Part Two - RIAT Heatwave

RIAT Summer Stars 1

This years flying display was an example of just what RIAT is famous for, plenty of rare displays from across the globe, many of which are seldom seen in the UK.

Steven Hadlow reviews the flying at a scorching RIAT. All photos are copyright of author unless otherwise marked. Additional photos by Roger Hadlow.

This years show coincided with the opening of the bi-centennial trade airshow held at Farnborough. In past years this has enabled the RIAT organising team to pick up several display acts which are in the country for the FI show, most recently the Super Hornet in 2004. With it being a trade show this often means the participants are often rare manufacturer demonstrators or new types going for sales, needless to say this year RIAT struck gold.

The weather as the queues formed on Saturday morning wasn't ideal, cloudy with a rather cold breeze blowing gave credit to sight worries that the excellent weather forecasts may have been mistaken after all. But just after the flying display began the weather broke into the finest weather possible. As it turned out this was exactly the same as the weather did on Sunday as well.

The most unique display aircraft present in the flying display came in the, rather unusual, shape of the Boeing MV-22B Osprey from VMX-22 of the US Marine Corps based at MCAS New River. This unique machine has the ability to change the position of it's huge rotors so as to change the type of flight it conducts. The display demonstrated this with a mixture of passes down the crowdline like a standard aircraft and showcasing it's hovering capabilities. Especially amazing was the aircrafts ability to change from standard flight into hover within the same pass. Also on the rotary thread came another nugget for the enthusiasts. This was the Mil Mi-24V Hind from 231VrLt of the Czech Air Force. It's been a while since the Hind was seen flying in the UK so it's return was extremely welcome. The display aircraft carried a very nice special scheme as well which was a nice touch.

The Mig performed a simply stunning display using it's thrust vectoring abilities to great effect. Saturdays display was performed by Pavel Vlasov whilst Sundays was performed by Mikhail Belyaev. The Migs unique thrust vectoring capabilities enable the aircraft to manoeuvre without having to rely on the airflow over the control surfaces. To do this the aircraft has controllable engine nozzles which enable the pilot to be able to move the aircraft simply by altering the nozzle positions.  Competing with the Mig was the Boeing F/A 18F Hornet flown, as was the case in 2004, by test pilot Ricardo Travern. Interestingly the organisers placed both of these ground breaking machines alongside one another in the flying display programme which made for a unique opportunity to compare both displays. The OVTs thrust vectoring capability meant it could perform more outlandish manoeuvres but despite this Travern wasn't outclassed with some superb sharp manoeuvres and the knife edge pass for the crowd was a excellent addition.

The older generation of F/A 18 was also present in the flying display from the Swiss Air Force F/A 18C Hornet display. The Swiss Hornet put on a excellent show which certainly wasn't too far behind it's more modern variant. Making it's first RIAT flying display since 2003 was the JAS39 SAAB Gripen from the Swedish Air Force. It was pleasing to see this agile and elegant jet back among the RIAT crowd with it's usual excellent display, let's hope it becomes a regular on the UK airshow circuit in the future.

Another fast jet making a return to RIAT was the USAF F15C display. The F15 put on a loud and powerful display which surpassed the USAF F16 display seen at RIAT last year. Following his display the F15C formed up with P-51D Mustang 'Twilight Tear' to perform the Heritage Flight flypast, which is always a unique and interesting sight. An award winner last year was also present in the distinctive delta winged shape of the Dassault Mirage 2000C RDI. The Mirage is always a popular display at RIAT with some superb flying exhibited and this year was no exception. Flares were also back in fashion at the show. No it wasn't a 1970s flashback but rather the fact that on Saturday the Dutch F16 display used flares twice throughout his display. Clearly his countrymen from last years AH64 Apache display were able to share the secret of how to get permission to use them from last year. The Patrouille Suisse also did the same but more on them later.

The RAF were strongly present in the Flying Display as would be expected. As was the case at Waddington the star of the RAF participation was certainly the Canberra PR9. This was it's last public airshow before it is retired from RAF service. The display on both days was something to be remembered.

