The Royal International Air Tattoo, the big one, the prize winner! For many years we have been flying the Skyvan photoship for the world’s biggest military airshow, and for just as many years it has been beyond fantastic, spectacular!

RIAT is a photoflying project that will never disappoint for the aviation photographers, no matter what you had in mind and on your wish list. There are always some true ‘stars’ in the line-up, and the variety – all military in origin – is unprecedented.

Traditionally we fly on the Wednesday & Thursday before the airshow where the majority of aircraft fly into Fairford airbase. The Friday is the calm day with the last arrivals, but we always managed to end on a high note with some pretty cool stuff.

Each of the aircraft joining the Skyvan is very appreciated by all onboard. In the category ‘little guys’ we welcomed a local Extra 300, Vampire classic jet, Tecnam trainer and the not so little Breguet Alizé.

For helicopters we had our friends from the German NH90 demo team, the huge German CH-53, the Irish Air Corps EC-135, and the eagerly awaited Norwegian Merlin.

Not surprisingly, most aviation photographers who join us onboard the Skyvan have that one wish on the top of their wish list… ’the jets’. Well, RIAT has them, plenty of them!!

The Finnish Air Force made it spectacular for us by having the F-18 flying together with the Midnight Hawks. For the die-hard fanatics it was extra special as the aerobatic team brought 1 grey Hawk and 3 red & white jets, a truly rare occasion to see them outside Finland.

Equally rare was a 2-ship of the Spanish Air Force F-5s, for many thé highlight of our program. The Swedish Air Force brought us again a 3-ship of their Gripens, Swedish flag in the cockpit included.

Also the Czech Air Force saw a Gripen joining the Skyvan photoship, still in the nice colours of the last TigerMeet. The German Air Force are big supporters of RIAT and so both jet types flew into Fairford, but first some air to air phototime for the Eurofighters – also with the special tigerpaint – and the Tornado from the test-wing in an even better colourscheme!

The Belgian Air Force signed present with an F-16B, while the Danish Air Force brought also a 2-seat and the fantastic looking demojet ‘half century’!

That other highlight for the photographers was a 22 minute join up of thé French classic Mirage 2000… the first time this jet type from the Armée de l’Air would join us in 15 photoflying seasons… an incredible way to start the Thursday!!

The Hunter is a certainty each year, and every time they will also ask “who is before me, who is after me” Lucky us, as that happened to be the USAF F-35 and so we had the chance to see that unique 2-ship come together. We took just a bit too much time for this photosession, leaving the Lakenheath Eagles only 1 singe pass… but we nailed them!

From one highlight to another is easy in this project, the prize for most colourful outfit goes to… the Italian Tornado, celebrating this year their 50th anniversary.

Another first for us was a pair of Norwegian F-35s and the jet list was concluded with the RAF Typhoon demojet ‘moggy’ showing off its stunning colours on Friday morning. Very happy we go it, as this jet is out of service now.

2024 was a good weather edition, lots of happy flying and already curious was the 2025 line-up will bring us!