Home | Airshows | The Hangar | Nostalgia | Links
Part
one - RIAT - Back on track?
It was a much more enjoyable experience than RIAT 2002, with many of the problems that plagued last year's event being sorted, just as the organising team said they would. Security was still in evidence, especially the armed guards patrolling the American aircraft, but getting to and into the airshow was a much less painless exercise than before and one felt more relaxed as a result. Bigger entrance gates, a proper traffic management system and improved signing all contributed to what must have been the easiest access into Fairford yet seen - but was it because fewer people turned up?
|
Who
took the chequered flag?
|
 |
| The unique flypast of a USAF F-117A and the Red Arrows secured top honours for the pilots. In the annual post-show prize-giving ceremony, The King Hussein Memorial Sword for the best overall flying demonstration was presented by HRH Prince Feisal to F-117A pilot Sqn Ldr Richie Matthews and the Red Arrows. Saturday's flypast marked the first time the Stealth fighter has flown a display with a non-US aircraft. As a USAF pilot flew the Stealth on Sunday, it was a one-off! |
| Red One, Sqn Ldr Carl 'Spike' Jepson, said the opportunity arose because Richie, who is currently an exchange pilot with the USAF, was a former Red Arrow. Sqn Ldr Jepson said 'the idea won support from the USAF and RAF based on the special relationship that has always existed between the UK and the US. The Royal International Air Tattoo is a big airshow with a big head and we always feel privileged to take pad." Sqn Ldr Matthews, who is based at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, said he enjoyed his nostalgic rendezvous with the Reds. |
 "To
get to Fairford, the two F-117s - one was in static display - required
air-to-air refuelling several times during the flight from New Mexico
and required a 24-strong support team. It was great to be able to
put the flypast together for such a special occasion as RIAT. It's
been a real challenge getting all the different elements in place
but we have all had a thoroughly good time." |
| Sqn Ldr Matthews, 36, who is the current RAF exchange pilot with the USAF, is a former Red Arrow and appeared at the Tattoo with the legendary display team in 1995 and 1996. He started his exchange tour with the USAF in March 2002 and is currently Flight Commander on the 9th Fighter Squadron, one of only two front-line F-117A squadrons. Educated in Ashford, Kent, Sqn Ldr Matthews joined the RAF in 1985 and after training was posted to 41 (F) Sqn, Coltishall to fly the Jaguar. In 1992 he became a qualified weapons instructor and served as a Jaguar instructor at RAF Lossiemouth. He joined the Red Arrows in 1994 and flew with them for the following three seasons. In 1998, Sqn Ldr Matthews returned to the Jaguar on 54(F) Sqn before being promoted and moving to High Wycombe. |
|
Other
air display winners were:
|
|
|
 The
Steedman Display Sword for the best flying demonstration by
a UK participant - Lt Mark Scott and Lt Jamie Coulton, of 702 Sqn
Royal Navy, for their Lynx Pair display. |
 The
Shell Oil UK 'Sir Douglas Bader Trophy', awarded for the best
overall flying display was won by Capt. Mark Birkfeldt from F7 Wing,
flying the JAS-39 Gripen. |
 The
Solo Jet Aerobatic Trophy, for the best solo jet aerobatics
demonstration, went to Capt. Yannick Vallet, of Escadrille 02/005
'Ile de France' flying a Mirage 2000C. |
 The
'As The Crow Flies' Trophy, awarded by The Friends of the Royal
International Air Tattoo, went to Hungarian MiG-29 pilot Capt.
