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After an absence of two years due to the COVID pandemic, the Royal International Air Tattoo, opened its doors again on 16-17 July 2022 at RAF Fairford for Europe’s biggest air show. Highlights on this sold out event included the E-4B, the Republic of Korea display team Black Eagles, flying the KAI T-50B, a Bahrain C-130J, first RIAT visit of the KC-46, Top Aces A-4N and Swedish Air Force History Flight including a Viggen, Dragen and Lancer. Civil highlights included the Oil Spill Response classic Boeing 727.
Static
Although this year’s theme was celebrating 75 years anniversary of USAF, its contribution to the show was less than in previous years. No B-52, B-1 or B-2 flyby. But on the other hand, an absolute highlight was brought by the USAF in the form of the “Doomsday” plane. This E-4B (bases on the Boeing 747-200) is a very rare sight at air shows. For Europe it was the first time ever.
Like always a great variation of aircraft and contributing Air Forces. Weather conditions were great, but extremely hot. On Sunday it was over 32 degrees, with a nice cooling wind making it fairly confrontable.
The Kuwait Air Force TF-2000 still wore its Italian factory registration. Also great to see some of the old RAF helicopters, like the Wessex, Seaking and Gazelle. Airbus was showing the EC175 wearing the Union Jack for a potential sell to the RAF. The U-2 on the static is still deployed at Fairford.
CSX55274, TF-2000
46+25, Tornado
6053, L-159
FA-86, F-16
G-WSEX, Wessex
G-SKNG, Seaking
ZZ387, Wildcat
ZH847, Merlin
G-TSTR, Gazelle
ZK324 / 324, Typhoon
XW237, Puma
ZM508 / 08, Juno
G-HOUR, MH.1521
-, T-50
-, T-50
FA-119, F-16
46+38, Tornado
CSX55274, TF-2000
F-WMXB, EC175
HB-HHH, PC-7
PT-ZTU, A-29
68-10329 / BB, U-2
68-10329 / BB, U-2
G-CMDK, P-51
88-0435 / AV, F-16
92-0364, F-15
54+29, A400
G-THUN, P-47
NL51ZW, P-51
19-5475 / LN, F-35
88-0526 / AV, F-16
F-AYSB, CL-13
F-AYSB, CL-13
01, C-17
G-BEDF, B-17
G-ETPL, BAe 146
84+79, CH-53
346, C-130
N691BD, Sentinel
76+06, H145
G-ETPP, AW139
N-227, NH90
42 blue, AS365
332, Mi-24
332, Mi-24
701, C-130
911, C-295
60+06, P-3
130609 / 609, CC-130
13-5776, MC-130
G-MCGX, AW139
G-MCGJ, S-92
19-46063, KC-46
19-46063, KC-46
60-0335 / D, KC-135
11-0057, CV-22
G-VNAM, L-19
N590D, O-2
ZB131, Hawk
ZB132, Hawk
XE688, Hunter
G-BWSG, Jet Provost
G-CBSK, Gazelle
SE-RMI, Cessna 550
280, PC-12
08 blue, C-27
1962, C-27
CC-2, C-295
1104, An-30
1104, An-30
1104, An-30
-, PC-21
07 / 709-FI, PC-21
FA-87, F-16
HW-354, Hawk
HW-341, Hawk
534, F-16
J-5023, F/A-18
31, JAS-39
39211 / 211, JAS-39
39291 / 291, JAS-39
0712, W-3
79+09, NH90
E-4 Nightwatch
Star of the show was without a doubt the USAF E-4B Nightwatch, also known as "Doomsday Plane”. This aircraft is the flying command post for the Secretary of Defense and key staff in case of a (nuclear) conflict. To see an E-4, of which four are in operation, is extremely rare at an airshow.
If want to know more about this plane, check our dedicated open-in-new Boeing E-4 factsheet
73-1676, E-4
73-1676, E-4
73-1676, E-4
73-1676, E-4
73-1676, E-4
73-1676, E-4
73-1676, E-4
73-1676, E-4
73-1676, E-4
Lots of eastern Europe contributions in the form of Mi-24/35s, C-27s, M-28 and a Romanian AN-30. Japan was present again with the massive C-2 and Germany brought the A340 which will be retired soon. Also a first for the RIAT was the RAF Poseidon (P-8A). Still going strong is the Canadian A310, locally designated CC-150. Also great to see Top Aces flew on of there A-4s over from Canada.
16+02, A340
G-OSRA, B727
G-OSRA, B727
G-OSRA, B727
G-OSRA, B727
39825 / 825, JAS-39
ZP802 / 02, Poseidon
18-1215, C-2
SE-DXO, Sk37
SE-DXP, Sk35
SE-RME, J32
SE-DXO, Sk37
ZH869 / 869, Hercules
FAB2857, KC-390
30+73, EF2000
J-197, F-16
15003, CC-150
J-508, F-16
C-FGZE, A-4
11405, TB-30
11413, TB-30
L9-66, PC-9
44 black, M-28
CE.15-07 / 15-76, EF-18
MM55219 / 61-20 , T-346
MM55044 / 51-82, AMX
MM55065 / 61-131, MB-339
FA-136, F-16
260, PC-9
On the next page highlights from the air show including the Black Eagles, Black Jack and the Belgian Tiger X demo.
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