Royal International Air Tattoo 2025, RAF Fairford
2025 saw the Royal International Air Tattoo mark its 40th anniversary of being hosted at RAF Fairford. Over those four decades, the Cotswold airfield has seen some extraordinary events, many of which involved bringing new nations into the fold. 2025 was no different with the Egyptian Air Force participating for the first time with their stunning Antonov An-74T. Also making their mark were the Pakistan Air Force who brought their indigenous JF-17C Thunder fighter aircraft making their RIAT debut. However, RIAT 2025 raised as many questions as it did provide highlights.
Paul Johnson/Flightline UK reports. All photography by the author.
The Royal International Air Tattoo is the cornerstone of the UK and European display season. No other event in Europe can match RIAT for its size and level of international support. Other events may boast more fast jet flying displays or the occasional coup involving the appearance of a rare aircraft. But RIAT remains the king nearly always bringing new, rare and exciting aircraft to a major public event for enthusiasts to enjoy. Full credit for this must go to the hardworking Air Operations Team at Douglas Bader House. With shrinking military fleets, budgets and an unstable world, they somehow always come up trumps bringing something special, even in those years which are perhaps not remembered as ‘Classic RIATs.’
It is therefore perhaps unfair to always compare the latest RIAT to previous editions in terms of aircraft participation. Aircraft availability for airshows is dictated by factors well beyond the control of RIAT and the world just changes so much from year to year. The only meaningful comparison is with other 2025 airshows in Europe. Now, this is always subjective and different people have different tastes, but I think RIAT more than met its objectives of bringing in aircraft people would not see elsewhere, and the level of participation was the best of any airshow this year. I certainly found plenty of highlights in both the static displays as well as the flying.
But it would be remiss not to cover some of the less positive aspects of the show. RIAT has a superb reputation, not only for its aviation action but also as one of the best organised large aviation events in Europe. That reputation has been gained over many years and through some hard work of the full-time staff and volunteers. However. it is all too easy for reputations to be lost very quickly. It is that reputation that brings people to RIAT from far and wide which possibly has some of the most loyal ‘fans’ of any such event. It is also a ‘bucket list’ event for many overseas that may attend less often but often invest far more of their money into attending.
One of the strangest aspects of this year’s event was the loss of focus on being a premier aviation event. It was somewhat disheartening to once again hear interviews from Air Tattoo organisers stating the event “is not just for enthusiasts.” It never has been been JUST for the enthusiast. If previous Air Tattoos had been, I’d have likely never got into air shows as my family would never have likely decided to go on what looked simply like a good day out on a TV advert – The IAT organised TVS Battle of Britain Airshow 1990 at Boscombe Down. Since then, I have been to nearly every Air Tattoo with family or friends. The Royal International Air Tattoo has always been for everyone with plenty of space to cater for the dedicated enthusiast as well as families or just those looking for an action packed day out. Using language in the press that unnecessarily suggests a segregation simply antagonises what are often the biggest ‘champions’ of the Air Tattoo – the enthusiasts.
Within the pre-event publicity and many of the soundbites in the media, there had been an obsession with ‘Glastonbury’ comparisons. That comparison has been made before, but mainly with respect to the many third-party campsites dotted around RAF Fairford for ‘RIAT week,’ not the actual event itself. Yet it appears that’s exactly what the marketeers went for rather than remaining focussed on the aeronautical core of the Air Tattoo. It reached its zenith when selling one particularly new hospitality enclosure ‘Altitude’ which promised “upper deck views, a sleek, contemporary vibe and an all-inclusive cocktail bar featuring selected drinks, complimentary food and a live DJ after the flying display.” The advertising for this even included a checklist of social events prospective Altitude customers would have taken in prior to RIAT which included Skiing in Val d’isere and ‘Glasto’ [sic]. However, it appears the ‘Cotswold Set’ were unmoved as Altitude appeared very quiet throughout which is just as well as they would have found their cocktails, food and seating under the same sun-shade awning as the various refuelling stations placed around the showground and their ‘sleek’ upper deck to be a converted ISO Container. Perhaps an aviation themed enclosure called ‘Altitude’ may have done better at the UK’s premier aviation event without all the trendy socialite hyperbole?
