Royal International Air Tattoo 7-8 July 2012

[Stefan]

http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/aboutt ... o/09themes

Air Tattoo 2012 Themes

Skylift

Aviation's heavyweights are being invited to flex their muscles at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2012 by demonstrating their capabilities across a wide range of operational scenarios.

Whether deployed tactically or strategically, the role of giant military transporters and heavy-lift helicopters in delivering troops and equipment quickly and safely is key to the success of combat, peace-keeping and humanitarian campaigns around the world.

The operational theme SkyLift will showcase modern, versatile and long-range aircraft such as the KC-30, C-17 Globemaster III, KC-767, A400M, A330 and Antonov 124 as well as the more venerable types such as the C-5 Galaxy, KC-10, KC-135, C-130 Hercules and Ilyushin II-76 which have been the mainstay of airlift and refuelling operations worldwide for more than 30 years.

Also providing critical frontline support, and equally welcome, are smaller transport aircraft such as the CASA CN-235, Merlin, Ch-47 Chinook and the Alenia C-27 Spartan - whose masterful flying display at RIAT 2011 earned its Italian Air Force crew the Douglas Bader Trophy for the Best Individual Flying Display.

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Diamond Jubilee

Following on from Her Majesty's visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2008, we will be joining national and international celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in summer 2012.

Throughout her 60-year reign, strong links have been forged between members of the Royal Family and military aviation with HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, HRH the Prince of Wales, HRH the Duke of York, HRH the Duke of Cambridge and HRH Prince Harry all earning their Wings.

The Air Tattoo, which was granted Royal Status in 1996, will be delivering its own personal salute to our much-loved and respected monarch who has devoted her life to serving the United Kingdom, her other Realms, and the Commonwealth since her accession to the throne on June 2, 1952.

[aviodromefriend]

First participant known: Vampire T11 (to fly in the winner of the annual BBC Children in need auction)

[aviodromefriend]

For anyone planning to attend. got this in the mailbox:

We are delighted to announce that tickets for next summer's Royal International Air Tattoo go on sale at 10am on Friday 11 November. Prices have not only been frozen* but - for a limited period - are lower than they were this year.

Special 'Super Earlybird' tickets for the 7 - 8 July 2012 go on sale at 10am this Friday priced £29 each. This is a saving of £10 on the 2012 standard admission ticket price - and is £5 cheaper than this year. The £4 booking fee has also been waived.

These 'Super Earlybird' tickets are only available until 4 January 2012. Please see below for further ticket information or see airtattoo.com.

SUPER EARLYBIRD - Until 4 January 2012 £10 Discount + No Booking Fee
EARLYBIRD OFFER - From 4 January - 31 March 2012 £5 Discount + No Booking Fee
STANDARD PRICE* - From 1 April 2012 onwards No Discount + £4 Booking Fee
UNDER 16s - Standard admission still FREE of charge when accompanied by a ticket holder

*From 1 April 2012 day specific standard admission will be £39 + £4 Booking Fee

[Stefan]

First (small) list of participants is presented:

http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/aircra ... -countries

French TBM-700s confirmed: one flying, one static. The display pilot Adj Lilian Garufi has displayed five times at RIAT. The aircraft are attending as part of the Skylift theme. Aircraft provide VIP transport across Europe. Coming from Rennes / San Jacques Sqn – School of Army Aviation based in Brittany (escadrille Avions de I'ALAT).

Latvia has confirmed it will be sending an Mi-17/Mi-8 for static display. In 2003, when the aircraft last appeared at the Air Tattoo, it scooped the EADS Trophy for the best rotary wing aircraft. It will come from 1 Aviacijas Eskadrila based at Lielvarde in central Latvia. As they sent aircraft 101 in 2003, we'll be requesting they send 102, 103 or 104 this time but obviously we can't make any promises.

Brazilian C-130 Hercules confirmed. Unspecified squadron.

The Polish Navy's decision to send a rarely-seen Mi-14 'Haze' to the Air Tattoo in 2012 is a big coup for the airshow and its arrival will be eagerly anticipated by aircraft enthusiasts. Whilst the Polish Navy operates two versions of the Mi-14 ('Haze' is its NATO reporting name), the PL (search and rescue) and the PS (anti-submarine), it is anticipated they'll be sending the former variant though this is yet to be confirmed. Whilst the Polish Navy does have five Mi-14PS versions, two were destroyed in accidents and the surviving three were all said to be in storage at Darlowo. The An-28 is the Polish PZL-built version.

Vampire T11: In November, a member of the public bid £9,000 for BBC Children in Need to fly into RIAT 2012 on board a Vampire T11. We are currently talking to Classic Flight to finalise the details of the T11's participation along with other aircraft operated by the Coventry-based team.

Vulcan XH-558: As RIAT and Vulcan XH558 will be sharing a common theme in 2012 – The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations – it is therefore our ambition to feature the aircraft in the flying display come July.

