RIAT 2004
Report by Remco Donselaar and Marcel Visser.
    

On the 17th and 18th of July the worlds biggest military Air Show was held at RAF Fairford. Always one of the best Air Shows in Europe, the prices are high but you will get were you paid for! The number of visitors is not that high compared to Air Shows in the Netherlands. Maybe the high prices are the reason for it, as RIAT certainly has much more exotic participants! RIAT 2004 counted 168.000 visitors in three days, the RNLAF open days counted over 300.000 visitors in just 2 days!

The RIAT always has some special themes. The special themes this year were and the 50th anniversary of the Hercules and the 30th anniversary of the Hawk. Therefore some very nice visitors were invited.

Touchdown Aviation was present at Thursday the 15th , Friday the 16th and Saturday the 17th of July. The Thursday was one of the arrival days. This is one of the opportunities to photograph some static aircraft, flying. But because the weather was very bad not very impressive photos could be taken. Highlights of this day were a Lithuanian L-39, some exotic Hercules’ from Brazil and Alaska. Also the arrival of the demo team ‘The Midnight Hawks’ was a special one. During arrival some pilots and co-pilots were wearing a Santa Clause outfit! Also Two F-117s were present, they made two operatational missions while being stationed on RAF Fairford for the Air Show, a welcome variety between all the arriving aircraft.

A little tear came up when for the last time a Dutch Orion arrived at the RIAT. Next year the owners will be Germany and Portugal.

The static show:

 Friday the 16th was rehearsal day for some demos. For Interested it was possible to photograph the static aircraft without a large number of visitors which are standing in front of you. Only the blue/green white pylons were a disturbing factor. A big part of the static show had the theme ‘50 Years Hercules’. Present were different U.S. examples but also a Hercules from Oman, New Zealand, Italy and the Arabian Emirates were present. Although there were a lot Hercules, in our eyes we missed too many Hercules' from country’s around the UK. For example, a RNLAF and BAF Hercules were not present. Too bad, but it also shows the heavy operational demand on the now 50 year old design, that the that not all the Air Forces invited had the opportunity to attent at the anniversary. Other themes were 60 years D-day and 100 years Entente Cordiale, the Anglo-French peace treaty.

A surprise was the RNLAF F-16AM J-511. This one arrived the day before with a normal tail. But whilst on the static display a sticker with tiger markings showed up at one side. This aircraft replaced the J-366, the 313 squadron 50th anniversary marked F-16, which was in maintenance during the RIAT.

About the Air Show:

 The last day of our visit to the RIAT was Saturday the 17th. This was the first flying day. Heavy showers and many clouds were predicted in the weather forecast. In the morning this was partially true, but in the afternoon the weather was great. Three large demo team’s were present, the Red Arrows, the Patrouille de France and Patrouille Suisse. They performed excellent demo’s as always.

The USAF participated with flying diplays of the F-15C, F-117A, B-1B(fly-pasts), B-2(fly-over), B-52H(fly-pasts) and a special demo of a MC-130P Hercules which refuelled a MH-53.

Boeing’s Chief Test Pilot for the Super Hornet programme, Ricardo Traven, was presented by RIAT with the King Hussain Memorial Sword (best overall flying demonstration), As the Crow Flies Award (from Friends of RIAT) and FRIAT Best Livery for his display in the Boeing F-18F Super Hornet.

The second best display was the unofficial display from the Eurofighter Typhoon T.1. The pilot was not prohibited to perform a classified display, but with the manoeuvres he did, it looked like an official display, and it was a great one! This was ofcourse not the only RAF display. Also displays from a Hawk T.1A, Jaguar GR.3A, Tornado F.3, a Hercules C.5 and a Harrier GR.7 were present.

Some special formations were flown because of the 100 years celebration of the Entente Cordiale, an agreement which established a lasting diplomatic understanding between the British and the French.

