Birmingham 101 HOME
What's On
Music & Gig Guide
Restaurants
Nightlife

Articles - Previous Features & Articles
Motors - Motors reports & articles
Music - Gig Guide Reviews Archives
Photos - Photos of Events & the Midlands
Local News - News (Going back to 2000)

Latest road tests and News
Motors reports & articles -ARCHIVES

Where to stay
Travel & Timetables
Web Design

Photo of the day + "photo galleries"
Video - Various clips from past events

Address & Phone
Advertising
Features
Web Design
Newsletter - subscribe
General

The Royal International Air Tattoo 2005

Netherlands Air Force Apache firing off decoy flares at the top of a loop!
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER VERSION

The combination of glorious weather, a first class flying display – including the European airshow debut of a pilotless aircraft – helped create an unforgettable Royal International Air Tattoo for 2005.

Early indications are that the attendance figure at RAF Fairford for the two days is approximately 160,000, an increase of around seven per cent on last year.

Among the highlights of the airshow was a display of the pilotless Boeing ScanEagle. The public display by the secret surveillance aircraft was the first in Europe and live images from the craft were beamed down on to large screens situated in the showground.

Italian aerobatic display team the Frecce Tricolori
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER VERSION

Other highlights included a display by four Royal Navy Sea Harriers, the last time they will appear at the Air Tattoo before being retired and the Italian aerobatic display team the Frecce Tricolori, who once again produced a precise yet flamboyant display of typical Latin elan. There was also an elegant appearance by a brightly-coloured B757 belonging to parcel delivery company DHL.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A GALLERY OF PHOTOS FROM RIAT 2005

Sqn Ldr Matt Elliot became the first RAF pilot at RIAT to show off the state-of-the-art Eurofighter Typhoon which is being prepared for its entry into Royal Air Force service.

Four C-130 Hercules, one from each of the RAF Lyneham squadrons flew a moving missing man formation in honour of their comrades who died when their Hercules crashed in Iraq earlier this year.

Dutch F-16 performing a spectacular take off
CLICK IMAGE TO SEE LARGER VERSION

Among those watching the tribute were a number of Tattoo volunteers based at RAF Lyneham – including the Station Commander Group Captain Paul Oborn – all of whom found it particularly poignant.

The public were also treated to a rare display by the giant, twin rotor RAF Chinook heavylift helicopter which demonstrated remarkable agility for such a large helicopter.

Among the aircraft catching the eyes of the real enthusiasts were the Polish SU-22 ‘Fitter’ in a ferocious Tiger livery and the awesome Greek RF-4 Phantom.

There was also a unique flypast by The Red Arrows and three historic Spitfires, which lent a nostalgic touch to the Reds’ traditionally immaculate jet formation flying.

Aerobatics display pilot Will Curtis set a new aircraft ‘limbo’ world record, flying his Sukhoi SU-26 beneath 12 ribbons held aloft between poles by lines of trusting volunteers standing either side of the runway.

Will Curtis in his Sukhoi SU-26 cutting ribbons while flying inverted only feet above the runway
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER VERSION

Meanwhile world records were being set at ground level by two robots: ‘Climactic’ and ‘Scuttle’, owned by John Thorpe of Matlock in Derbyshire and Mark Franklin, from Kettering respectively. Climactic climbed a 10-metre rope in 5.27 seconds and Scuttle set a sprint record of 6.52 seconds.

Also being put forward as new Guinness World Record holders were John Lewis, of Hythe in Kent and Fraser Greenhalgh, of Doncaster. They each managed to throw three consecutive paper aeroplanes on to a target from the perimeter of a three-metre circle.

Among the guests at this year’s airshow were the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Dr John Reid, HRH the Duke of Gloucester, Chief of the Air Staff Sir Jock Stirrup and Chief of the US Air Force, General John Jumper.

On Sunday, Her Majesty Queen Noor, of Jordan and HRH Lt Gen Prince Feisal Bin Hussein of Jordan were among the guests at the annual Royal International Air Tattoo Flying Scholarships for the Disabled presentation ceremony.

Finnish Air Force F-18 on a very low pass
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION

Despite the large number of people who attended on the two days, there were no reports of any major traffic problems. Admissions co-ordinator Peter Williams said: “Everyone who came in by road over the two days has had nothing but praise for the event’s traffic management operation. Obviously we had queues but they were moving queues. We did not have long lines of stationary traffic.”

He said his team encountered only a few, minor problems, over the weekend. This included a coach, which broke down on Saturday morning at Castle Eaton and was recovered by the Air Tattoo transport team, and pre-existing roadworks on the C124 and in Whelford but a plan had been drawn up in advance to deal with them.

Mr Williams said: “In all, it was a good plan well executed.”

This year, the Air Tattoo was held for the first time in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust and delighted Tattoo director and co-founder Tim Prince.

“It is most heartening that in our first year under the new Trust, the team has put on a fantastic airshow. I believe it has been a success for our many stakeholders, including the various international air arms, the many aircrew, our hardworking volunteers, the Royal Air Force and, of course, the people who matter the most – the public.

Red Arrows in a unique formation with 3 Spitfires
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION

“There were many highlights over the weekend but if I had to choose one, it would be the wonderful joint flypast by the Red Arrows and the Spitfires – the combined sound of the jet aircraft with the propeller-driven Spitfires was music in the air.

“The airshow has been a wonderful advert not only for the Royal Air Force but also for the Charitable Trust.”