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Royal International Air Tattoo 2003 , RAF Fairford - 19th-20th July 2003 |
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All photographs by Flightline UK.
Important Matters So, after the difficulties of 2002, did they get it right? Well, if the post show internet forums and the emails Flightline UK has receieved then the answer was a definate YES! Perhaps the biggest improvements were the trials of getting into the event; not only had the traffic improved significantly but the secuirity gates cleared people much more quickly that last year with some gates cleared of any significant hold ups by 9am. Getting out was much better too! Saturday saw absolutely no problem what so ever, though Sunday's traffic was somewhat busier with the purple route in particular queuing, but again, it was nothing like the terrible experiences people had last year. However, there are still some very important things that must be addressed. The queues that form so early in the morning are left standing till 0730 meaning that there are large build up which eventually leads to queue-jumpers. The friction between people does become quite intense and it would be wise if the organisers opened the gates up earlier, say at 0600-0630 even if the main public parts of the showground remain closed such as the shopping areas. At least people will know they have arrived so to speak!! Show Time CLICK HERE for the Exotic Visitors Gallery CLICK HERE for the Fighter Town Fairford Gallery
CLICK HERE for the 100 Years of Flight Gallery
CLICK HERE for the OCEANWATCH Gallery
CLICK HERE for the UK Armed Forces Gallery
In the Skies CLICK HERE for the Flying Display Gallery
Overall, the quality was very good considering the overall political and financial situation of the Countries invited to take part, particularly from Eastern Europe. It was therefore fitting that, amongst the usual RIAT fare, a Mikoyan MiG-29 from the Hungarian Air Force stole the limelight in many onlookers eyes. However, perhaps the most eye catching display came from the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the form of their Boeing 757!!! The flair in which this airliner was thrown through the skies. RIAT status as a emerging minor trade event (When compared with Berlin, Paris and that other minor little known airshow at Farnborough) was further enhanced with an appeance by Airtanker's A330MMRT (actually a normal airliner simulating the tanker) joined by two German Navy Panavia Tornado IDS chicks. The finale of this year's show was really quite bizarre in as much that it seemed the salute of the air crews of Operation Telic was deemed to policitally charged at the last moment and was shifted to a celebration of 100 Years of Flight using four RAF Tormado GR4s and four USAFE F-16CJ Fighting Falcons. It was a bizarre end to the show. And the winners are:-
Passing Thoughts It would be fair to say 2003 saw a return to form for Fairford's RIAT and a greatly improved traffic and security system.. This must be treated as good news as there's almost no chance of the show moving away from the base in the foreseeable future. Any worries over polictical aviodance of the show by certain countries because of the American presence at the base were well and truly quashed this year with excellent participation by a number of opponents of President Bush's foreign policy. In the preceding weeks to the Tattoo, a number of protestors had threatened to disrupt the show. The only evidence of this over the week at Fairford was the graffiti on some of the RAC's signs and offensive text messages to Wings FM, and a very low key protest on the Blue exit of the airfield during Sunday's show. I think organisers and the public alike will be grateful that the protests lost steam in the run up to the event. However, many of the same moans about the aircraft participation still cast a shadow over the event. We have been spoilt by the excellent efforts of Paul Bowen and Tim Prince over the years, and it has lead to very high expectations. We hope that the efforts this year of securing particular types and Special Paint Scheme aircraft and the success they yielded will mean that it will become a permanent fixture in the particpation phase for future RIATs!!! See you back at Fairford in 2004! CLICK HERE for the Day One (TUESDAY) Gallery |
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copyright Flightline UK 2003 |
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With
so many of the readership of Flightline UK going to RIAT this
year, and being so quick to post their thoughts on the various
airshow message boards, it seems pointless to dissect RIAT in
minute detail. Instead we have a concise round up of the major
highs and lows of the world's best military airshow supported
by photo gallerys of the major themes of RIAT 2003
2002 had been bland and almost slipped into becoming "just
another airshow." 2003 proved despite the lack of money
in the East European countries, a varied and interesting participation
list can still be achieved. Stand out highlights are hard to
choose, but for Flightline UK they were the unique formation
of the Red Arrows and F-117A on the Saturday, the French
Air Force Mirage IVP and the pair of Swiss Mirage
IIIRSs amongst others. 2003 had seen a change in policy
from the RIAT participation committee. Instead of being content
with what they were given and having a quantity over quality
attitude, the organisers went after particular type suggestd
by enthusiats which included special paint schemes. The Policy
paid off in a spectacular way with the Luftwaffe in particular
providing a selection of very colourful Tornados and italians
providing a very rare UK appearance of a Piaggio P.166. 
The 100 Years of Flight Exhibition
was truly exceptional and we just wonder if anyone, including
RIAT, dare repeat the exercise as it would be so hard to better
the experience! However, one thing could have been improved.
Many people left it out to the end of flying display to find
it had been closed half an hour after the end of the flying!
Sunday saw repeated warnings from the commentary team that it
would close at 1830hrs yet still people missed it because of
the early closing time. If such a unique part of the static
park is to be repeated, the organisers will hopefully leave
it open for longer next year!! As well as several Museum aircraft
brough out into the open, several types that don't usually make
public appearances were there, including the Bradshaw Hawker
Sea Fury. 
The operational theme of RIAT
was Ocean Watch 03, a gathering of all types of maritime reconnaisance
aircraft from the world's Air Forces. Particular highlights
were the Latvian pair of Mil Mi-8MTV and Let L-410,
making their UK Airshow Debut along with the French Aeronavale
Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye.
Another major plus point must
have been the Youth Day, although the weather didn't help and
lead some serious rejigging of the flying display. As well as
providing the FRIAT members an exclusive look at the static
before the public days, it did provide the younger generation
a good insight to the modern day armed forces. It is here that
we must pay tribute to the Central Display Area showcasing the
RAF, Army and Navy. In what was pretty much a dress rehearsal
for the resheduled Defence 2004 with all but the mock
assault, it was a highly interesting and enjoyable part of the
show. 
Most
important for many RIAT visitors is the flying display. After
a very mediocre display in 2002, 2003's display was particularly
well arranged and executed, although Sunday did suffer a bit
after the Northrop B-2A Spirit's less than exciting flypast
got severely delayed and threw a major spanner in the works
of what had been a smoothly run display. Before and after the
display , the ground dwelling public were treated to a landing
and take-off of a British Airways Boeing 747-400 which
was flying in members of the public from Heathrow with well
known airshow commentator, Stratton Richie in the sharp end
giving a great account of phase of the flight.