What did you think of RIAT 2005

[bluetail]

Well, Typhoon incident aside I reckon this years RIAT was pretty bloody good,

The weather was exceptional, and the static park was one of the best since 1994.

I think the only negative was the flying display, at best it was patchy, but highlites for me were the Dutch Apache, RAF Chinook and Dutch F-16, the Chinook display was just breathtaking, and I was glad to see the crew won a prize for it.

I can,t understand why the Finnish Hornet got the nod over the F-16, maybe the Hornet was just a bit smoother.

As for the static, for the show to get the likes of the C-160 "Gabrielle, SA330 Cougar "ARAMIS" and a Nimrod R.1 was an undoubted coup, and some of the paint jobs, the SU-22 springs to mind, should have pleased one and all.

As a volunteer I talked with the public, jouno,s and the like and all agreed that we managed to get the static laid out just right this year with minimal blue cones and plenty of space between exhibits for photography.

I also gather crowd numbers were up, so it looks like we have go through it all again next year.

Any thoughts from other attendees, particularly crews.

BT

[dmanton300]

I had a great day out, just a tinge of sunburn (there appears to be no middle ground at Fairford, it's either beating down sunshine or teeming down rain!). Some interesting stuff on the static (very surprised to see the R.1 there!) but I did notice that it took me maybe an hour and a half to walk round the static. In the halcyon days of the late 80's-early 90's I can remember spending 5-6 hours covering the static. It's a lot smaller than it was.
I don't know if it's my memory, but back in the good old days I remember the flying as being 8 hours of back to back afterburners and turbines, with nary a pause for breath. Lots more small stuff now and bigger breaks between displays. The Chinook and Typhoon displays were fantastic (YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT TO A WOKKA!), and, from someone who lives 200 yards from Westlands main gate, it was great to see a Merlin really put through it's paces - the smoke was novel and amusing! The Klu Apache was very nicely displayed too, and the Blue Eagles were great (does he say a prayer before committing the Lynx to the back-flip?) The Reds are flying their best, most exciting displays EVER these days IMHO. It's easy to take them for granted as we see them all the time, but I sat in awe - no matter what was happening there was always at least one aircraft crowd centre doing something, other teams seem to maneouvre-reform off airfield-maneouvre, always leaving gaps. The Reds were fabulous, and that commentator should be encouraged to stay on indefinitely! I thought numbers seemed lower than I have known them, I hope not.
Lest anyone think I am being harsh about attendance/display, I'm not, they are my observations, and I fully accept that the world has changed these last years and sadly air forces are no longer disposed to send one-from-every-squadron like the seemed to once upon a time in the current fiscal environment. Sad though!
Finally, parking and security. . superb, best I've ever known it. Straight in and out with no delays parking, and enough entrance gates to keep people flowing unlike the fustercluck that was entry in 2002! Superb achievement. Well done RIAT, good day out, but times are a changin'!

[IanH]

I particularly enjoyed the RAF C17 and C130J displays ........

A good idea were the free open top buses going up and down the static display ......... it was tempting to sit on one of them for a while going up and down ........ it saved a long walk back in the heat as well !

[Mark IX]

I really enjoyed the displays, but I thought it was a real pity that the RAF/RN T67 Firefly wasn't there. Most of us who have flown a light aircraft at some time can watch in awe (and horror) with the understanding that we could never understand how he does what he does.

Maybe he'll be back next year?

Has anyone got a link to a video of him doing his stuff?

M9

[critical winge]

Slow, uninspiring, disjointed display on the sat, usual layout for the static display, now getting a bit same same boring. Well done to the Chinook, awesome, highlight of the day.

Ex mil 10 yrs, participant, spectator, now moaner, sorry but I heard many others say the same.

[bluetail]

Critical Winge

"usual layout for the static display, now getting a bit same same boring."

Sorry mate, I can,t totally agree with you, the Recce Park at show dead centre was far from boring.

As I said in my original post, the C160, R.1 alone in a RIAT Static is top notch, added to that the SA330 "ARAMIS" Greek RF-4E and Spanish recce Citation, I reckon that selection alone was worth turning up for.