But the biggest bugbear of all this year was communication. In the days just before the tattoo there was a barrage of confusing communications about car parking and car passes. Did you need them or not, what was the point if car parking staff were not looking for passes? Of course, RIAT need to have data on the number of cars for planning purposes. On top of that it is useful to know where cars are coming from when RIAT calculates its environmental impact which is now becoming a necessity. But could we not have made the system for that was just a little easier to comply with in the first place?
Then there was the social media. RIAT generates a lot of social media throughout the year but very often you are left wondering if anyone is checking what is being churned out. There were some very pretty infographics in the days leading up to the show posted on social media, but some details didn’t match with that advertised on the main website’s ‘Show Hub’ and the furore that followed one graphic showing the flying display significantly shorter than usual was entirely predictable. Sadly, it also appears some of the event staff were poorly briefed trying to usher people out of the showground well before the published closing time – anything but family or enthusiast friendly. One thing other airshows in the UK have done is attached aide-memoirs to the staff ID lanyards with all the basic information to cover most ‘frequently asked questions’ but that does not seem to have permeated through to RIAT yet. The lack of checking extended to RIAT’s ‘new’ smartphone app where at one point we were invited to meet a ‘German Apache Pilot!’ I’m not sure the app was really helpful. It appeared to be a rather generic event app that but did not really add anything to the experience. It also did not seem to send any push notifications until Sunday.
Members of the Friends of the Royal International Air Tattoo (FRIAT) have had an interesting few years with prices hikes and this year the entire enclosure moved for the airfield to remain compliant with international ICAO regulations during the event build, the event itself and afterwards. I have been a FRIAT member for 20 years now and I don’t subscribe to any of the conspiracy theories some peddle about RIAT trying to engineer a way to close FRIAT – they could simply stop it at any time rather than ‘winding it down.’ Also, moving the grandstand requires a lot of work and expense with ground surveys etc. However, what RIAT do is market FRIAT as the ultimate package for serious aviation photographers and enthusiasts. So that should mean they try their very best to make it as such within regulations. Sadly, whether it was mis-communication or something that was just missed during the build, the audio contractors did manage to erect three overhead speakers just in the wrong place which did not improve the mood of some. We are led to believe that it was a genuine mistake and will not happen again.
Summing up the above, it all boils down to RIAT needing to work harder to improve ‘quality’ across the board. RIAT is a premium aviation event and one that its visitors are having to increase their own investment in year after year. There is no doubt RIAT does great work in inspiring the next generation of engineers and military personnel through attractions such as the techno zone, RAF Experience and the access to visiting aircrew. However, even if under 18s are free, it still requires what is now a sizable investment in travel costs, accompanying adult tickets and for some visitors, accommodation. That latter cost is become a particularly acute problem with very high accommodation costs extending from Bristol to Oxford during the RIAT week. If RIAT visitors start to feel the quality and the focus on aerospace is slipping which I get the impression is starting to happen, they will find it harder to justify their investment in the event resulting in less young people attending no matter how good the aircraft line-up or industry support is. There is a change of leadership and more major changes planned for next year with the Green car park being given over to become an official campsite plus a £15 per day car parking charge for the main event days. Compared to other ticketed air shows that charge for parking, £15 is rather steep and even feels punitive. Even more reason for those that organise RIAT to make sure they provide the quality and smooth-running event they aspire to.
As mentioned earlier, the area RIAT continues to excel at is the aircraft participation. 2025 saw a fair amount of bad luck for the event with a fair number of high-profile cancellations in the days leading up to the event. Perhaps the most keenly felt was the loss of the USAF Rockwell B-1B Lancer from the flying display after the aircraft that arrived at Fairford went unserviceable. A second example which was supposed to join it did not even make it to the Atlantic. A number of other cancellations, particularly for the static displays led to some areas of the airfield usually full of parked aircraft looking a little sparse. However, there was plenty of highlights to look at.
Eyes in the Skies
The main operational theme of RIAT 2025 was ‘Eyes in the Skies’ which took in intelligence gathering, maritime patrol plus search and rescue aircraft from both military and civilian operators. While there were plenty of manned aircraft, it was quite noticeable that a theme ideally suited to the new world of remotely piloted air systems and drones that there were none present. In the static displays, it was the French Air and Space Boeing E-3F Sentry, Czech Air Force Let L-410FG and Spanish Air Force Sikorsky HD.24 that were the star aircraft alongside the Lockheed U-2S and Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint of the United Staes Air Force. It was also good to see some great civilian participation with a rare mainland visit by the Channel Islands Air Search unit’s Britten Norman BN-2B-20 Islander. A nice touch was the inclusion of historic photo reconnaissance and search and rescue types to tell the story of the theme. These included Fighter Aviation Engineering’s glorious Lockheed 12A Electra Junior and Supermarine Spitfire FR.XVIe plus a lovely ex-German Air Force Bell UH-1D Iroquois from Poland.
