2007 Royal International Air Tattoo - RAF Fairford, UK

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

Made my bi-annual visit to the world's biggest military airshow last week and as always it didn't disappoint. The weather although not the greatest held off for the most part as we lucked out with a week of partly to mostly cloudy skies with a few showers. If the show was held this past weekend it would have been called off due to the airfierld and town flooding. The cancelation of the Pakistani P-3, Spanish Harriers and the Vulcan were a bit of a let down. But, as always the airaft on final always outshine the ones thast never cross the threashold.

With over 300 aircraft attending this will be a long thread with many posts. I'll try and go in date order with some Wednesday arrivals to start...


USAF T-43A Gator
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/gatorland.jpg

Turkish AF NF-5's
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/turkishf-5.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/turktigerIIland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/turkf-5side.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/turkf-5land.jpg


Italian AF Tornado IDS's
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/Blacktornadoland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/italiantornadoland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/ItalianTornadolandreg.jpg

German Army BO-105
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/heerBO105.jpg

Netherlands AF Apache
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/DutchApache.jpg

Royal Jordanian Falcons Extra 300's
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/jordanianfalconland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/falcons4shiparrival.jpg

[lijk604]

Mors...Great Stuff. It's nice to see something new, and those NF-5's are HOT!

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

I'll have to do the Thursday arrivals post in a few stages due to the large number of shots. I think I actually took more than Fred, but then again if he was there. UK aircraft types to start...

RAF Puma's
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RAFPumapair.jpg

RAF Hawk
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RAFdemoHawkland.jpg

RAF Dominie
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RAFDomine.jpg

RAF Typhoons
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RAFdemoTyphoonland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RAFSTATICTYPHOONARRIVAL.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RAFTYPHOONTAXI.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RAFTORNADONOSETAXI.jpg

RAF Tornado GR4
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RAFTornadoGR4ShineyTwo.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RAFTornadonose.jpg

RAF Chinook
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RAFChinook.jpg

RAF Sea KIng
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RAFSEAKINGLAND.jpg

Royal Navy Hawk
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RNHawkland.jpg

Royal Navy Jetstream T2
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RNJetstreamland.jpg

Royal Navy Sea Lynx
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RNLynx.jpg

QinetiQ (UK) Alpha Jet
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/AlphaJetland.jpg

QinetiQ (UK) Jaguar T2
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/Jagland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/Jagtaxinose.jpg

Folland Gnat
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/FillandKnatland.jpg

North American Harvard
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/Harvardland.jpg

Westland Wasp
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/RNWasp.jpg

Hawker Hunter's
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/hunternose.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/BlueHuntertaxi.jpg

Hunting (BAC) Jet Provost
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/Strikemasterland.jpg

[wunaladreamin]

Outstanding stuff Rob. I was wondering when we'd see some pics.

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

Some hardware from the Americas...

Brazilian R-99
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/BrazilianR-99land.jpg

Brazilian C-130
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/BrazilianHercland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/brazilianherctaxi.jpg

Canadian CT-142 Gonzo
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/CanadianAFDash.jpg

USAF F-16's
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/USAFF-16Buzzards.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/USAFF-16pairtaxi.jpg

USAF A-10's
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/USAFA-10Land-1.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/USAFA-10taxi.jpg

USAF MH-53 Pave Low
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/USAFPaveLow.jpg

USAF B1-B
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/boneheadon.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/B-1Btaxi.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/B1-BNose.jpg

USAF B-52H
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/USAFB-52H.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/USAFBUFFsideland.jpg

C-47 Skytrain
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/BBMFC-47LAND.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/BBMFC-47HEADON.jpg

[cancidas]

very nice! i'm really hoping to hit up some shows in the UK soon, i'm getting a little tired of seeing the same american hardware at every show i go to....

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

very nice! i'm really hoping to hit up some shows in the UK soon, i'm getting a little tired of seeing the same american hardware at every show i go to....

You'll be booking a one way from JFK to LHR aftewr my next few posts in this thread!

While The Royal International Air Tattoo is not what it use to be in the 90's when it regularly pushed or exceeded the 500 aircraft envelope it really has no equal anywhere in the world. Sure we have Oshkosh with it's herd of civil and experimental aircraft and then there's Sun N' Fun with it's gaggle of aircraft that's more of the same. Try and find a show with over 300 aircraft, most of them from military air arms. It doesn't exist anywhere in North America or the planet for that matter. Air Force 50 at Nellis AFB back in 1997 was the only airshow that ever came close and that was a one shot deal not an annual event.

Now on with some more Thursday arrivals...

