Not without reason it is acclaimed the biggest military air show in the world. With 320 aircraft from 24 countries representing 34 international air arms, and with nearly 2,600 aircrew and ground crew put together converging at the venue with an estimated 17500 visitors, the scenario can hardly be fathomed any bigger.
The two-day 'Royal International Air Tattoo' (RIAT), held annually at United States Air Force (USAF) 420 TH Air Base Group at Fairford in Gloucestershire – some 70 miles west of London, concluded over the weekend, on July 14 and 15. The air tattoo is the world's largest military air show and is held annually in support of the Royal Air Force (RAF) Charitable Trust.
The Indian Air Force (IAF), currently celebrating its 75th anniversary, displayed an IL-78 MKI and two Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters at the 'static display'. A single Su-30 MKI flown by Wing Commander H Assudani and Squadron Leader SK Sharma briefly, kept the shutterbugs asking for more. In more ways than one, the continued presence of the IAF at two major military air shows in a row in Europe couldn't have been timed any better, as the IAF is at the threshold of reaching yet another historic milestone this year on October 8.
The event also hosted Europe's largest tribute to the USAF on its 60th anniversary, a relationship that was built up between the RAF and USAF when the latter separated from the US Army in 1947. The air tattoo also marked the 65 th anniversary of the US Air Force in Europe (USAFE).
Coming close on the heels of IAF's maiden participation at the Waddington International Air Show in which the IAF display was adjudged the best 'static display', the trio of IL-78 MKI flanked by two formidable Su-30 MKIs simply took off from where it left at Waddington, and continued to draw huge fans at their spot.
Significantly, a single Hawk aircraft, complete with IAF markings and tricolour roundel, that are set to arrive in India later in September this year, also made a silent static debut at the RIAT. A prize for guessing the right answer as to which Air Force the aircraft belonged, entitled winners to get a RIAT aircraft checklist.
Among the guests attending the Air Tattoo were HRH Prince Michael of Kent; HRH Prince Faisal of Jordan; HRH the Duke of Kent; Baroness Margaret Thatcher; Gen T Michael Moseley, Chief of the US Air Force; Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, Chief of the Air Staff, RAF and Air Chief Marshal FH Major, Chief of the Air Staff, IAF and Mrs Zareen Major.
With hundreds of aircraft parked in the vast expanse of the airfield, veteran aviation buffs were taken down the memory lane as some of the old-time favourites such as the Spitfires, Hurricanes and Douglas DC-3 Dakota, also flown once upon a time by the IAF jostled for attention. There was also the legendary P-51D Mustang. It was not easy to pick one from the other given their aviation history in different eras.
A Brazilian Embraer R-99A airborne early warning aircraft, which is rarely seen outside South America was also at the display including a Canadian CT-142 navigational training aircraft from the City of Winnipeg Squadron and two Turkish Air Force NF-5Bs.
The outstanding aircraft of the modern era also stood out with their uncharacteristic features such as the F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter of the USAF, Eurofighter Typhoons, F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15E Strike Eagles, F/A-18C Hornets, F-86A Sabre fighters, B1B Lancaster Bomber, Hawks, F3 Tornadoes, Nimrod MRA4, Gulfstream G550, USAF C-130 Hercules and India's formidable Su-30 MKIs and a towering IL-78 MKI to name a few. For the rotary wing followers there were the Lynx, Gazelles, Mi-24V Hind, Eurocopter Dauphins, Robinson R44 and Chinook among others.
There were formation air displays galore apart from several solo displays by some of the latest fighters. The helicopter displays were by the Royal Navy (RN) Black Cats and Army Air Corps 'Blue Eagles'. The four aircraft biplane formations of 'Stearman' mounted by four daring persons atop, presented a unique sight. The major several show stealers included the awesome display by RAF's Red Arrows in Hawk aircraft, RN's Black Sea Hawks with two FRA planes, US Air Combat Command Strike Eagle team display, the Italian Air Force display 'Frecce Tricolori' in their Aermacchi MB-339 light attack aircraft and trainer.
The much-awaited display of the USAF's renowned "Thunderbirds" comprising six F-16 'Fighting Falcons' that last appeared in the UK six years ago, and making their debut at RIAT, was simply mesmerizing. Unusual for national aerobatics display teams, two of the pilots – Major Nicole and Captain Samantha are women.