Zoitan Szabo. |
 The
EADS Trophy for the Best Livery was awarded to a 'Blue Lightning',
a German Air Force Tornado from 2 Squadron, 31 Wing captained
by Lt Steffen Haack. An award due since Waddington... |
 Competition
for the static display awards was as keen as ever - winner of the
Concord d'Elegance Page Aerospace Trophy was the P-3 Orion
entered by 320 Sqn of the Royal Netherlands Navy. |
 The
fixed wing Concord d'Elegance (BAE Systems Trophy) went to
Polish Navy entrant, a M28 Bryza 1R, of 30 Naval Air Squadron, especially
painted for the Tattoo's 'Ocean Watch' theme marking the 60th anniversary
of the Battle of the Atlantic. The Bryza wore the OD codes and Polish
chequerboard emblem carded by aircraft of 304 (Polish) Squadron RAF
Coastal Command in 1944. |
 Best
rotary wing Concord d'Elegance (The EADS Trophy) went to Latvian
Air Force Mi-8 MTV. |
|
The other award winners were: The Volunteer Reserve Forces Poignard Trophy - the US Air National Guard. Overall Ground Skills winners (The Goodrich Trophy) - US Navy VP30, The Pro's Nest. Best Aircrew Skills (The Marshall Trophy) - German Air Force (The Flying Monsters of FBW 32, 2 Sqn). Participant best embodying the spirit of the RIAT (Lockheed Martin Spirit of the Meet Trophy) - 120 Sqn Royal Air Force.
|
Gary Parsons looks back at the 2003 RIAT experience.
A
numbers game
Numbers were
considerably down on 2002, with unofficial figures of 80,000 on Saturday
and 70,000 on Sunday, a meagre 150,000 in total and some 75,000 down on
a what should have been expected. The weather wasn't to blame, as although
it wasn't the best weekend experienced this summer it was pleasantly warm
and dry - so what had deterred Joe Public? Certainly the consequences
of a poor 2002 show were being reaped, advance ticket sales being slow
and even the hardy FRIAT members less enthusiastic. Other factors must
have played their part - just forty miles away the British Grand Prix
was in full swing at Silverstone, and in a sunnier Kent the British Open
held many golfers' attention - certainly it wasn't the best weekend in
which to compete for the working man's hard-earned leisure time. The lure
of Barrichello and a kilted madman must have had an effect, if only because
the A43 was a no-go area 
on
Sunday morning. But, of course cost is always the old chestnut, and this
year's ticket prices had been set with the prospect of Defence 2003 serving
up much of the action, but its cancellation in the spring left a gaping
hole in the programme, swiftly filled with the establishment of the 100
years of Flight exhibition (of which more later).
So where does a shortfall of some 75,000 spectators leave RIAT? The loss of revenue is significant, and will mean the event's finances will have to be reviewed before the 2004 event - overheads will need to be pruned, sponsorship levels raised and running costs trimmed. Maybe some of this cost will be passed onto the paying punter - although this may, of course, reduce the visitor numbers further. What is of paramount importance is that enough profit is generated to make a substantial contribution to the RAF Benevolent Fund - otherwise the whole principle of the event will flounder.
On
the grid
A shame then that numbers were down, as the show was a marked improvement on '02. The military presence was up, bucking the trend of recent military shows, and participation varied with some 'star turns'. Highest profile was Typhoon, making its flying display debut some eight years after its first 'demonstration' back in 1995, with Maurizio Cheli flying twin-seater ZJ699. Flying twice on Saturday, it was good to see a new display in the air over Fairford amongst what was otherwise a pedestrian flying programme containing little that was new or particularly exciting, such is the reluctance of the major companies to commit to display flying before type acceptance into air forces. How long before we see F-22 or F-35 gracing the skies of Gloucestershire? Quite a while, sadly. Arriving on Saturday morning, a 17(R) Squadron marked Typhoon graced the static, heralding the imminent introduction of the type into official RAF service.
American
participation was high - as usual, RIAT was the only place to see demonstrations
by the B-1B, B-2A, A-10 and F-117A. I say demonstrations, for that's what
they were - displays would be a gross overstatement. Straight and level
passes by all but the A-10, which at least did give some semblance to
a role demonstration with a commentator straight out of the Turkish Stars'
school for the overexcited. The B-2A Spirit was particularly disappointing,
just one pass before leaving for an overnight stop at Mildenhall - it
seems to get less impressive each year, a far cry from its fabulous '99
displays. It was intended to be based at Fairford, but security concerns
meant it resided in Suffolk Saturday night before returning to the USA
late Sunday. But, more of the flying in a later issue.
