The Royal International Air Tattoo (R.I.A.T.) is held annually (next show: 16-18 July 2021) at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire – United Kingdom, home of the 420th Air Base Squadron.
Breitling Stearmans: R.I.A.T. 2016
The World’s Greatest Airshow – 50th Anniversary
Few events can rival the intensity, drama and spectacle on offer at the world’s greatest airshow. The Air Tattoo, one of the UK’s premier outdoor events, returned for 2018 on 13-15 July to mark a very special occasion, the centenary of the Royal Air Force. As well as commemorating the past achievements, we also celebrated the present and helped to inspire the future of the RAF.
A record crowd of 185,000 people enjoyed a feast of flying at the 2018 Air Tattoo, marking the Royal Air Force’s Centenary at RAF Fairford.
In total, 302 aircraft, from 43 air arms representing 30 nations attended the airshow, of which 121 took part in the flying display.
Among the flying display highlights were a number of unique flypasts. A special tribute to the legendary 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron saw the iconic Lancaster bomber from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight fly in formation with the squadron’s current aircraft, the Tornado, and the RAF’s new state-of-the-art F-35B Lightning II. Another flypast featured nine RAF Typhoons in formation, as part of centenary celebrations.
Tornado/Typhoon pair: R.I.A.T. 2016
Whether you want to fly straight into London and sight-see before or after the show, hire a rental car or catch a train to Swindon (1hr 10min by rental car or 1hr 50min by train from Heathrow) then onto Fairford, we can tailor arrangements to your preference.
We still have access to flights from Auckland to London for under $2,000 NZ! For other departure destinations please let us know and we can quote according to the best available fares on preferred days. We also have access to a number of accommodation options around Fairford to suit your budget and preference.
Many of England’s best-known tourist destinations are on the doorstep of RAF Fairford. The base is a gateway to the Cotswolds, an area that combines the harmony of nature and period architecture with major shopping centres, first-class sporting facilities and excellent restaurants.