Latest update - 23th June 2022
As our colleagues in Ground Operations begin the main efforts for the RIAT 2022 Site Build this week, Air Operations continues to be a hive of activity to ensure arrangements are in place for the 280 aircraft descending on RAF Fairford next month.
Brilliant news from
US Global Strike Command,
as they commit a pair of B-52 bombers to RIAT 2022!
We will have one example in the static display (to be parked alongside the B-17)
and another example which will launch
from Fairford on Saturday & Sunday to perform a flypast
during the display, a very welcome addition to our USAF 75th Anniversary celebrations.
Supporting the deployment of their Silver Swallows Display Team, will be one of the Irish Air Corps's new Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.
The aircraft is planned to remain at RAF Fairford for static display over the weekend, with the ambition for it to registration '280' which is painted in special colours to mark the Irish Air Corps Centenary.
The US Navy
joins RIAT 2022: They will participate with a Poseidon on static display, coming from their detachment at NAS Sigonella.
We did specifically explore the potential attendance of the E/A-18G Growlers
currently deployed in Europe,
however their operational tempo sadly prohibits their attendance to the Air Tattoo.
Continuing the Naval theme... the French Navy
have committed one of their Xingu training aircraft to the static display,
which is very appropriate for our training theme.
Multiple other civilian aircraft have been added to the static display line-up this week,
including a contingent from the
'Fly Fano Team' from Italy,
helicopters from the Gazelle Squadron and
Textron Aviation demonstrators.
Finally, we can now announce that
2Excel Aviation will perform a special flypast on the Friday only, with the four Extra 300 aircraft from The Blades in formation with their Boeing 727.
The Boeing 727 will then land ready to be on static display over the weekend. The Blades will not be performing a flying display.
Sadly, as the show approaches, we've had a couple more aircraft cancellations,
with Martin Baker unfortunately no longer able to send their Meteor,
as a priority tasking for the Slovenian LET-410 meaning it can no longer make the show.