MILAVIA > Air Shows > Royal International Air Tattoo 2013 Last updated: 26 January 2014
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Air Show Report : Royal International Air Tattoo 2013

Royal International Air Tattoo 2013 - RAF Fairford

During the weekend of July 20-21 in 2013, the annual Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) took place again at RAF Fairford. Photos contributed by Jiun Yap



Known as the world's largest military airshow since attracting 535 aircraft to the Air Tattoo in 2003, the Royal International Air Tattoo remains the premier annual airshow for fans of military aviation. Despite ongoing defence cuts in the UK and across Europe, and the absence of the U.S. military due to the sequester, RIAT 2013 had attracted a good number of military aircraft, but far less than the record of ten years ago. Unique for the 2013 edition was the British Airways Airbus A380 in formation with the RAF Red Arrows. The Frecce Tricolori display team made a welcome return to the Air Tattoo in 2013. In the gallery below showcase the military aircraft of the flying displays of Saturday as well as the departures on Monday of the displays with their spare and support aircraft, as well as some of the aircraft that were on static display during the weekend.

The RAF Tucano T.1 Demo 2013 in Second World War Spitfire c/s
The Breitling Wing-Walking Team displayed with all of their four Stearman aircraft and wing-walkers
Two-ship Breitling Wing-Walkers
Action shot of one of the Breitling Wing-Walkers
Italian Air Force F-2000 Typhoon takes-off for the mock refuelling display
KC-767 tanker formation with RAF and ItAF Typhoons
Royal Netherlands Air Force AH-64D Apache demo
The RNLAF AH-64D Demo carries 100 years military aviation 1913-2013 markings
RNLAF AH-64D Apache Demo loop
Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 Demo taking off
RNLAF F-16AM display
RNLAF F-16AM afterburner pass
RNLAF F-16AM demo 'Orange Lion'
Vulcan XH558 relies on public support to keep flying, visit the <a href=Vulcan to the Sky website to support XH558" title="Vulcan XH558 relies on public support to keep flying, visit the Vulcan to the Sky website to support XH558">
Frecce Tricolori display team was back in 2013
Frecce Tricolori full formation
Frecce Tricolori main formation
Frecce Tricolori main formation aerobatics
Italian colours against the Gloucestershire sky
Frecce Tricolori tight 10-ship formation
Finnish Army NH90 TTH display
Finnish NH90 loadmaster waving
Belgian Air Force A109 display
Belgian Air Force A109 helicopter demo
Red Bull B-25 Mitchell and F4U Corsair formation
Red Bull B-26 Mitchell close-up on landing
Swedish Air Force JAS 39C Gripen demo
Swedish Air Force JAS 39C Gripen '209'
Royal Jordanian Falcons Extra 300 aerobatic team
Dramatic shot of the Polish Air Force MiG-29 solo display
Polish Air Force MiG-29 'Fulcrum' demo 2013
Polish Air Force MiG-29 gear down pass before landing
Italian Air Force's RSV flight showcased the Alenia/Lockheed-Martin C-27J Spartan
Italian RSV C-27J Spartan display
C-27J Spartan steep approach
Close-up of the C-27J from the Reparto Sperimentale Volo
British Army WAH-64D Apache Longbow demo 2013
British Army WAH-64D showing off its 30mm cannon
Unlike the Dutch Apaches, the British Army WAH-64D Apaches are equipping the Longbow radar
B-17 Flying Fortress 'Memphis Belle'
Royal Air Force Typhoon Demo taking off
British Airways Airbus A380 joined by the RAF Red Arrows
Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows
British Army Lynx helicopter, in future to be replaced by the latest Lynx variant named Wildcat
RAF 617 Squadron 'The Dambusters' Tornado GR.4 with 70th Anniversary markings of the dambusting raid
RAF 617 Squadron 'The Dambusters' Tornado GR.4 back on the ground
Italian Air Force's RSV Typhoon Demo
Reparto Sperimentale Volo displaying the Typhoon, designated F-2000 in Italian service
The Reparto Sperimentale Volo has fitted 'Smokewinders' to its demo aircraft
Captain R 'Grat' Thys was the BAF F-16 Demo pilot for 2013
Belgian Air Force F-16 Demo take-off
Belgian Air Force F-16 Demo 2013
Belgian Air Force F-16AM Demo smoke trails
Belgian Air Force F-16AM vortexes
The underside of the BAF F-16AM catching some sunlight
BAF F-16 Demo deploying the air brakes to turn with afterburner on
Belgian Air Force F-16AM high speed pass
Estonian Air Force L-39 training jet
Swiss Air Force PC-7 Team formation display
Swiss Air Force Pilatus PC-7 two-ship landing
PBY-5A Catalina marked as OA-10A Catalina 433915/'Miss Pick Up'
PBY-5A Catalina fly-past
Gloster Meteor
Gloster Meteor
Airbus A400M tactical airlifter
Airbus Military A400M
Airbus A400M display
