Held annually each July at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, the Royal International Air Tattoo is the world's largest military airshow. The 17th & 18th July 2011 included fast jets, transport aircraft, helicopters and also historic aircraft, together with a large and varied static aircraft display, despite the dwindling numbers of aircraft in recent years. As with everything these days finance comes into play, and with air forces around the globe cutting back on budgets it makes it harder each year for the organisers to attract the numbers and variety of aircraft that in the past would have been taken for granted. An additional factor in this years aircraft attendees being below the norm was the current NATO operation off the coast of Libya, which involves a number of European air arms, their absence being somewhat obvious in both the flying and static displays
The main themes for 2011 were the 40th Anniversary of the Air Tattoo, STAR '11 (Strike, Attack & Recconnaissance) and 50th Anniversary of the NATO Tiger Association. Sadly the normal unreliable British weather made its presence felt, with the Saturday programme being disrupted by constant rain and low ceilings, resulting in a number of cancelled displays. The Sunday weather was somewhat better but albeit far from perfect.
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Formed in June 1998 at King Abdulaziz Air Base (Dhahran), 88 Squadron of the Royal Saudi Air Force is also known as the "Saudi Hawks" aerobatic team. Flying British Aerospace Hawk Mk.65 and 65A jet trainers, it is the Royal Saudi Air Force's official demonstration team and was undoubtedly the star attraction of RIAT 2011. The "Hawks" debuted in January 1999 at Riyadh as part of Saudi Arabia's 100th anniversary celebrations. Nine Bae Hawk aircraft are assigned to the team and wear the team's striking green and white colours. In February 2000, the Hawks first appeared outside of Saudi Arabia, at the Bahrain Airshow. The Saudi Hawks are demonstrating at European Airshows in 2011 for the very first time, having already taken in Zeltweg (Austria) and Koksijde (Belgium) prior to appearing at RAF Fairford.
Saudi Hawk Mk.65A 8805 being prepared by the ground crew prior to its display on the Sunday
The Saudi Hawks utilise a mix of both Mk.65 and Mk.65A aircraft
8810 & 8813 taxy out for their display on Sunday 17th July. Their display on the Saturday was cancelled due to the adverse weather.
They were rather luckier on the Sunday, however the British weather must have been a shock to their system compared to the normal
weather they exprience back in Saudi Arabia.
Providing support for the Saudi's was this Lockheed L.100-30 Hercules from 1 Squadron, which took its place in the static display
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Running the Saudi's very close for popularity was the Ukrainian Air Force with their Sukhoi SU-27 and Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft.
The SU-27 first appeared at a RIAT back in 1996, having last shown up in 1999, so were very welcome returning attendees.
The SU-27UB two-seater that attended this years RIAT was from 831 IAP at Mirgorod Air Base
Supporting the SU-27UB was an Ilyushin IL-76MD transport aircraft from 25 TABR
British Aerospace's 'tooled up' Typhoon was one of only two such aircraft present at RIAT 2011
It's not often you see six Hawker Hunters in one day, let alone in the air.
However "Team Viper" and the "Swiss Hunter Team" managed the feat at RIAT with a variety of models and colour schemes
Of all the European/NATO air forces the Italian's were the most prominant, bringing an Alenia C-27J (above) and the Tornado ECR (below)
Both aircraft were from the R.S.V based at Pratica di Mare
Note the scrubbed squadron markings visible on the fin of the RSV Tornado ECR above
As mentioned previously, it was planned to hold a mini "Tiger Meet" at this years Tattoo, but as with everything else this year it
was hit by the ongoing conflict in Libya. However a couple of aircraft in striking marks did appear, this PANAVIA Tornado ECR from
321 Staffel/JBG.32 based at Lechfeld being the most prominent
The Belgian Air Component can always be relied upon to provide a stunning F-16 for any Tiger Meet and they did not let us down in 2011
Westland Merlin HM.1 of 814 NAS at Culdrose provided the Royal Navy's Tiger Meet participant at this years Tattoo
The other Luftwaffe Tornado unit in the Tiger community (AKG.51) had their own version in the static display,
sporting the Black Panther from their squadron badge
Armee de L'Air 01/012 Escadre de Chasse Mirage 2000C was the only French participant at this years mini Tiger Meet at RIAT
Making the short hop over from nearby RAF Brize Norton was this 99 Squadron Boeing C-17A Globemaster III of the Royal Air Force
1 RHC at Phalsbourg provided a Puma and a Gazelle helicopter from the French Army
This German Airbus A.310-MRTT is based at Koln-Bonn with the F.B.S and is used for both in-flight refuelling and transport duties
The U.S Air Force was down with its participation in 2011. Most noticeable was the lack of presence by Global Strike Command.
Whereas you would normally see two B-1's and two B-52's, with participation in the flying display, only one B-52 made an appearance in the static park
The Royal Netherlands Air Force provided another strikingly marked AH-64D Apache for this years RIAT. Sadly the weather did its best to avoid us getting any
sun-lit shots during its flying performances
Bae Hawk XX245 sits on the flightline at RIAT after its display. This aircraft sported the 2011 Hawk Display colour scheme
The Armee de L'Air 02/040 ETM at Metz provided this AS.555 Fennec in the static display.
We think the first time such an aircraft has attended the Tattoo
So there it is, a taster of what was RIAT 2011. Sadly yet another Tattoo let down by poor weather over both days and participation 'hit' by defence cut backs and ongoing conflicts around the World. Whilst we will never see a return to the 'heady' days of the '80's and 90's when hundreds of aircraft from around the globe headed to Fairford for each years Tattoo, hopefully 2012 will see more participation than 2011 did. The efforts put in by everyone involved with RIAT never diminishes and hopefully the hard work and huge effort will pay off for next years event. Nonetheless, RIAT remains the largest and most diverse military air show anywhere in the world and hopefully will remain so.