Royal International Air Tattoo 2004, RAF Fairford
The Royal International Air Tattoo 2004 had several themes. The 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings provided a ‘Theatre of the Air’ style finale to flying displays while the 30th Anniversary of the BAe Hawk and 50th Anniversary of the C-130 Hercules was marked in the static displays. There was also a celebration of the Entente Cordiale between the UK and France. The Operational theme to the event was ‘Fighter 04.’
All photography by Paul Johnson/Flightline UK.
After the epic event but costly event in 2003, RIAT 2004 was the start a rebuilding period for the event’s organisers. The various themes yielded some star items such as the final Air Tattoo appearance by a Dassault Mirage IVP and C-141 Starlifter. Boeing also presented the the F/A-18F Super Hornet for the first time at RIAT . The RAF also presented an operational Eurofighter Typhoon T1 for the first time at RIAT with a role demonstration flown by Wing Commander Jon Hitchcock of 29(R) Squadron.
The United State Air Force also sent plenty of flying display to RIAT with the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle from the East Coast Demo Team, a Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk, Northrop B-2A Spirit, Boeing B-52H Stratofortress, Rockwell B-1B Lancer plus an air-to-air refuelling demonstration by a MC-130P Combat Talonand MH-53M Pave Low IV.
