Royal International Air Tattoo 2003
The 2003 edition of the Royal International Air Tattoo marked 100 Years of Powered Flight with a spectacular flying display and a record breaking collection of aircraft on static display. 2003 also marked a return to form for RIAT after a somewhat shaky return to RAF Fairford in 2002 after two years away at RAF Cottesmore.
All photography by Paul Johnson/Flightline UK.
The 2003 Air Tattoo was a huge event marking 100 Years of Powered Flight. This saw the western end turned into a huge pop-up museum will aircraft covering the full century of aviation from 1903 right through the present day. The event also had its traditional operational theme which for 2003 was OCEANWATCH. This saw several maritime patrol aircraft appear at the event alongside other aircraft with maritime tasks. Particular highlights were the Latvian pair of Mil Mi-8MTV and Let L-410, making their UK Airshow Debut along with the French Aeronavale Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye.
Amongst the flying display highlights was the final appearance by a Hungarian Mikoyan MiG-29 and a memorable flypast featuring the United States Air Force Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk and RAF Red Arrows.
