Beagle,
RIAT is probably, along with Waddington and to some extent Yeovilton the only three airshows worth a candle in terms of military contribution in the U.K. these days. A lot due to the simple contraction of the R.A.F. (no more Leuchars). On top of the contraction of the service, there is the added problem of PFI. I believe it is a part of the contractual obligation that aircraft leased to the Armed Forces don't get aerobated around for public entertainment and suspect that this why at Culdrose this year, as always, their new Avengers will not be getting aloft while there are punters at large same goes for the Hawk T2s at Valley, they are subject to PFI arrangements.
Therefore, increasingly, the stuff that's impressive at airshows will be ex-military types in private hands. That evermore used collective description "Cold War types" or "Classic Jets" and "Warbirds". As it is, for the first time, Waddington's military line up this year is slightly overshadowed by all the classic jets, especially what's coming from the Swedish Historic Flight and Culdrose is entirely reliant on any parafin burning this year being from the private collector's air force.
The more thins change the more they stay the same eh!
FB