Malta: in November, RIAT was contacted by the Maltese Defence Force stating they were keen to participate in RIAT 2012. Whilst we have been told there is permission in principle for the Maltese to attend, we have yet to be approached formally.

Italian Air Force: we have been approached by an IAF training unit which has indicated it would like to bring a number of aircraft to RIAT 2012. They are now seeking approval from their bosses. Our fingers' are crossed!

Finnish Army Aviation: we have received second hand, information that a declaration of interest has been expressed by the Finnish Army Aviation to attend. We are in the process of following this up.

[Stefan]

Update 12 January 2012;

We have received a letter from the Royal Moroccan Air Force stating that the 'necessary steps are being taken "to consider and possibly schedule contributions...for the participation of some RMAF aircraft... in the flying or static display programme." The letter ended by stating: "Our confirmation notice will reach you in due course." Very promising news, we hope you'll agree. As soon as we hear more we shall let you know.

The Air Tattoo's Air Operations Department received a call from Abu Dhabi recently stating that the United Arab Emirates might be interested in participating in RIAT 2012 but required further information. This is being supplied. There has been no discussions concerning specific aircraft at this point and whilst it is still early days it nevertheless represents a positive step forward. Were they to attend, it would be the first time in two decades!

Update 5 January 2012;

It will be a case of 'welcome home' for the RAF's solo Hawk display pilot for 2012 if his participation at RIAT 2012 is confirmed next year. Pilot Flt Lt Phil Bird was brought up in Fairford. It will also be the final year for the Hawk T1 display as the T2 will hopefully take up the baton in 2013.

We were delighted when our title sponsor BAE Systems generously stepped in last summer with a flying display by one of its developmental Typhoon aircraft. The military fast jet should once again demonstrate its agility and power at RAF Fairford this summer as the Royal Air Force has said that, all things being equal, it is planning to send a Typhoon to RIAT.

Despite the sobering announcement recently by the US Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC) that it was only planning to only send F-22 and Thunderbirds to US airshows in 2012 we remain hopeful that we might still expect flypasts, demos, statics and displays by other US Air Force commands. We also hope the announcement does not preclude the participation of static ACC aircraft. A meeting is being arranged shortly with both the US and Canadian defence attaches in London to discuss further their participation in July.

The keen-eyed among you will have noticed that the list of invited countries below omitted Slovakia. The Slovaks have been invited; it was simply an error on our part. Indeed, the observation was highlighted to us by 'a friend' in Slovakia who suggested the country has shown an interest in participating in RIAT 2012. We are in the process of finding out more.

Following hot on the heels of the Polish Navy confirming their participation in RIAT 2012 (with an Mi-14 and An-28), we have received a letter from the Polish Air Force confirming that it too plans to join us in July. The letter states: "However, it is not possible yet to indicate the exact composition of the POLAF [representation in either] the static or flying display." We have been told a final decision about their participation will be made in March.

[aviodromefriend]

USAF Reserve Command will send over a KC-135R from Andrews for static.

[michel N]

Rumors about the participation of the South Korean Black Eagles at the Air Tattoo and Farnborough are getting stronger. Their facebook page says there is contact with the RIAT organisation about this. So let's keep our fingers crossed....

[Stefan]

Update 19 January 2012;

In accepting his invitation to the forthcoming Global Air Chiefs' Conference, which the Air Tattoo helps organise, the Commander of the Belgian Air Component said he hoped for "a maximum participation of Belgian Air Force aircraft, to include the Red Devils". Whilst we do not take this as official confirmation of Belgian participation, it is encouraging news. Let's hope their participation will also include an F-16 Solo Display. If so, it will feature new display pilot Capt Renauld Thys from 350 Sqn (Florennes). Renauld will be succeeding Michel 'Mitch' Beulen, F-16 display pilot for the past three years and winner of the Air Tattoo's Lockheed Martin Cannestra Trophy in 2010. According to Serge Van Heertum on http://www.sbap.be, Renauld joined the air force in 2004 and joined 350 Sqn two years later. He has flown on operations in Libya and Afghanistan and has clocked up 1,800 flying hours, 1,200 of them in the F-16.

Though they were only able to display on the Sunday of the airshow last summer due to inclement weather, the Saudi Hawks won the hearts of the public with their spirited and professional performance in the air and their friendly demeanour on the ground. As ambassadors for the Kingdom, they were impeccable. So it was with delight that we heard recently from our man in Tabuk, albeit informally, that the Saudi Hawks have an ambition to be in the UK this summer. Though it is very early days, the thought of a return visit by this exotic Middle Eastern team is tantalising and would be hugely welcome.

