Title: Royal Int'l Air Tattoo 2007
Description: Airshow photos
huaichien - July 23, 2007 11:50 AM (GMT)
The Royal International Air Tattoo, the biggest non-trade airshow was concluded recently. Here are some photos to share. My camera's not a super duper SLR, but you can get a feel for why I take 12 hour flights just to attend this airshow.
The Thunderbirds were one of 7 fixed wing aerobatic teams present. We were allowed to the area adjacent to the their parking lot and witness their theatrical pre-flight ground crew 'show'. Thunderbird 1 - 4 took off together in formation. Notable this year is that Thunderbirds 3 and 6 are female pilots.
The 10 plane Frecce Tricolori. They took off in two 5 ship formations and landed the same way, which was most impressive!
The FRADU Black Seahawks comprising 2 Falcon 20s and 4 Hawks. Normally, they simulate air attacks on navy vessels during exercises.
The crowd pleaser Red Arrows. In my opinion, they provide the most spetacular formations and have the most variety. The most imaginative manouverve they did was for 3 planes to draw an arrow through a heart, using their smoke trails.
huaichien - July 23, 2007 12:05 PM (GMT)
Global Hawk was among 3 UAVs present, but none were on the flying display.
Greek A-7 Corsair, a rare sight nowadays.
A study of angles. Talking to the F-117 pilot, I learned that the plane does not use RAM paint, instead it uses RAM stick-on sheets. So one of the reasons it doesn't go supersonic is to prevent the RAM sheets from flying off.
On a separate note, while very up close watching the F-86 Sabre in the background taxi to the runway, I got caught in its jet blast when it turned its tail to us. We all dropped to the ground and I was fortunate a big man in front of me provided protection, but it was still hot. The lady beside me was not so fortunate, she got blown off her feet!
The unmistable silhouette of the F-117. Sadly it is progressively being retired.
Callsign 24 Seira - July 23, 2007 02:07 PM (GMT)
huaichien - July 23, 2007 02:09 PM (GMT)
A rarely seen and very high value airplane. The USN E-6B Mercury is used for maintaining strategic communications with United States' nuclear assets.
Another rare sight. RAF's Sentinel R1 with ASTOR battlefield surveillance radar.
More rarely seen aircraft. Indian Air Force Su-30MKI Flanker with a Il-78 Midas refueling plane.
Su-30MKI in flight. The type's legendary manoeuvres were not demonstrated however because the Indian pilot was not display rated. He was in the UK for exercises. He just did simple flypasts and turns. Nevertheless, a rare chance to see this mighty airplane.
huaichien - July 23, 2007 02:41 PM (GMT)
2 Westland Lynx taking a bow. They were on level flight, then bowed 90 degrees down. Awesome.
The B-1B Lancer did not do anything spectacular, just multiple flypasts. But what a magnificent airplane.
Here a RAF Chinook descends from flight and demonstrates a forward wheelie on the runway, followed by a backward wheelie. I doubt there's any useful function for this, just the pilot showing off his skills.
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. A Hurricane leads 3 Spitfires. Going back in time 60 years.
warspite - July 23, 2007 03:04 PM (GMT)
Great pictures....sorely regret missing this event when I was in the UK a few years ago... :(
Moonstriker - July 23, 2007 04:26 PM (GMT)
nice pics!
Bet ye enjoyed the airshow!
thanks!
:D :D
Callsign 24 Seira - July 23, 2007 05:09 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (huaichien @ Jul 23 2007, 07:50 PM) |
The Thunderbirds were one of 7 fixed wing aerobatic teams present. We were allowed to the area adjacent to the their parking lot and witness their theatrical pre-flight ground crew 'show'. Thunderbird 1 - 4 took off together in formation. Notable this year is that Thunderbirds 3 and 6 are female pilots.
|
Notable this year is that Thunderbirds 3 and 6 are female pilots.Maj. Samantha Weeks
Hometown: Rome, N.Y.
Position: Flies the No. 6 jet as one of two solo pilots outside the Thunderbirds' diamond formation.
Background: Joined Air Force in 1997 from the Air Force Academy. Served as a flight commander and instructor pilot with the 12th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. She has logged more than 1,500 hours as an Air Force pilot.
Maj. Nicole Malachowski
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev.
Position: Flies the No. 3 jet as the right wing pilot in the diamond formation.
Background: Served as a flight commander and instructor pilot with the 494th Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. She has logged more than 1,900 hours as an Air Force pilot.
Latest RIAT photos ...http://www.pbase.com/fleeting_images/riat2007 Shotgun - July 23, 2007 06:04 PM (GMT)
AWESOME!! MORE MORE MORE!!
MilFan - July 24, 2007 02:31 AM (GMT)
The Corsair is a rare sighting indeed! :D
huaichien - July 24, 2007 03:48 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (MilFan @ Jul 24 2007, 10:31 AM) |
| The Corsair is a rare sighting indeed! :D |
Indeed. The Hellenic Air Force sent 2 Corsairs to the show. When I attended RIAT in 1999, the Italian Air Force sent their F-104 Starfighter to participate in the static and flying displays. I treasure that appearance as all air forces have retired this airplane and we're not likely to see it flying again. I recall the F-104 made a hell of a din with its engine.
huaichien - May 19, 2008 02:27 PM (GMT)
Hi guys, I'll be visiting the Royal International Air Tattoo again this summer. As the aircraft there are some of the most diverse on public display anywhere in the world (including Sopwith Pup, de Havilland Vampire, Mi-24 Hind and F-22!), I want to do you guys a favour. If you want to examine a certain aircraft part close-up, you can let me know and I'll take a high-res photo for you.
Click here for a list of the participating aircraft.
Say you're doing a modeling project on an aircraft not often seen in SG (Tornado?) and you want very specific details of the swing-wing hinge mechanism, I'll shoot that for you.
Take note that airplanes at the Tattoo are usually displayed clean, so if you're looking for weapons or targeting pods, they're unlikely to be there. In-cockpit shots are not available too.
Or if you have a question on something you can't find out on your own, I can help you ask the pilot of the aircraft in question.
pirate - July 13, 2008 02:48 AM (GMT)
This year's show got canceled because of heavy rains :( Three very wet Raptors!
huaichien - July 18, 2008 03:39 AM (GMT)
My trip there was terribly wasted. Not 1 but 3 Raptors crossed the pond. Don't know if that will happen again. Some of the photographers who went in the days prior to the main show at least got to see the planes arrive and go through the rehearsals. Perhaps next year I'll do just that.
But I managed to salvage the situation a little by making an unscheduled detour to the Flying Legends airshow. Will post the pictures later. The highlight for me was watching an original 1909 Bleriot XI take to the skies!
pirate - March 25, 2010 01:49 AM (GMT)
http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/Newsroom/...RIC_52nd_NATIONSLAF to make 11,000 mile round trip for RIAT 2010. First grass af no where in sight.