Pilatus PC-21
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/PilatusPC-21.jpg

Swiss Air Force Hornets
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/SWISSF-18.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/SwissHornetpraticeland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/SWISSHORNETLANDSIDE.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/SWISSHORNETHEADON.jpg

German Army CH-53 Super Stallion
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/GermanStallionII.jpg

French Navy Super Etendard
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/SuperEtendardland.jpg

French Navy Falcon 10
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/FranchMarinceFalconland.jpg

French Air Force Mirage 2000D
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/Mirage2000Dland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/Mirage2000Dtaxi.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/FrenchMiragepilots.jpg

French Air Force Aplha Jets
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/FrenchAlphaJetland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/FenchAlphaJetpairtaxi.jpg

Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/DutchF-16land.jpg

Royal Danish Navy Sea Lynx
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/DanishNavyLynx-1.jpg

Spanish Air Force CASA CN-295
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/SpanishCN295andII.jpg

Spanish Air Force Team Aguila CASA 101 Aviojets
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/TEAMAGUILATAXI.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/CASAPAIR.jpg

Spanish Air Force Typhoons
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/SpanishTyphoon2land.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/SpanishTyphoonland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/Typhoonnose.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/Typhoonpairtaxi.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/spanishtyphoontaxi.jpg

Italian Air Force C-27 Spartan
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/C-27land.jpg

Italian Air Force C-130J Hercules
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/ItalianHerculesland.jpg

Italian Air Force Frecce Tricolori MB-339 PAN
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/Frecci1land.jpg

[cancidas]

very nice! i'm really hoping to hit up some shows in the UK soon, i'm getting a little tired of seeing the same american hardware at every show i go to....

You'll be booking a one way from JFK to LHR aftewr my next few posts in this thread!

While The Royal International Air Tattoo is not what it use to be in the 90's when it regularly pushed or exceeded the 500 aircraft envelope it really has no equal anywhere in the world. Sure we have Oshkosh with it's herd of civil and experimental aircraft and then there's Sun N' Fun with it's gaggle of aircraft that's more of the same. Try and find a show with over 300 aircraft, most of them from military air arms. It doesn't exist anywhere in North America or the planet for that matter. Air Force 50 at Nellis AFB back in 1997 was the only airshow that ever came close and that was a one shot deal not an annual event.

Now on with some more Thursday arrivals...

Pilatus PC-21
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/PilatusPC-21.jpg


ah the pilatus! to think of the trouble i could get into with that airplane!!! too bad the -21 isn't sold on the civilian market. and very well said, and i will be booking a trip there next year! do you know when it's scheduled?

[markg]

It's scheduled for the 13th and 14th of July 2008. The following week is the Farnborough Airshow which for those of you unfamiliar with it is a trade show attended by most aircraft manufacturers with prototypes of new aircraft.

I'm working on getting a group together to combine the two events along with visits to LHR and MAN as well as other airports. If anyone is interested, I'll post details in the travel planning forum once I have them (provided Phil doesn't have a problem with me doing that.)

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

I'm working on getting a group together to combine the two events along with visits to LHR and MAN as well as other airports. If anyone is interested, I'll post details in the travel planning forum once I have them (provided Phil doesn't have a problem with me doing that.)

Although not really into the commercial scene MAN is the best airport for spotting I've ever scene. I visited their picnic area a few years back and if the wind is right you'll get some great shots. LHR is much like JFK, but surrounded by land with a better variety. Farnborough is one of the few places you can see something like an A-340 thrown around as if it were an F-16. Although I've never attended from what I've heard the display line was moved WAY out there a few years back. The good thing with Farnborough running close to RIAT is that the Air Tattoo have managed to draw a few star acts to Fairford. Case in point the thrust vectoring Mig-29 OVT last year. Also, don't forget the best warbird airshow in Europe Flying Legends at Duxford Airfield the week before RIAT.

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

I've saved some of the best for my last Thursday arrivals post...

Indian Air Force Hawk
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/IndianHawkland.jpg

Indian Air Force IL-78 Midas
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/IndianIl-79Midasland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/Il-78spotters.jpg

Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI's
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/IndianSu-30MKIsarrival.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/IndianSu-30MKIarrival.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/IndianSu-30MKIlandside.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/IndianSu-30MKIflyby.jpg

Finnish Air Force Hornets
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/FinnishF-18landII.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/FinnishHornetlandside.jpg

Czech air Force Mi-8 Hip
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/CzechMi-8Hip.jpg

Czech Air Force An-26 Cline
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/CzechAn-26taxi.jpg

Czech Air Force L-159
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/CzechL-159land.jpg

Estonian Air Force Le-410
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/EstonianLet-410.jpg

Hungarian Air Force An-26 Cline
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/HungarianAn-26land.jpg

Hungarian Air Force Saab JAS-39 Gripen
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/HungarianGripenland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/HungarianGripenTaxi.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/HUngarianGripenTaxiside.jpg

Hellenic Air Force C-130
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/GreekC-130land.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/greekherctaxi.jpg

Hellenic Air Force (T)A-7 Corsair II's
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/GreekCorsairIIapproach.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/GreekCorsairIIsideland.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/GreekCorsairIIcamotaxi.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/GreekTigerCoarsairIIside.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/GreekCorsairIITigertaxi.jpg

US Navy E-4B Mercury
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/USNMercury.jpg

Beagle Auster 6A Tugmaster
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i121/MORSABALTO/RIAT%202007/Austertrainerland.jpg

Next up in a few days some Friday arrival and practice shots.

[lijk604]

Oh WOW! I am loving the Typhoons & Gripens, aside from WW III what do you think it would take to see them in the USA?

...and Finland has an Air Force? Who knew? :wink: :wink:

[SCOTYDEMCO]

Good stuff Rob!!! I was waiting to see when and where your shots were going to turn up :D