Apache 50
It is hard to believe the AH-64 Apache Attack helicopter is now a 50-year-old design. Four Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardians from the British Army, US Army, Royal Netherlands Air Force and Qatari Emiri Air Force were gathered to mark the half century of this formidable battlefield helicopter.
Fairford 40
The then International Air Tattoo was first staged at RAF Fairford in 1985 after many successful events at RAF Greenham Common, also a base for the United States Air Force. Two aircraft from the 1985 event were presented on static park near to an installation sharing memories from those 40 years, the Agusta/Bell Sioux AH1 of the Historic Army Aircraft Flight and the Commemorative Air Force’s Douglas R4D-6S ‘Ready 4 Duty.’
The International Static Aircraft Display
Almost every facet of modern military aviation was covered by the static displays as well as historic aircraft and civilian aircraft. But there were a couple of stand out contributions this year. Egypt became the 59th nation to participate at the Air Tattoo bringing an eye-catching Antonov An-74T ‘Coaler’ tactical transport aircraft from 533 Wing based at Cairo International Airport. It was another Middle Eastern nation that provided the other major highlight. The Pakistan Air Force has contributor to several recent Air Tattoos with their Lockheed C-130E Hercules, often sporting special tail art. 2025 was no different with the aircraft adorned with artwork saluting RIAT’s eyes in the skies theme. However, they also brought two of their indigenously produced PAC JF-17C Thunder multi-role combat aircraft for the first time to an Air Tattoo. These were the latest Block III aircraft featuring modern radar, new avionics and a more powerful engine. Developed in partnership with the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the JF-17 has seen extensive service in Pakistan as well as achieving export success selling to Nigeria, Myanmar and Azerbaijan. Supporting the fighters was a Illuyshin Il-78MP ‘Midas’ aerial refuelling aircraft which though not officially part of the static display, was parked close enough to be appreciated by visitors.
Another far travelled highlight was the Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757-2K2 from 40 Squadron. The type has been welcome visitor to many UK airshows over the years but is now approaching retirement. On departure from Fairford, the crew left with a flourish with one final flypast down Fairford’s runway.
For rotary fans, there were plenty of highlights. However, a couple of standout participants were a lovely little MD Helicopters MD500E from the Finnish Army which was brought in by road and the altogether more imposing Hungarian Air Force Airbus H225M Caracel making its UK debut.
The United States Air Force made a notable contribution to the static displays as usual. The highlight of their contribution was the long-awaiting return of the Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy with a single example towering over the western end from the 439th Airlift Wing from Westover AFRB.
Historic training aircraft seemed to a theme of the static with some rather beautifully presented examples of the Scottish Aviation Bulldog grouped at the eastern end an eclectic collection of jet trainers in a more central position. These included a beautiful Fouga CM.170 Magister from the Association for the Preservation of French Aeronautical Heritage and the bright orange Aermacchi MB326E from the Catellani Group based in Italy.
The VX4
Those that attended early on the Wednesday Arrivals Day or Monday’s departure day saw something very new in air – the Vertical Aerospace VX4 Prototype. This piloted winged tilt-rotor eVTOL is currently undergoing testing at Cotswold (Kemble) Airport just a few miles from RAF Fairford. It’s arrival at Fairford marked the first flight between different airfields and the aircraft’s first airborne appearances in public. Simon Davies, Vertical’s Chief Test Pilot, who flew the full scale VX4 prototype, said: “Flying the VX4 from airport to airport is a major milestone, and a powerful demonstration of the real-world capability of the aircraft. To bring it to RIAT, among some of the world’s most advanced military aircraft, is a proud moment – and a powerful signal of the role that a new generation of aircraft will play in defence and special mission operations.”
Supporting Aircraft
As ever, many of RIAT’s participants and exhibitors were supported by further aircraft which did not stay for the show. One of the most notable support aircraft was the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III from 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord AFB which brought in spares and equipment to repair the unserviceable B-1B.
