft at the show, mostly static but including 46 aircraft performing flying displays. For me, the big draw was the Vulcan bomber as 2015 will be the last occasion that the remaining example flies since the necessary airworthiness certifications to permit it to fly cannot be obtained after 2015 for a variety of reasons. The RAF started operating Vulcans almost 60 years ago and the famous delta-winged plane participated in its first (and only) combat action in 1982 during the Falklands War.  

A few of my favourites...