Sure there are F-16,s and Hercs, but most other airshows get them as well, what RIAT led by TP is now striving for is Quality exhibits not Quantity, which was PB,s policy. I think this year RIAT made a great step forward.

BT

[Regie Mental]

Been to the last 22 IAT/RIAT's and hav eto disagree with the glowing reference. Th eaircraft you mention were indeed highlights, but they weren't particularly well positioned and are the type of rare aircraft I would expect at such a big show.

I don't want to knock the show, but neither do I want the organisers to become complacent. There was an awful lot of empty tarmac which could have been used to park aircraft with space around them to take a decent photo.

[Wycombe]

...yes, there were undoubtedly less a/c in the static than in some previous years, but don't also forget that there is also a whole lot more parking space at Fairford now than there was even 5 years ago.

I enjoyed this years show, but for me it's a shame that we don't see the Russians/Ukranians etc. any more, just remembering what it was like to see Su27's etc in the display and the Bear, Backfire etc. in the static.

Organisation (security, traffic mgmt, parking etc) has improved vastly over the last few years.

[critical winge]

Dont forget to mention not to fly the model aeroplane again, no one could see it and it wasted 12 mins of our lives. Due respect to the RN J31 team, but there never has previously been a requirement to fill the F display with them so it just goes to proove the lack of quality and quantity available. Get a Tristar or the VC10 up for a bit of noise and size for a change. What about an A 10 ripping its wings off for a change....sorry, lots of room to improove.

Rgds

[treadigraph]

I've long since given up going to RIAT (too big, too long, too many people, too much time watching roundabouts on the A419, etc, etc) but my sister went courtesy of the RAF and thoroughly enjoyed the show. Mind you, she would have liked to see the Vulcan! One day, dear, one day...

Amen to the A-10, used to love watching them being chucked about the sky.

[NDB]

Yes V.good show. What got me was the price!!!! £30......

The traffic was slow but moving! I can't say anything about security as thats just a fact of uniform life.

But charging £30 (£35 at the gate!!!)...... Then to get a seat they wanted more!!! (The GrASS was good enough for my .... that day)

You need a croud centre but here's a thought; Why can't displays take into account the crowd line may be a mile long+! i.e. Have, say, two or three manoeuvres that alternate croud centre to let all the paying public see! (sorry if this has been put in the 2 hard to do bin!)

I'd like to see how much money is given the the Cadets who WORKED in the sun all weekend!!! Good job guys!

Winge over.. All in all :ok:

NDB

[Tourist]

Organisation, transport and even accomodation for crews etc very good compared to other times I have been.
Chinook, Friken Tricolory and Apache were great.
SHARs and Black cats a bit weak.
Red Arrows may be technically brilliant, but their choreographer has no imagination, see Tricolory above.
Where were the Su35, Havok, Mig29 etc

[normally right blank]

Red Arrows may be technically brilliant, but their choreographer has no imagination, see Tricolory above.
"Familiarity breeds contempt?" ;)

"Frecce" is excellent, but the "Reds" are the best (ever).
The Italians are (now) doing the exact same routine year after year.

"Red Arrows" has something new and something for everybody. The 4-ship "mirror"-roll got my attention. The "heart and arrow". Maybe the problem is they make it look so easy.

(Followed these two since 1966 ("Reds") and 1976 ("Frecce") )

Best regards

[Conan the Librarian]

Err... lots of coughing here... If the Screamers had any of the flair, exhuberance, fluidity, expression or art of the Frecce, then this thread would be simply redundant.

The Screamers are absolute tops of the second drawer. Frecce? Simply the best and most artistic team in the World.(My humble opinion, but I bet others might wish to add to this)

Don't bore me by mention of the French PdF. I may well draw flak, but I believe in what I say and after watching all three teams for over 20 years, feel qualified to express an opinion. Over to you lot! :-)


Conan

Still think that even the Frecce were hard pushed by the mighty Wokka... Well done and your award was richly deserved for the most enjoyable, mind expanding and amazing display. I bet some nations\' display pilots went home shaking their heads...