In response to our invitation to attend the Air Tattoo, a senior US Navy representative in Washington has sent a very positive response in which he states: "High-quality, prestigious events like the Royal International Air Tattoo are vitally important and invariably inspire a positive view of air power across a wide audience. Moreover, such events are instrumental in sustaining and advancing the spirit of friendship and co-operation between our armed forces." He ended by stating "I have asked [name], US Naval Forces Europe to consider . . . sending aircraft to attend." To hear such a glowing endorsement of the Air Tattoo from such a senior US Navy figure certainly gave the team at DBH a great boost when it dropped through the letter box.

[Nielis]

according Hans Barrichello @UKAR

"It was mentioned at the Bahrain Airshow that the UAE are planning to send Al Fursan and 'possibly' a Mirage to RIAT, but don't quote me on this - source was from the commentator in Bahrain, during both displays.""

Link:http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic. ... &start=125

Gr,

Niels

[aviodromefriend]

Patrouille Suisse has RIAT on its program for this year:

http://www.patrouillesuisse.ch/assets/p ... rg2012.pdf

[Hurricane]

according Hans Barrichello @UKAR

"It was mentioned at the Bahrain Airshow that the UAE are planning to send Al Fursan and 'possibly' a Mirage to RIAT, but don't quote me on this - source was from the commentator in Bahrain, during both displays.""

Link: http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic. ... &start=125

Gr,

Niels

[Stefan]

Update 26 January 2012

South Korea: It was a great honour for the Air Tattoo team to receive a visit last week from a delegation representing the Republic of Korea Air Force. South Korea's London-based Defence Attache and Air Attache were in Fairford to discuss the possibility of their military display team -The Black Eagles - performing at this summer's airshow. The eight-ship display team, which fly distinctive T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft, rarely venture outside of Korea and their appearance at the Air Tattoo in July would rank alongside some of the greatest coups achieved by the airshow during its 41-year history. Among the items under discussion last week was the logistics of transporting nine T-50s (eight plus one spare) from their base at 8th Fighter Wing, Wonju to the UK. All agreed the talks were very constructive and have helped bring The Black Eagles' participation a step closer. Quite understandably given the high level of planning involved in such a significant visit, there are still a number of issues that will have to be resolved. However, all parties are keen to see the Republic of Korea Air Force at Fairford and every effort is being made to achieve this.

Vulcan XH-558: The Air Tattoo has been in discussions with the Vulcan to the Sky Trust with the aim of securing XH-558 for this summer's airshow. Whilst the full details have not been finalised it is hoped the legendary warbird, the only flying Vulcan in the world, will be confirmed for the flying display shortly.

Air Tattoo Chief Executive Tim Prince will be at the Indian Embassy tonight (Thursday), as a guest of the High Commissioner, to mark Republic Day of India. The day is one of three public holidays in India and commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force. Although India gained its independence on August 15, 1947 it wasn't until January 26, 1950 that India replaced its colonial-based laws with a permanent constitution. The Air Tattoo considers it a great honour to be invited to attend such an occasion and to build on the already excellent relationship it enjoys with India.

RUAG Aviation: A small team from the Air Tattoo, including former test pilot and volunteer member of the airshow's Flying Control Committee Roger Beazley, are in Switzerland today (Thursday, January 26) for talks with Pilatus and RUAG Aviation. RUAG hopes to feature its multi-mission turbo-prop twin-engined Dornier 228 NG (New Generation) in one of the Air Tattoo's aircraft showcases in July. The versatile NG is the latest variant of the Do-228, and can perform special mission, commuter and cargo transportation roles.

The Air Tattoo and the Royal Air Force are currently working together with the aim of featuring at least one element of the official 'Queen's Diamond Jubilee' aerial tribute taking place in June, at Fairford the following month.

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Italian Air Force
Boeing KC-767 TT TBA Tanker Static

[aviodromefriend]

Today's update:

Following on from last week's confirmation that the Italian Air Force plans to send a KC-767 TT for static display comes news that our friends at Aeronautica Militare Italiana plan to send an asset for the flying display from their Flight Test Wing. Exactly which aircraft they plan to send is currently unknown though in the past this wing has sent us aircraft such as the AMX, the C-27 Spartan and a Tornado.
The Air Tattoo is communicating with the Swiss Air Force with a view to securing the Patrouille Suisse aerobatic display team for July's airshow.

Listed new at the confirmed aircraft page (so these seem to be updated with aircraft not talked about in the updates in the invited countries section from now on): Italian Piagio P180 Avanti and a civil King Air 350ER (SPYDR demonstrator), both static.

[aviodromefriend]

Today's update: Fouga Magister from EADS and Avro Vulcan which will be flying, and spend the rest of the days in a special Cold War Zone. Strange though to see that V-bomber confirmed, as the money for its winter maintenance still isn't raised completely.

[aviodromefriend]

Today the BBMF released its schedule:

Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane for both days at RIAT, arrival on Saturday, going straight into the display. Departure is Sunday right after their display (as usual).