RIAT Royal International Air Tattoo 2022
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Photography by: Harry Morrow.
Monday 18th July One of the more spectacular days of the whole RIAT event for me is the departure day. Aircraft arriving for the show take 3 to 4 days to arrive, but everything tries to leave in one day. Appetite for the show was sky-high after its three-year hiatus, with visitors coming from all over the world to see RIAT’s return. While many used the shuttle bus and park-and-ride services from Cheltenham and Swindon, one arrival had its roots firmly in Hollywood. Top Gun star Tom Cruise’s visit was a closely-guarded secret, and the star spent time with RIAT visitors and volunteers, taking time to talk with those who had been inspired by his own passion for aviation. Jo Salter said: “I had the amazing opportunity to host Tom Cruise on Saturday and saw first-hand his passion for aviation and inspiring the next generation.” With world-renowned guests, unprecedented demand, and an ever-growing list of international participants, it’s clear that the Royal International Air Tattoo has proven itself still worthy of its title “the world’s greatest airshow”. My trip is coming to an end but I enjoyed every minute of the whole event, I cannot wait to come back.
One of the first to leave the show is this Airbus Helicopter H175M supposed to be RAF Puma replacement
F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Royal Dutch Air Force, followed by Swiss Air Force F-18 Hornets
There are always some arrivals on departure day, mainly to collect equipment and crew, here is the first arrival in the shape of Pilatus PC-12 NGX
2 x Grob G-115 E Tutors, quickly followed by G-HOUR former French aircraft Max Holste Broussard MH 1521M, XE688 Hawker Hunter T.72 of Hawker Hunter Aviation based at RAF Leeming, coded 033 is Cessna Citation II of the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight, arriving is Airbus A319 of the Hungarian Air Force, based at Kecskemet Air Base.
Airbus A319 of the Hungarian Air Force
United States Air Force Boeing E-4B ready to GO!
The Boeing E-4B “NIGHTWATCH” from the 1st ACCS - Airborne Command & Control Squadron, heading back to the USA.
The next batch of departures included some colorful F-16’s from the Belgium Air Component, Italian AF display team Frecci TriColori, Finnish AF Hawks, a trio of Swedish AF Gripens, with a pair of Greek F-16’s finishing this little montage.
From 29 Squadron based at RAF Coningsby 2022 display Typhoon callsign “Blackjack”
A trio of display teams, Swiss AF Aerobatic team with PC-7’s, followed by the French AF Mustang X-Ray demo team flying PC-21’s, with the RAF premier display team Red Arrows heading home.
French Air Force Mustang X-Ray demo team about to depart RAF Fairford
A helicopter selection from the departure day.
Italian AF MB339CD wearing cag colors of 213 Gruppo, a pair of RAF Typhoons, Greek AF F-16 ready to go! & another arrival this time from the Spanish AF Casa C-295.
Part of the training theme, a collection of light aircraft all the way from Italy, known as Fly Fano Team.
German Air Force Airbus H145 Helicopter
Brazilian Air Force Embraer KC-390 making its way out ready to go, and Swedish support aircraft Lockheed C-130 arrives to collect equipment with the Spanish Air Force Casa C-295M also to collect equipment or crew.
Brazilian Air Force Embraer KC-390 departing RIAT 2022.
In this selection of images are the following: Italian AF T-346 & Eurofighter, German AF Eurofighter, Spanish AF F-18, Hungarian AF Saab Gripen & USAF F-16.
Boeing 727 Oil Spill Response Aircraft, G-ETPP Augusta-Westland AW139, Swedish AF Historic Flight Lansen, HM Coastguard Piper PA-31, G-ZXLL Extra EA300 of 2 Excel Aviation, Swiss-registered PA-28 HB-PKE & Douglas A-4N Skyhawk.
Swedish AF Historic Flight departing Viggen, Draken & Lansen.
We are getting to the end of the departures day, and next out is a German Air Force CH-53 Stallion, followed by PZL C-145 of the Estonian Air Force, Romania Air Force AN-30 “Open Skies”, a pair of Slovenian Air Force PC-9s, with the arrival of USAF C-21 (Learjet), Slovak Air Force Alenia C-27J, Portuguese Air Force TB-30s, HM Coastguard PA31 & Finnish Air Force Casa C-295.
A first visit o RIAT for the Royal Air Force’s recent acquisition of Boeing P-8 Poseidon named “The City of Elgin” a crew member has the perfect view.
Leading the way with this penultimate batch of images is the Kawasaki C-2 from the JASDF Japan Air Self Defence Force, Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon & Royal Air Force Bombardier Sentinel R.1
The final pair of movements from me are two Belgium Air Component F-16s.
That’s a wrap! The Royal International Air Tattoo proves it’s still worthy of the title ‘the greatest airshow in the world’
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