100
years of flight
This was
something new - a static park comprising mostly of museum pieces, interspersed
with active warbirds, to illustrate a century of flight from the Wright
Brothers to the present day. Period set-pieces had Farmans in canvas hangars
(although they were a very unauthentic modern-day aluminium frame construction)
through to the RAF's 
latest
acquisition, the Boeing C-17. Very much a British perspective on history,
it seems to have been well received, a poll on the
UK Airshows message board giving it the thumbs-up with 93% thinking
it a good idea. Many airframes were borrowed from museums around the country,
stripped down and re-sprayed especially for the occasion before being
delivered to Fairford from May onwards. It certainly gave those aeroplanes
used a welcome new coat of paint and brought some 'new' types to the Air
Tattoo, but at a reputed cost in excess of £250,000 one hopes it doesn't
dent the profit margin too much. Again, we'll review it in more detail
in a later issue.
Air
cadet day
Friday was due to be the day Defence 2003 was enacted, but in its cancellation and as most of the static aircraft would be in place someone had the idea of opening the doors to the Combined Cadet Force as a general recruiting day. Some 16,000 cadets were given free access, together with a truncated weather-affected flying display and pop concert involving acts Vicki O'Neill and Abs (apparently a former member of 5ive). It was a bold initiative, one slightly marred by the poor weather, but the organisers should be congratulated in setting up such an excellent recruiting project - it was very much what Air Tattoo should be about, promoting tomorrow's aircrew as well as looking after yesterday's.
Suzi
drops in
Celebrity for the national press launch was Superbike star Suzi Perry, normally seen presenting BBC's motorcycle racing coverage or chasing clues in the same company's 'Treasure Hunt' programme. Quite used to helicopters through the latter programme, she arrived at a particularly wet and dreary Fairford on board a 33 Squadron Puma from RAF Benson - when asked how Treasure Hunt compared to RAF flying, she replied "Rather tame!" She is getting used to the military way having co-hosted 'Homeward Bound' with Jim Davidson in 2000 in which she highlighted the work of the British Army in the Kosovo campaign.
 |
|
Competing
for attention from Typhoon in the static was its French rival Rafale,
with two French Navy examples on show. It had been hoped that one
would participate in the flying, but as with a number of acts it
was not to be.
|
Debrief
Air-Scene UK still considers Fairford not to be the best venue with its political baggage, but there's little chance of a move, and we saw a marked improvement on 2002 with the measures put in place for traffic management and security - signs that the RIAT team do genuinely listen to the concerns of the public. But, things can still get better, as the gates don't open early enough - large queues had formed by the entrance gates at 06:30 in the Blue car parks with still an hour's wait for them to open. This led to queue jumping, heated exchanges and bad tempers - not what you want on what is supposed to be a leisure day. RIAT is so big now that to fit it all in on one day is nearly impossible, and to stand a fighting chance the gates need to be open much, much earlier - one for the team to work on.
 |
|
Just
some of the heavies on show - more in a later issue. Pic courtesy
of Damien Burke
|
Otherwise, the show can be considered a success, and one that deserves to prosper - it's still good value for money in today's entertainment world. RIAT director Paul Bowen said after the event "The feedback from the public is that this year’s show is one of the best ever, and with the Red Arrows’ unique flypast with the F-117 and the majestic 100 Years of Flight presentation it is not difficult to see why." We wouldn't go quite as far as that, as it will always be difficult to match the breadth and quality of the shows in the mid-nineties. This year was certainly a step in the right direction from '02, and with a Fighter Meet planned for '04 let's hope that the trend continues - if you didn't go this year because of last year's trauma, make sure you go next year - the future of the event may depend on you!
Part two: In the air - what was good, what was not so good...
Home | Airshows | The Hangar | Nostalgia | Links