An other special formation was the one of the Patrouille Suisse and the Swiss Hornet. Also a F-15C flew together with a P-51D Mustang. For some people the most emotional formation was the formation of The Royal Jordanian Falcons which flew a missing man formation in honour of Mr Paul Bowen, director and co-founder of the Royal International Air Tattoo, who past away in May 2004.

If this all was not enough, also the following display’s performed: RNLAF F-16AM, BAF Fouga Magister, Italian G.222 and MB 339. At the end of this very great RIAT 2004 a lot of historical aircraft took off as a contribute to 60 years D-day.

The following was seen:
Belgium:    
MT-48 CM.170 1 Wing
CE-01 ERJ-135LR 21 Sm
FA-118 F-16AM 10 Wing
FA-119 F-16AM 10 Wing
RS-04 Seaking Mk.48 40 Sm
ST-20 MB339CD Ala23
Brazil:    
2466/66 C-130H 1°/1° GTT
Canada    
155221 (ZJ687) CT-155 NFTC
Denmark:    
S-191 Super Lynx Mk.90B Søv Fl
Estonia:    
ES-PLW Let 410UVP-T Border Guard
Finland:    
FF-3 F.27-400M TuKiLLv
HW-326/26 Hawk Mk.51 KoulLLv
HW-334/34 Hawk Mk.51 KoulLLv
HW-340/40 Hawk Mk.51 KoulLLv
HW-349/49 Hawk Mk.51 KoulLLv
HW-356/56 Hawk Mk.51A KoulLLv
France:    
E41/0 Alpha Jet E Patrouille de France
E94/1 Alpha Jet E Patrouille de France
E134/2 Alpha Jet E Patrouille de France
E160/3 Alpha Jet E Patrouille de France
E135/4 Alpha Jet E Patrouille de France
E165/5 Alpha Jet E Patrouille de France
E120/6 Alpha Jet E Patrouille de France
E46/7 Alpha Jet E Patrouille de France
E31/8 Alpha Jet E Patrouille de France
E75/9 Alpha Jet E Patrouille de France
2443/CYC AS.532UL 1RHC
R48/61-MT C-160R 1RHC
158/62-IR CN235-200M ET01.062
0010/ABN F406 EAAT

17/5-NR

Mirage 2000C

EC01.005

30/5-OF

Mirage 2000C

EC02.005

637/3-XC

Mirage 2000D

EC03.003

59/CF

Mirage IV P

ERS01.091

891/MCE

PC-6

ECTM

148

SA321G

32F

23, 46

Super Etendard

17F

156/ABT

TBM-700

EAAT

Germany:

87+00

Bo-105P

KHR26

87-50

Bo-105P

KHR26

87+52

Bo-105P

HFUS1

61+14

Br.1150

MFG3

84+78

CH-53G

MTHR15

37+22

F- 4F

JG71

89+61

Seaking Mk.41

MFG5

46+47

Tornado ECR

JBG32

46+54

Tornado ECR

JBG32

44+04

Tornado IDS

AG51

71+07

UH-1D

LTG61

Ireland:

252

CN.235M

101 Sq

Italy:

MM55031/32-40

AMX-T

101° Gr

MM55046/32-47

AMX-T

101° Gr

MM40115/41-77

Br.1150

88° Gr

MM62180/46-45

C-130J

2° Gr

MMCSX62127

C-27J

RSV

MM62152/RS-45

G.222TCM

RSV

MM55058/61-41

MB339A

213° Gr

MM55079

MB339CD

213° Gr

MM55090

MB339CD

RSV

MM25157

P166D

71° Gr

MM62203

P180AM

71° Gr

MM7047/50-43

Tornado ECR

155° Gr

MM7087/6-36

Tornado ECR

102° Gr

Jordan:

345

C-130H

3 Sq

JY-RND

EA300S

3 Sq

JY-RNE

EA300S

3 Sq

JY-RNG

EA300S

3 Sq

JY-RNL

EA300S

3 Sq

Lithuania:

05 bl

An-26B

Transporto Esk

06 bl

L-39ZA

Naikintuvu Grandis

NATO:

LX-N90444

E-3A

NAEW&CF

Netherlands:

