RIAT 2024
The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is a premier military air show held annually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England. It is recognized for being one of the largest and most prestigious air shows globally. RIAT showcases a wide array of aircraft, including modern military jets, historic warbirds, and civilian aircraft. The flying displays often feature aerobatic teams, solo performances, and demonstrations of military capabilities. The event attracts aircraft and crews from air forces around the world, making it a significant international event in the aviation calendar. This global participation allows for a unique blend of aircraft types and performances. Many aircraft are also displayed on the ground, where visitors can get an up-close view and learn about the aircraft's history and technology. The event is organized by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, which uses the proceeds to support various charitable initiatives and projects related to aviation and the RAF. Each year, the air show often has a central theme or focus, which can range from commemorating historical anniversaries to highlighting specific types of aircraft or technological advancements. Overall, the Royal International Air Tattoo is a must-visit event for aviation enthusiasts, offering an exceptional display of aerial prowess and international cooperation.
One of the themes of this years edition was the 50th anniversary of the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet. Especially for this, a lot of countries like Belgium, Greece, Jordan, Morocco, the Netherlands, Romania and the United States sent F-16 fighter jets to RIAT, which were all lined up in the static part of the airshow. The show also celebrated the 75th anniversary of NATO, the 50th anniversary of the British Hawk trainer jet and the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). As part of this anniversary, the impressive Canadian CF-18 Demo Team performed in the flying display and visitors could also learn about the CC-295 Kingfisher search and rescue aircraft and the CC-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft at the static part of the airshow. The highlight of this edition of the Royal International Air Tattoo for a lot of visitors and photographers was undoubtedly the impressive demonstrations of the Boeing F-15QA Advanced Eagle demo team conducted with two F-15QA fighter aircraft of the Qatar Emiri Air Force. Besides the many demonstrations of fighter planes, this year's edition of RIAT also featured six different display teams such as the British Red Arrows, the Swiss Patrouille Suisse, the Midnight Hawks from Finland and the Saudi Hawks and the Yellow Sparrows of the Royal Norwegian Air Force. Personally, I thought this was one of the best editions of the Royal International Air Tattoo in years due to the great variety of special aircraft from quite a few countries around the world.
Below you can find a selection of my photos taken during the RIAT 2024 airshow and departure day on Monday. All these photos were taken with the fantastic NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR super telephoto zoom lens in combination with the Nikon Z6 II camera.
Text: Kris Christiaens
Photos: Kris Christiaens
