RIAT 2015 — Europe’s biggest air show!

RIAT is the Royal International Air Tatoo — simply Europe’s biggest of air shows and takes place at RAF Fairford near Gloucestershire UK. More than 150,000 attended last week to see antique aircraft, historical airplanes, the newest in aviation technology, one of the last flights of the sole flying Avro Vulcan as well as premier flight demonstration teams. Nick Horrox and Bill Ramsey provided observation as well as insight for this post while Alex Horrox lent his excellent images.

BAE Systems Hawk T1A aircraft are flown by the RAF Red Arrows with “smoke on” at RIAT 2015 (note air brakes under the tails are deployed) — copyright Alex Horrox 2015

Bill Ramsey, retired RAF and Red Arrow pilot, was on the Vulcan flight crew at RIAT 2015. He advises the Red Arrows fly with air brakes (speed brakes as they are known in the U.S.) extended at lower air speeds for two significant reasons. First, the aircraft can be flown at higher power settings which increase throttle responsiveness (formation flying calls for large and quick power changes). Second, the turbulence aft of the panel distributes the smoke favorably (favourably in the UK). Bill is also Technical Project Research and Development Consultant with The People’s Mosquito.

Red Arrows and Avro Vulcan (Bill Ramsey piloting/Kev Rumens copiloting) in formation at RIAT 2015 which must have been the show highlight — copyright Alex Horrox 2015

Bill Ramsey was piloting the Vulcan during the formation flypast (fly by in the U.S.) with Kev Rumens acting copilot — with a flypast air speed of 270 knots. The Red Arrows used their air brakes while the Vulcan did not require its air brakes (and he jests they would make for a worse image if extended). Vastly dissimilar aircraft are a wonder to witness flying in formation, are they not!

RIAT 2015 Bristol Bleinheim Mk I flypast — copyright Alex Horrox 2015

RAF Airbus A400M scimitar propellers at RIAT 2105 (note the aerial refueling probe above the cockpit) — copyright Alex Horrox 2015

RAF Airbus A400M in an aggressive climb out from taking off demonstration at RIAT 2105 (this is the RAF’s newest cargo transport aircraft type in service) — copyright Alex Horrox 2015

RIAT 2015 flypast of the new Japan Maritime Defense Force Kawasaki P-1 (the crowd welcomed Japan’s contribution to the air show) — copyright Alex Horrox 2015

20mm gun ports of a de Havilland Mosquito, part of The People’s Mosquito Project — copyright Alex Horrox 2015

The People’s Mosquito (TPM) is the innovative project to rebuild a de Havilland Mosquito — “The Wooden Wonder” — and place it in the public trust — making it the only non privately owned flying Mossie.  TPM was well represented and well received at the air show which is unsurprising since fund raising is accelerating though only in its second year. Progress is significant as was shown in TPM’s display tent with some of the remains of Mosquito RL249 (the specific aircraft being built anew from the ground up as the data plate survives), the donor airframe and new wing ribs cut by Aerowood Ltd. [See much more information by using “Peoples Mosquito” in the search window. Information on the wing ribs, the wood and the cutting for example.]

Much of The People’s Mosquito Team at RIAT 2015 in front of the Mossie 20mm gun port fairing. L-R are: Steve Manning, Alan Pickford, John Lilley, Vince Reed and Nick Horrox — copyright Alex Horrox 2015

Nick Horrox and Alan Pickford ad lib at The People’s Mosquito tent at RIAT 2015 as well as indications of the traffic attracted by the TPM tent — copyright Alex Horrox 2015

RIAT 2015 Avro Vulcan flypast with bomb doors open— copyright Alex Horrox 2015

Avro Vulcan landing at RIAT 2015 — copyright Alex Horrox 2015

TPM’s Steve Manning (L) and John Lilley (R) ready for the flying disc sport comp — copyright Alex Horrox 2015

Donation’s to The Peoples’ Mosquito can be made here and quality merchandise can be purchased here 🙂