RIAT 2019 - REVIEW

The Miles to go - Aviation Blogging team review the Royal International Air Tattoo 2019.

Review by Kian McVicker and James McVicker who attended the show on the saturday.

Photo - The Red Arrows alongside the BOAC 747 in the special flypast.

Lets set the scene...So the date is the 20th July 2019 and we got through the security gates at around 08:30. The Weather was bright and slightly overcast. We entered through the yellow entrance where we was greeted by the start of the extensive static line up. Including the very friendly crew that manned the Dutch C-130 which later had a party at the rear of the Hercules including a very stylish disco ball.

Photo - RNAF C-130 flying the flag for the dutch at RIAT.

Some would say it was a very heavy static line up with C-130s aplenty and a few other beasts like the IL-76 and the C-17s. The heavies certainly brought the best livery's too.

Photo - The Royal Jordanian Falcons get airborne behind the Jordanian C-130.

So lets get to the main event. We was in the grandstand near the top with a excellent view of the runway. First up was a Formation flight featuring "Vador" in his F-16 and the two special livery F-16s from 349 Belgium Squadron. Great opportunity to get photos of 3 beautifully painted F-16s in close formation.

Photo - 3 Belgium Jets opening the Saturday show in style.

How do you follow several F-16 flypasts.... simple abit of turn and burn from "Vador" in his Fighting Falcon. Another great text book display from him and showing why young children need wear defenders. Loud and fast just how a lot like it.... So the F-16s landed and cleared the Fairford Runway to allow the first of the international Display teams to get up to entertain the masses. The Patrouille Acrobatique de France took off in the usual formations and began their display which in our opinion seem very flat and slow paced. However the display did end slightly earlier than planned due to an issue with one of the jets (Number 8) we understand. The Jet landed safely followed by the rest of the display team.

Photo Below - Tight formation from the French with the smoke trailing Red,White and Blue.

Photo Below - Odd one out, someone is always showing off in this team.

Photo Below - Smoke on and Cross

Photo Below - The French Jets taxiing back after there display ended early due to a fault.

Following the French was the first of the American displays. This came in the form of the Viper Demo Team and that pilot sure does know how to show off the F-16.

The USAF Viper Demo Team which borrowed a Spangdahlem F-16 for the RIAT show ripped the skies up over Fairford. The SP F-16 manged to entertain the crowds on the Saturday and brought a real aggressive demo to the show. The following day during the Sunday show the pilot manged to damage the jet during the high performance take off. This was definitely up there with the best displays of the day.

Following the amazing display from the F-16 Viper Demo team was the Greek Air Force and the Swiss Hornet Display Team. The F-18 Hornet again wowed the crowds at RIAT and was the first of two F-18 Demos. As we saw at Cosford Airshow the Swiss certainly know how to show off the Hornet and at Cosford the Swiss was in fact our favorite display.

Photos below - The Swiss F-18 pulling the G's at RIAT.

So after the hornet display the crowd could enjoy a demo flight from an Osprey which is based at RAF Mildenhall. The demo showed off the unique type of aircraft/helicopter but the Suffolk based USAF Osprey was overshadowed by a rare site in the Brize Norton Circuit. The BOAC 747 had began to the north of the base over Brize Norton waiting for the RAF Red Arrows.

Photo Below - The USAF are overshadowed by a Queen of the skies.

Photo Below - The USAF Show off the Osprey in beautiful light.

So next up the Lincolnshire based RAF Red Arrows get airboure to join the British Airways Queen in the hold.

Photo Below - The Reds leaving Fairford to join the Queen

So the Reds have join the 747 in the Hold, Meanwhile the Swedish Gripen Pilot showed off the shear power of the SAAB in front of the Fairford crowds.

Photo Below - Swedish SAAB with a high angle of attack.

FLYPAST TIME - The RAF Red Arrows with the BOAC 747 British Airways.

How to could you follow the rare formation of a Retro livery 747 with the Red Arrows. Simple get a Mig-21 to display and show off Soviet built aircraft. So the RIAT Team manged to get the Romanian Mig to preform, It did not disappoint.

Photo below - Just a photo with plenty of jelly and even a carrot.

Real Soviet aviation action back in the skies above Fairford. The pilot treated the crowd to a very very low pass before landing.Following the afterburners of the Romanians, The Blades were welcomed to centre stage to make their RIAT Debut.

The Blades pushing the Extra 300s to the limit in dark windy conditions. Next up a little bit of Italian jet action.

FLYPAST TIME AGAIN - NATO Flypast

3x RAF Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth

4x F-16s in formation for the flypast.

1x German Eurofighter Typhoon which should of been joined by a tonka and a A400M but due to operational requirements and tech issues they couldn't take part.

A French KC-135 Tanker taking part in the NATO Flypast.

3 of Lakenheath's finest F-15s

BREAK BREAK BREAK-The Phoons break for landing after a flypast to celebrate the NATO70th

Some would say save the best till last but the Freece Tricolori wasnt last on. The Italian push the limits of flight and fill the sky with the Italian flag and put on a very patriotic display. This was by far the best display from an international Aerobatic display team.

Following the GREEN,WHITE AND RED of the Freece Jets the Army air corp Apache demo displayed in front of the RIAT crowd. Certainly a display which is a avgeek fav as the pyrotechnics help to get some great shots.

The Miles to go - Aviation Blogging Airshow Awards.

1) Best heavy aircraft on static - Royal Jordanian C-130 in the Air Tattoo Livery

2) Best Jet aircraft on static display - The German Air Force Tornado in Tiger Meet Livery was our favorite.

3)Best RAF flying display - The Red Arrows which took part in 2 beautiful rare flypast on the Saturday and of course preformed their trademark display.

4)Best International flying display (Solo) - A lot of people said the F-18 demo from Finland was the best solo but our choice because of the pure fact of rare it is and the extremely low pass at the end of its display - The Romanian Mig-21 wins it for us.

5)Best International Display Team - Freece Tricolori hands down were the best team on show.

6)The Highlight of RIAT 2019 - The BOAC "Queen of the skies" flanked by the Red Arrows was the highlight of RIAT. Not just Saturday but i think the whole weekend.

7)Best international contribution - Turkish F4s made the trip to take part in the static line up was great for those to see on arrivals and departure day. Also the Romanian Mig-21 was an amazing contribution. Also a great effort from the Spanish to bring 2 Harriers to the show.

8)Best livery in the flying display - 349 belgium squadron F-16s had such a touching livery with the D-day stripes and a detailed tail design.

9)Overall best aircraft static or flying at RIAT 2019 - I'd have to say the Spanish Harrier duo. Not the loudest or fastest but a great site over Fairford to see not one but 2 Harriers. Also was a nice touch for the Spanish to add a special livery.

Photos and Review by Miles to go - Aviation Blogging