S-454

AS.532 U2

300 Sq

PH-SBK

Beech 200

MARPAT

U-03

F.60UTA-N

334 Sq

J-016

F-16AM

323 Sq

J-511, J-875

F-16AM

313 Sq

J-643

F-16AM

322 Sq

300

P- 3C

MARPAT

New Zealand:

NZ7001

C-130H

40 Sq

Norway:

665

F-16AM

332 Skv

302

F-16BM

332 Skv

Oman:

503

C-130H

16 Sq

Poland:

1118

M-28TD

28. elMW

Portugal:

15104, 15108

F-16A

201 Esq

Switzerland:

J-5006

F/A- 18C

FlSt 11

J-5011 F/A- 18C FlSt 11
J-3080

F-5E

Patrouille Suisse

J-3081

F-5E

Patrouille Suisse

J-3082

F-5E

Patrouille Suisse

J-3084

F-5E

Patrouille Suisse

J-3086

F-5E

Patrouille Suisse

J-3087

F-5E

Patrouille Suisse

J-3090

F-5E

Patrouille Suisse

T-781

LJ 35A

VIP Flight

United Kingdom:

ZJ211

Apache AH.1

673 Sq

ZD704

BAe.125 CC.3

32 (TR) Sq

XH131

Canberra PR.9

39 (1 PRU) Sq

ZH776

Chinook HC.2

27 (R) Sq

ZA947/AI

Dakota C.3

BoBMF

XS711/L

Dominie T.1

55 (R) Sq

XS736/S

Dominie T.1

55 (R) Sq

XX381

Gazelle AH.1

847 Sq

XZ329

Gazelle AH.1

847 Sq

ZJ238/Y

Griffin HT.1

60 (R) Sq

ZD380/28

Harrier GR.7

1 Sq

ZD407/36

Harrier GR.7

20 (R) Sq

ZG859/91

Harrier GR.7

4 Sq

ZJ100

Hawk 102D

BAe Warton

XX233

Hawk T.1

Red Arrows

XX237

Hawk T.1

Red Arrows

XX308

Hawk T.1

Red Arrows

XX227

Hawk T.1A

Red Arrows

XX253

Hawk T.1A

Red Arrows

XX260

Hawk T.1A

Red Arrows

XX306

Hawk T.1A

Red Arrows

XX179

Hawk T.1A

Red Arrows

XX292

Hawk T.1A

Red Arrows

XX327

Hawk T.1

CAM

XX190/190

Hawk T.1A

208 (R) Sq

XX219/219

Hawk T.1A

208 (R) Sq

XX203/203

Hawk T.1A

19 (R) Sq

XX261

Hawk T.1A

208 (R) Sq

XX265/CK

Hawk T.1A

100 Sq

XV184

Hercules C.3

LTW

XV197

Hercules C.3

LTW

XV220

Hercules C.3

LTW

XV301

Hercules C.3

LTW

ZH872

Hercules C.4

LTW

ZH872

Hercules C.4

LTW

ZH882

Hercules C.5

LTW

ZH885

Hercules C.5

LTW

ZH887

Hercules C.5

LTW

ZH889

Hercules C.5

LTW

XX117/PA

Jaguar GR.3A

16 (R) Sq

XZ392/PF

Jaguar GR.3A

16 (R) Sq

XZ360/FN

Jaguar GR.3A

16 (R) Sq

XX145

Jaguar T.2A

QinetiQ

XX847/PY

Jaguar T.4

16 (R) Sq

XX486/CU-569

Jetstream T.2

750 Sq

PA474/QR-M

Lancaster B.1

BoBMF

XZ182

Lynx AH.7

847 Sq

XZ248/638

Lynx HAS.3S

702 Sq

ZD249/637

Lynx HAS.3S

702 Sq

ZD257/308

Lynx HMA.8

