Aviation News — September 2017

(Rick Simeone) #1

T


his year’s Royal International
Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in
Gloucestershire, held over July
14-16, marked the 70th anniversary
of the USAF. The air arm provided an array
of aircraft, though the star attraction for many
was the B-2A Spirit which performed flybys
on the Sunday accompanied by two F-15C
Eagles. The theme provided other highlights,
including the USAF’s ‘Thunderbirds’ display
team, while an F-22A Raptor performed on
the Sunday (bad weather prevented it and
some other aircraft flying on the Saturday)
and also flew with P-51D Mustang Frenesi
(N357FG). A Lockheed U-2S was a welcome
feature of the static park.
A Ukrainian Air Force Su-27P1M
Flanker was a standout item in the flying
programme, and there was a two-seat
UB1M variant in the static park along with
an Il-76MD Candid. Israel sent an aircraft
(a C-130J) for the first time in 15 years. The
Finnish Air Force ‘Midnight Hawks’ team was
also welcomed back. Australia deployed
an E-7A Wedgetail and Japan once
again contributed a KC-767A. The Royal

Canadian Air Force supplied a CH-147F
Chinook that was flown in on a CC-
Globemaster III. The French Air Force’s
Couteau Delta team, flying two Mirage
2000Ds, made its UK debut.
The UK military obviously attended in
force and provided a glimpse into the future
with new training types: a Phenom, Prefect,
Juno, Jupiter and Texan II (which returned to
the US after the show to continue testing). It
was also the last public outing for Tornado
GR4, ZG750 (painted in the Operation
Granby scheme) before being retired.
Another interesting attendee was a de
Haviland DH.9, one of three airframes
discovered rotting in a shed in India and
painstakingly restored by Aero Vintage and
BAE Systems to flying condition though at
the time of the show it hadn’t taken to the air.
A crowd of 160,000 people witnessed 246
aircraft taking part in RIAT from 32 air arms
representing 26 nations. Peter R Foster

SPECTACULAR RIAT


10 Aviation News incorporating Jets September 2017

Above: A view of the main taxiway looking
west with the crowd enjoying the diverse
selection of aircraft on show. Air Tattoo
photography

AWARD WINNERS
King Hussein Memorial Sword, best overall flying
demonstration: Capitaine Jean-Guillaume ‘Marty’
Martinez, Escadron de Transformation Rafale 3/
‘Aquitaine’, French Air Force, Rafale C
Paul Bowen Trophy, best jet demonstration: Major
Dan ‘Rock’ Dickinson, 1st Fighter Wing, USAF, F-22A
Raptor.
Steedman Display Sword, best flying demonstration
by a UK participant: Flt Lt Ryan Lawton, 29 (Reserve)
Squadron, RAF, Typhoon
Sir Douglas Bader Trophy, best individual flying
display: 1st Lt Andrej Fiorelli, 152nd Fixed-Wing
Squadron, Slovenian Air Force, Pilatus PC-9M
As the Crow Flies Trophy, best overall flying
demonstration as judged by members of the Friends
of the Royal International Air Tattoo: Col Oleksander
Oksanchenko, 831st Guards Tactical Aviation
Brigade, Ukrainian Air Force, Su-27P1M
RAFCTE (Royal Air Force Charitable Trust
Enterprises) Trophy, best flying demonstration by an
overseas participant: Capt Ivo Kardoš, 211th Tactical
Squadron, Czech Air Force, JAS 39C Gripen
Best Livery: Reparto Sperimentale Volo, Italian Air
Force A-200A Tornado
RIAT CEO Award, outstanding contribution to the
show: USAF Thunderbirds

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