Airbus A400M
Airbus A400M back on the ground
Hungarian Air Force Gripen C demo take-off
Hungarian Gripen C Demo afterburner
Hungarian Air Force 59th TFW Gripen C
Hungarian Gripens underside feature a fake canopy outline
Hungarian Gripen C utilizes its foreplanes in addition to the air brakes to come to a halt
French Air Force (Armée de l'Air - AdlA) Rafale C demo
Armée de l'Air Rafale demonstrations are never shy of using the afterburner
Armée de l'Air Dassault Rafale C topside
Dassault Rafale C afterburner turn
Dynamic shot of the Armée de l'Air Rafale Demo
Eurofighter Typhoon line-up at RAF Fairford
Royal Air Force C-17A Globemaster III
Royal Jordanian Air Force C-130 Hercules in the static park
Estonian Air Force L-39 caught on its departure
Armée de l'Air Mirage F1CR '100 ans de reco' special
Swiss Air Force Super Puma
Polish Air Force MiG-29 'Fulcrum' demo and spare departing
Armée de l'Air Rafale C solo display departing
Royal Air Force Typhoon
Luftwaffe Tornado ECR low-level
Luftwaffe AG51 Tornado ECR 46+57 in NATO Tiger Meet 'Arctic Tiger' c/s
Luftwaffe AG51 Tornado ECR 46+57 Arctic Tiger climbing turn
Luftwaffe Tornado ECR in ferry configuration
Hawker Beechcraft T-6C Texan II demo aircraft
Armée de l'Air C-295 departure
Frecce Tricolori aircraft 0 and 2 to 5 departing
Frecce Tricolori aircraft 6 to 10 departing
Polish Navy M28 Bryza-1R maritime patrol aircraft
Royal Danish Air Force CL-604 Multi-Mission Aircraft
Royal Netherlands Air Force AH-64 Apache Demo spare in standard colour
Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 Demo spare aircraft with 313 Sqn 60th anniversary markings
Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 Demo aircraft departing
Irish Air Corps CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft
Royal Jordanian Air Force C-130 Hercules on its way to the runway
Royal Jordanian Air Force C-130 Hercules departure
Royal Netherlands Air Force 323 Squadron F-16 65th anniversary special
Royal Netherlands Air Force 323 Squadron F-16, with TGP and jammer
Royal Danish Air Force EH101 SAR helicopter
British Army WAH-64D Apache Longbow
Royal Air Force Sea King HAR.3 SAR helicopter
RAF 617 Squadron Tornado GR.4 with 70th Dambusters anniversary tail
Royal Air Force Tornado GR.4 in normal colour scheme
Hungarian Air Force Gripen demo An-26 support aircraft
Royal Navy Merlin HM.1
German Navy's P-3C Orion 100 Jahre Marineflieger special
Close-up of the Marineflieger P-3C Orion
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR.4
The second 617 Squadron 70th Dambusters anniversary Tornado GR.4
Polish Air Force MiG-29 demo's C-295 support aircraft
Armée de l'Air C-160 Transall
Armée de Terre Puma
RUAG Aviation offers the Do228 Next Generation for a wide variety of missions, including surveillance and maritime patrol
Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR.4 on the taxiway
Close-up of the Typhoon FGR.4
Belgian Air Force ERJ-145 take-off
German Navy RUAG Do228NG 98+35 has joined the older Do228s tasked with pollution control since 2011
Breitling's Super Constellation
Super Constellation departure
Royal Air Force Merlin HC.3
Royal Air Force 'Royal' Squadron A109
Royal Netherlands Air Force C-130H-30 with 100 years military aviation and 336 Sqn markings
Royal Air Force Hawk T.2 advanced jet trainers
Dutch Coastguard Do228 aircraft are operated by the air force
Retired from Royal Air Force service in 2007, this Canberra PR.9 flies again
Hellenic Air Force Embraer EMB-145 AEW&C
Estonian Air Force An-2
Brazilian Air Force R-99B Embraer EMB-145 Remote Sensing and SIGINT aircraft
Privately owned Jet Provost T.52A in South Arabian Air Force markings of 1967, Federation of South Arabia
Italian Air Force C-27J departure
Royal Air Force Sea King HAR.3 close-up

The next Air Tattoo is scheduled for 11-13 July, 2014. In 2014 the Royal Air Force Red Arrows will fly their 50th Display Season, which will be officially celebrated during RIAT starting with a special Red Arrows Pit Day for the public on Friday before the RIAT weekend air show. The F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Hawk were first flown in 1974, the Air Tattoo invited all current operators of the two types to Fairford to mark their 40th anniversaries. The theme for RIAT2014 will be 'Partnership' highlighting the co-operation between nations on strategic and tactical levels, ranging from joint operations to industrial joint programs.

Photos by Jiun Yap ( view portfolio )



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First Published: 26 January 2014
Last Modified: 26 January 2014

Updates:
17 Dec 2013 Added SwAF HF images
15 Dec 2013 Added photo captions