Flying Display
From Friday through to Sunday evening, the Royal International Air Tattoo staged just under 20 hours of flying displays despite some unsettled weather. With all that flying, there were plenty of highlights and high-profile moments.
The Royal Air Force featured well on all three days. The Red Arrows headlined the flying on all three days and were joined by several of the services other major display teams; namely the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4, Boeing Chinook HC6 Role Demonstration and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The efforts of the BBMF engineers in the lead-up to RIAT was particularly impressive as the got the Avro Lancaster B1 ready again following engine issues the weekend before. However, the highlights of the RAF flying participation were the aircraft not normally seen as part of flying displays. The ‘Eyes in the Skies’ theme saw a 51 Squadron Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint perform two flypasts on Friday while Saturday and Sunday both saw appearances by a 120 Squadron Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 in the flying. Also making a fleeting appearance during Friday’s display was a 207 Squadron Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning while Sunday saw nearby RAF Brize Norton provide a single flypast by a 99 Squadron Boeing C-17A Globemaster III.
However, the big moment for the RAF nearly ended in embarrassment as the new Boeing E-7A Wedgetail AEW1 failed to make its appearance with the Red Arrows during Friday’s display due to technical issues. Fortunately, some face was saved with efforts to re-jig Saturday’s display to shoehorn the Wedgetail in to perform its flypast with the Red Arrows and get that ‘Kodak moment’ for RAF and Boeing PR! While it was another highlight to see the RAF’s new airborne early warning and control aircraft for the first time, it did mean Poseidon crew missed their chance to perform their flypasts with the Red Arrows. The Wedgetail took their place on Saturday and poor weather on Sunday prevented their join-up with the nine red jets.
Both the British Army and Royal Navy brought some rotary action to the flying. Appearing on only the Friday, the new Army Air Corps Display Team added to the heat with a fiery display from their two Boeing AH-64E Apache AH2s and Leonardo Wildcat AH1. Their display is very impressive with the supporting pyrotechnics and certainly left its mark on the already parched grass! Further Wildcats came in the form the Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter Display Team with their punchy synchronized display from a pair of Wildcat HMA2s.
Another pair of helicopters that gave a very pleasing display were the PZL-Swidnik W-3A Sokóls form the Czech Air Force. We are used to seeing a solo Search and Rescue demonstration from these powerful little helicopters, but this was the first time we’ve seen a duo. Their display was really original combining a combat search and rescue demonstration with something of an aerial ballet set to the distinctive whine of their turboshafts. Their display won them the RAFCTE Trophy for Best Flying Demonstration by an Overseas Participant.
There were plenty of other fine rotary displays. The German Army NH Industries NH90TTH returned with its impressive display while the Swedish Air Force presented the UK debut of it’s Sikorsky Hkp.16 (UH-60M) Blackhawk demonstration. Incredibly, this was the first time any variant of the H-60 Blackhawk family has appeared in an Air Tattoo flying display.
A show highlight was the Search and Rescue display by the Leonardo Merlin Mk514 from Esquadra 751 of the Portuguese Air Force. It has been a long time since the air arm has participated in a UK flying display and the crew gave an impressive account of their large helicopter in its attractive camouflage scheme.
As well as the SAR demos, the Eyes in the Skies theme brought together some really wonderful fixed-wing displays. Rolls Royce contributed to the theme with a pairing of its own Supermarine Spitfire PRXIX flown by Jim Schofield with the Aircraft Restoration Company’s Spitfire PRXI piloted by Lars Ness. A wonderfully charismatic display came from the French Navy’s Dassault-Breguet Atlantique ATL2 from 23F based at Lann Bihoué. The maritime patrol aircraft not only has some unique looks but also has the most distinctive sound thanks to its pair of Rolls Royce Tyne turboprops. The crew performed a very graceful routine too with curved passes showing off the top and bottom surfaces of the aircraft.
But the highlight of the Eye to the Skies theme was a full flying demonstration by the United States Air Force Lockheed U-2S from the RAF Fairford based 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. This was far more than just circuits demonstrating a performance take-off, a wheels-up flypast before a simulated flame-out landing and go-around. The aircraft was also displayed in full mission fit with the Senior Span pod on the aircraft’s back and sensor equipped nose. A extraordinary sight and one now that only RIAT can bring to the European airshow scene.