815 Sq

XV244/44

Nimrod MR.2

Kinloss MRW

ZJ289

Phoenix UAV

n/n

XW214

Puma HC.1

33 Sq

XZ440/717

Seaharrier FA.2

899 Sq

ZH809

Seaharrier FA.2

899 Sq

ZH806/N-007

Seaharrier FA.2

801 Sq

ZH813/N-006 Seaharrier FA.2 801 Sq
XV697/CU-181 Seaking ASAC.7 849 Sq
XZ599 Seaking HAR.3 203 (R) Sq
ZF124/L Seaking HC.4 845 Sq
ZH107/107 Sentry AEW.1 n/n
MK356 Spitfire IX BoBMF
AB910 Spitfire Vb BoBMF
ZJ258 Squirrel HT.1 DHFS
ZJ274 Squirrel HT.1 DHFS
ZJ278 Squirrel HT.1 DHFS
ZJ279 Squirrel HT.1 DHFS
G-BWXN T67M-260 JEFTS
G-BWXS T67M-260 JEFTS
G-BWXW T67M-260 JEFTS
ZE294/DD Tornado F.3 11 Sq
ZE812/XR Tornado F.3 56 (R) Sq
ZG795/WD Tornado F.3 56 (R) Sq
ZE969/XA Tornado F.3 25 Sq
ZA564/DK Tornado GR.4 31 Sq
ZD709/DH Tornado GR.4 31 Sq
ZA602/XIII Tornado GR.4 13 Sq
ZE116/X Tornado GR.4 13 Sq
ZD843/TG Tornado GR.4 15 (R) Sq
ZF238 Tucano T.1 1 FTS
ZF242 Tucano T.1 1 FTS
ZF348 Tucano T.1 1 FTS
ZF515 Tucano T.1 1 FTS
ZH141 Twin Squirrel HCC.1 32 (TR) Sq
ZJ140 Twin Squirrel HCC.1 32 (TR) Sq
ZJ800/AC Typhoon T.1 17 (OEU) Sq
ZJ803/AA Typhoon T.1 17 (OEU) Sq
ZH118/TD Vigilant T.1 612 VGS
ZH188/UA Vigilant T.1 612 VGS
ZH193/UF Vigilant T.1 612 VGS
United States of America:
00-5207 AH-64D 6/6 Cav
85-0083/EL B-1B 34 BS
86-0108/DY B-1B 28 BS
60-0030/LA B-52H 20 BS
60-0042/BD B-52H 93 BS
63-7851/PR C-130E 198 AS
82-0055/AK C-130H 144 AS
89-1186 C-130H 105 AS
64-0620 C- 141C 445 AW
84-0083 C-21A 76 AS
97-0401 C-37A

99 AS

70-0449 C-5A 60 AMW
71-1407/OK E-3B 964 ACCS
164410 E-6A VQ4
00-2000/GA E- 8C 128 ACCS
165917/NE-101 F/A- 18F VFA2
80-0787/HO F-117A 8 FS
83-0808/HO F-117A 9 FS
86-0147/LN F- 15C 493 FS
86-0165/LN F- 15C 493 FS
91-0321/LN F-15E 492 FS
97-0219/LN F-15E 492 FS
97-0220/LN F-15E 492 FS
97-0222/LN F-15E 492 FS
98-0131/LN F-15E 492 FS
88-0446/AV F-16CG 555 FS
89-2035/AV F-16CG 555 FS
87-0120 KC-10A 305 AMW
59-1466 KC-135R 136 ARS
62-3561/D KC-135R 351 ARS
83-0493 LC-130H 139 AS
64-0555 MC-130E 711 SOS
88-0193 MC-130H 7 SOS
69-5825 MC-130P 67 SOS
69-5826 MC-130P 67 SOS
67-14994 MH-53M 21 SOS
69-5796 MH-53M 21 SOS
61-2670/OF OC-135B 45 AS
161008/LL-02 P- 3C VP30
64-14844/OF RC-135V 38 RS
73-1153/RA T-43A 562 FTS
68-10329 U-2S 9 RW
87-24643 UH-60A 1/214 Avn Rgt
97-5304 WC-130J 53 WRS