Some items stood out for me, in that they were unlikely but spirited. The thought and choreography that went into the WetDream display will live with me for a long time. Well done to ALL of you.


Conan.

[Tourist]

Forgot to mention the Typhoon, which was excellent on the practice up until the brown trouser moment, but for obvious reasons a bit more subdued on the public days. Far better at culdrose.
Concur about the Jetstream display

[Pontius Navigator]

I think the stars of the statics had to be the Romanian Lancers. As the wife said, 'well they must be OK to have flown here.'


They looked like a pair of BBQ Oil drums. Barve men to fly them.

Interestingly one had a pod identical to one on the F18. Baggage pod maybe?

Agree about the Fitter though. Formidable.

[truncheon meat]

this was my first year at RIAT and I thoroughly enjoyed the xperience. The only criticism was the lack of anywhere to get out of the sun for a while and have a drink or some food. A few marquees in the food areas would improve things. The inevitable sunburn meant I had to leave earlier than I would have liked but it was a great day and one I would like to repeat.

[normally right blank]

Display teams? Each to their own taste. I know what I saw. (And by the way - about time for one of the "Lets bin the "Reds" threads"? ;) )

Commentator (Sean Maffett?): Marvelous! He even made the UAV interesting (partly because I was right across to it's take off and landing in the western end).

[Jobza Guddun]

Bluetail,

I thought the show was rather good.

Well, the Apron Black static was anyway........:E

Cheers Jobza

[ProfessionalStudent]

Sorry, I was away... What exactly happened to the Typhoon then...?

[southside]

The Typhoon nearly crashed killing thousands of innocent spectators.

[browner]

Firefly from DEFTS was cancelled fairly close to event by RIAT, no idea why. Capt Wade was due to fly his usual polished routine. he can be seen later this year at RNAS Yeovilton.

[bluetail]

Southside

"The Typhoon nearly crashed killing thousands of innocent spectators" .

Yes it did have a pretty awsome moment, but didn,t nearly kill thousands of spectators because it happened on Friday which was a practise day, and it was over the runway (well, the grass) and flying generally away from the viewers and anyway there were only suits in (Sec of State for Defence included).

But "innocent" it was an airshow, things like this happen occasionally at airshows.

BT

Jobza Guddun

Got to agree with Apron Black some pretty stuff, but you must have come up to Grey/Brown for some tips while I wasn,t looking.

BT

[Conan the Librarian]

Great pity about the Firefly. Always one of my highlights at any airshow, but RIAT especially, in that its' display is so spirited when compared to much of the heavy metal that is always in attendance.

Somewhere, I have a copy of an old Alan Wade display, (Pitts, if memory serves well) shot from inside and looking back at him. Seriously eye popping stuff and the Firefly display is every bit as mind rodgering. Think he picked up some silverware a few years ago at Fairford and well deserved too. Come back in 2006 please!


Conan

[Pilot Pacifier]

Received this from a photographer that was there and he has granted me permission to post it here.

Yep, I am biased as I am on Chinooks, but it is still an awesome display and the picture says it all really...


Chinook Nose Dive...http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/_79_Vortex/CDD3.jpg

[idle-centralise]

Chinook display was awesome, but I was a bit dissappointed by the lack of CIS aircraft. The Hungarian Mig 29 is usually excellent, but there was no third generation russian stuff there at all.

For me the guy in the Su-26 was the show stopper. To have the capacity to do that sort of flying whilst talking to the crowd on the radio is awesome. Really liked his 11g cobra as well. Not sure what it's doing to his insides though! Hope he won some of the prizes at the after show hanger party.

Thought the security was a bit draconian this time round, despite what's just happened. It was pretty difficult to look round stuff een if you were RAF. Did get a look round the Romanian Lancers though, very interesting......

I-C

[EESDL]

From a corporate flyer pov, show went well - rotary handling and atc flexible and clients pleased.
Tried to venture out of the aircrew tent to venture down the line but didn't get very far!!!