RIAT Summer Stars 2

With the Canberra set to retire it seems all doom and gloom but thankfully there is still a chance that several will soldier on with civilian companies. Already on this route are Canberra WK163, which is a flyer, and a Canberra T.4 which is hoped to fly, both owned by Air Atlantique, based at Coventry Airport.

From the old to the very new with Squadron Leader Matt Elliot flying the Eurofighter Typhoon in it's usual routine of tight turns and carefree rolling. On both days the display was performed in a T1 variant of the aircraft as opposed to an F2. For the first time at RIAT there was direct competition to this display, namely from the Spanish Air Force Typhoon display. Needless to say both displays were very aerobatic and powerful and thankfully they were different and enjoyable enough to avoid any sense of tedium. The rest of the RAF display teams, bar the Tucano T1, were also present in the display including the Harrier GR7, whose display routine this year is a definite improvement on Harrier displays seen in recent years, despite the fact that the example for static display crashed enroute to Fairford on the arrival days preceding the event. Interestingly the Harrier airframe that was used as the display carried 800Naval Air Squadron markings. 800NAS recently moved from the now retired Sea Harrier onto the Harrier GR7 operating out of Cottesmore.

The Royal Navy were also represented in the flying display. Interestingly the combination of two FRA Falcons and the four Hawks of the Royal Navy Black Seahawks team was used to put on something of a role demonstration showcasing each types role in a combat scenario. This made for a very interesting set piece. Also from the Royal Navy were the two Lynx helicopters from the display team The Black Cats performing their usual routine of tight manoeuvres and breaks. The Navy also sent four of their Jetstream aircraft, two of which went on to perform a two ship routine.

There were also some unusual smaller display items in the display among all the heavy fast jets. Only appearing on the Saturday was the diminutive shape of the Aermacchi M346 demonstrator aircraft. Despite it's size the aircraft was surprisingly noisy and performed some energetic aerobatics. The damp weather early on in the Saturday display programme meant that the display was further enhanced with some spectacular condensation effects. Another jet making an appearance in the display was the Aero Vodochody L-159A from 212Tlt from the Czech AF based at Cáslav. Another rarity making it's first RIAT appearance since the 2003 show was the Slovenian Armed Force Pilatus PC-9M. The Slovenian aircraft made for a rare sighting and certainly the display seemed an improvement on the show seen in 2003. There were two other Pilatus products in the flying, the first came from No 131 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force in the Pilatus PC-7 Turbotrainer and the second being the Pilatus PC-21 demonstrator from Switzerland.

Some heavy metal was also part of the flying display. As is generally the case now, RIAT is one of the very few shows you can get to see a USAF B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress in the air. Whilst it's somewhat disappointing that these aircraft (well, the B1) can't do a bit more than one or two flat passes for the crowd just seeing these two monstrous bombers in the air is still a sight to remember. Something unusual in Sundays flying display came from a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 owned by Global Airtanker Service based at Dublin Airport on Ireland. Global Airtanker Service offer a lease option for military refuelling operations using a number of these modified ex airliners.

One of this years show themes was Army Aviation and this was supported in the flying display by both the Army Air Corps Blue Eagles and Historic Flight. Also in support of this theme was the Socata TBM700 from the French Army.
International display teams were present in large numbers over the weekend with four present. Probable highlight of these teams was the Swiss AF Patrouille Suisse. A pleasant note was that they were able to perform their classic finale to their display which is of course that lovely star-burst except this year they were also able to launch flares as they climbed into the clear blue sky, closing the show in a very fitting manner on the Sunday display. Also present were the Spanish Air Force team The Patrulla Aguila performing their usual well executed routine in the CASA C.101 Aviojet. RIAT regulars The Red Arrows and Royal Jordanian Falcons were also present with their usual highly polished displays. A civilian display team also on show within the flying display were the ever popular Utterly Butterly team flying their two Boeing Stearmans. Whilst this display may make the hardened enthusiast groan their value in entertaining the public is immense.

The 2006 flying display was certainly the best seen yet in recent memory, RIAT has a worldwide renowned reputation for seeing the unusual and rare in the air and this year the organisers proved that this reputation is completely justified with a truly memorable show, well done to all the team for their hard work.

Part Three - Statics / Themes