2025 sees the Italian Air Force’s national display team, Il Frecce Tricolori, celebrated its 65th Anniversary. It has been a troubled year for the team who are recovering from a flying incident which saw at least three aircraft damaged. As such they appeared at RIAT (one of only two international appearances in 2025) as a nine-ship. They lost none of their colour or spectacle though even if their accompanying commentary seemed rather subdued.
The Frecce Anniversary also brought RIAT 2025 another flying highlight as the show marked the past and future of the team. Sadly, plans to include the present Aermacchi MB339PAN in this segment failed to materialise but the Fairford audience were treated the Leonardo T-346A Master which the team will move on to soon flying with the Catellani Group’s beautiful Fiat G-91R/1A classic jet wearing the team’s colours. This stunning restoration first emerged in 2023 flying just time to participate in the Italian Air Force’s centenary airshow at Pratica di Mare. It’s RIAT appearance two years later was the aircraft first airshow appearance outside of Italy and the first time many got to see it perform a short solo display.
The third and final national team in the flying were the Royal Jordanian Falcons flying their four Extra 330LX aerobatic aircraft. Over Saturday and Sunday, they flew two superb displays in less-than-ideal conditions for light aircraft demonstrating some superb aerobatics and precise displays. Another superb aerobatic display came from the Slovenian Air Force’s Pilatus PC-9M Hudournik flown by Captain Andrej Fiorelli. His display would rival many a display flown in dedicated aerobatic aircraft and his skill won him the King Hussein Memorial Sword for the overall most polished and precise flying demonstration.
The displays based around Frecce Tricolori were not the only Italian Air Force contributions to the flying. The Reparto Sperimentale di Volo sent three displays with jet solos from the Leonardo T-346A Master and the Eurofighter F-2000A Typhoon plus the incredible aerobatic antic of the Leonardo C-27J Spartan transport aircraft. Another large aircraft thrown around the Gloucestershire skies with great aplomb was the Airbus A400M from the Luftwaffe. This was the air arms full display drawn from LTG62 based at Wunstorf. Their display highlighted the agility of the type as well as presenting their aircraft in some operation configurations. The ending to their display on Saturday was perhaps rather too dramatic when reversing on the runway they used the wheel brakes resulting in the nose dramatically rising into the air!
Completing the flying display were an international coast of solo jet displays. The sole Gripen in the flying was SAAB’s own JAS-39E Gripen demonstration. The drama of its display was match by its imposing three-tone splinter camouflage which gives the jet a much more aggressive look. Further Scandinavian flair came from the Finnish Air Force McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet which flew twice on each day in the hands of different display pilots. The Hornet always is a spectacular performer in moist air with vapour flashing across the upper wing surfaces. That air also added to the sense of speed for the Spanish Air Force Eurofighter C.16 Tifon and Polish Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon solo displays.
However, perhaps the most special fast jet display was that from the Royal Danish Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-16AM Fighting Falcon flown by Captain Troels ‘TEO’ Vang. 2025 is the final year for the Danish F-16 display as the air arm switches to the F-35A Lightning II and is probably the final time an A-model F-16 will feature as a solo display in a RIAT display. TEO’s display combines grace and power which is augmented by the stunning “Dannebrog II” livery his display jet wears. He closed the show on Sunday evening and was given a full water salute by RIAT’s fire crews as he returned to his parking area on the northside. His display always won the Sir Douglas Badar Trophy for the Best Individual Flying Demonstration.
Final Thoughts
Despite the many shortcomings this year, RIAT 2025 was still very enjoyable with some superb aircraft and flying displays. The efforts the RIAT team put into getting unique aircraft and aerial spectacles to Fairford must be applauded as should the major ground attractions – the Techno Zone and RAF Experience. We should also pay thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who help build, run and dismantle the event each year as well as fulfilling a wide range of essential roles such as emergency and operational support. But like many leaving Fairford on the Monday, I question some of the directions RIAT appears to be taking. It has become a very expensive event verging on the costs of attending the high-end motorsports event such as Goodwood’s Festival of Speed and Revival. If RIAT need to enter this price bracket, they need to match the incredibly slick organisation, quality and focus those events offer. Also, making such significant changes to how people attend the show will have to work, FIRST TIME. If the changes cause issues people won’t come back much like what happened in 2003 when RIAT’s return to Fairford in 2002 did not run smoothly.
