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Becoming a familiar sight at modern-day RIAT- the F-117A on static, the only chance of the year to get up close (well, as close as the armed guards will allow) and inspect its multi-faceted angles. May the force be with you...

Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, 17/18 July

Part Two: Essence of RIAT

Gary Parsons rambles aimlessly

Diverse, colourful, unusual formations, more F-16s than you can shake a stick at - that's RIAT in the twenty-first century, as it tries to adapt to an ever-decreasing military aviation world. RIAT is fast becoming the only opportunity to see such an array of foreign jets as many overseas air forces restrict their participation to 'one country, one show' to the detriment of other airshows such as Waddington, Leuchars and Yeovilton.

RIAT effects

The B-1B - all the power & noise you'll ever need...

The B-52H creating its own shock-wave...

...and its own smoke-screen!

But, the B-2A was as disappointing as ever - a lot of effort for little spectacle

The 'Black Cats' display team were as popular as ever

Stealing the show, the Super Hornet

USAF Heritage flypast - only time outside the USA

It wouldn't be complete without this lot!

See, the sun did shine for a while!

Tornados could be seen by the dozen

Unusual formations are a familiar sight at RIAT

You've been zapped!

The light isn't always as you'd expect it

Old warhorses on show

Dropping in for tea

D-Day scenario

Rare Spitfire

Can't control my legs!

Okay, so it did rain a bit on Friday!

Departing in style

Dark, but Open, skies

Sheep in wolf's clothing

Nosey photographer

Which way up?

So, it should be cherished, for we know that things have been tight of late. 2002's disastrous traffic and security problems led to an unprofitable 2003 event, and a make-or-break demand for 2004 - another bad year would not be tolerated. Thankfully it proved to be a mini-success, with enough people through to gates to ensure 2005 would go ahead. But the RIAT team aren't out of the woods yet, as it was still evident that the crowd wasn't up to 1990s levels, and a re-think of the show's content and costs is still required. It is understood that the concert arena may be axed for this year's event, and a-back-to-basics approach adopted for the organisation - something we advocated a couple of years ago. It will still be at Fairford, of course, and as such still at the mercy of American foreign policy - we think it needs to move to an RAF controlled airfield, even if this risks losing much of the USAF participation for security fears.

With just six months to go, we look back at what RIAT has to offer - the pictures on show are a personal choice, reflecting the opportunities and ambiance that only this show can offer at the present time. There's an old saying of 'Use it or lose it' - we can't afford to lose it, so book those tickets now!

Flying Finns

Finland's display team, The Midnight Hawks, made its UK debut at Fairford. The team, comprising four Hawk trainers, joined the Red Arrows and other Hawk operators for a special celebration to mark the 30th anniversary of the Hawk.

The Midnight Hawks display team members are all flight instructors from the Finnish Air Force Academy in Kauhava. As part of the annual Midnight Summer Airshow held at Kauhava, The Midnight Hawks and its predecessors have always flown close to midnight - hence their name. RIAT 2004 was only the team's second international appearance, the first being at Air Power 2000 in Zeltweg, Austria. The 2004 team were: Captain Timo Rauhala, team leader; Senior Lieutenant Pasi Kolanen, left wing; Senior Lieutenant Mika Koskinen, right wing and Senior Lieutenant Antti Mononen.

Rod McDonough, one winner of Air-Scene UK's competition to win a pair of tickets, describes his RIAT 2004 experience

Things started when I entered the contest on Air-Scene UK for the chance at winning a FRIAT pass or a pair of tickets. Along came 20 June and, lo and behold, I did win a pair. We still had to buy a pair, since there were four of us in the party, but it saved us at least sixty pounds! So, fast-forward to the week before the airshow...

Living in Vancouver, Canada, we had to leave for the UK on 13 July. The tickets had not arrived by 10 July so I contacted 'marketing' at RIAT to order the second pair of tickets and to see if they knew of when the tickets would arrive. They contacted me on the 11th to let me know that Air-Scene UK had already mailed the tickets by airmail and that if I did not receive them by the time we had left, let them know and they would have a second pair ready. The next day we were all packed up, ready to go, and just in time, there were the tickets in the mail. The ordered pair had arrived at our friends' place in the UK, too - perfect timing.

Mirage fades

Making its last RIAT appearance was the fabulous Mirage IVP from the French Air Force. The last examples retire on 1 July 2005, just two weeks too early for RIAT 2005.

We'll miss its unique afterburner and sheer presence - an awesome beast if ever there was one.

We flew out on the 13th, arriving in the UK on the 14th. From then we just laid back and relaxed to get used to the timezone. Eight hours difference is a killer to get used to!

Part of the 'Entente Cordial' celebrations was this massive explosion of fireworks in blue, white and red - however it was all over in a spilt-second, but Phil Whalley managed to capture the action.

Now it's the Friday before the show. My anticipation is keeping me awake all night. We are staying at a hotel in Cirencester, quite close to Fairford - not a bad drive, it only takes us about forty minutes to Fairford. Much better than last year, when we left from Sheffield in the early hours of the morning.

So now it's Saturday. Two things have kept me awake since five: one, the airshow itself. Bigger then any airshow I have been to anywhere in Canada or the US. Two, there was to be a UKAR message board meet around noon. After leaving the hotel at seven o'clock we arrive at Fairford at just before eight - the traffic system has been great, the improvements set in place last year really working for us. After parking the car, we walk up to the gates, getting to security at quarter-past eight and me having to empty my pockets due to having too many pound coins...we are in the grounds by half-past. For a show this size and this many people they know how to get people in fast. The weather forecast for today suggested it would rain all day, so I had told others that I'd bring the British Columbia sun with us when we arrive. Saturday morning did look like it was going to rain but guess what, it didn't, although the sun was a reclusive character.

Hercules 50 - Concours d'Elegance winner

To help it operate in the snowy wastes of the Polar regions, the LC-130H is fitted with Jet Assisted Take-off (JATO) capability, giving it thrust equivalent to an extra engine for twelve seconds of its takeoff slide. "Although I've operated in many parts of the world," said pilot Major Doll, "this is my first time in the UK so it becomes particularly special to win a trophy. We are having a great time and we hope all our visitors discovered how much we enjoy operating this aircraft."

Now into the static park - the first thing I notice is the layout has changed from last year. I think this year is better - easier to photograph most aircraft except the B-52 and B-1. That kids' ride thing behind kind of killed some pics! Ice-cream trucks...damn things. But this year they seem to be spaced out and not near many of the aircraft lines. I guess the RIAT staff took some feedback from last year for that. After walking around for what seems like hours and miles we decide it is time to find a spot for the air display. Way down the eastern end we find a clear area, just as the air display starts.

Seeing the Patrouille Suisse is truly great. I expect a bit more of a display from them, but then again there's not much they can do with an F-5. Seeing them fly with the F/A-18C is great - I get about five pics of that alone, which is a lot for me! The B-52 and the B-1 soon leave for the air, but sadly both no longer do displays like they used to in the late 80s and early 90s. But, it's still great to see them still flying at shows.

Soon after that there are many of the other aircraft that I had waited for - the Harrier GR7, SHAR, and the Mirage 2000C, all of which we don't get very often back in Canada. I use three rolls of film (yes, film - no digi just yet) on just these alone. It's close to noon UKAR meet now as the F-15C takes off along together with the Mustang. Anywhere in the world you see a WWII aircraft and a modern aircraft fly, you have to sit back, relax and enjoy it. After the final pass in formation it is time to walk over to near the FRIAT grandstand for the meet. I'm really glad I take the time to walk over there and meet the bunch from the board - what a great group of people. By now the weather had cleared up and the sun was breaking through, just as I had promised! We even start to develop a bit of a tan. After about an hour of chatting we walk back to our spot in the grass for the rest of the show, but first picking up a pint along the way, of course!

The rest of the show has many other highlights I was looking forward to. Tornados, Eurofighter, Jaguar & Mirage F1 flyby, topped off by the F/A-18F Super Hornet. It's another one of those that you have to watch - sit back, relax and just be amazed by it. Another three rolls of film bite the dust. I have seen it fly at many shows in North America and am happy to see and hear so many people around me say "this is a first for me". I had, for once, one-up on them! What a great display it is by Ricardo Travens.

I'm a serious actor, you know!

All too soon it is getting around to 16:30, and all the warbirds start to takeoff for the D-day set-piece. I'm not much of a warbird fan, but they are nice to see once and a while. The Spitfires and the Lancaster are the ones that I am most waiting for and which I use my last roll of film on.

The airshow was out of ten-out-of-ten for us. As I said before, we have nothing like it in Canada. Even the price of food and drinks seemed reasonable for an event of this size. I'd mark the static park at eight-out-of-ten, as it was a bit thin in places, but the flying more than made up for that. Where else can you get ten hours of entertainment for only £30? My only gripes? Washrooms - too far apart, and the beer tents - why keep them close to each other near the blue area? Spread them apart, please!

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