Location: Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford

Date: 14th to 20th July, 2009

The first of four pages. Do not adjust your screen as some of these pictures are, like the weather at times, fantastically dark and dull! This show was probably the one I have taken the fewest images at since going digital. The weather was, no doubt, one of the factors but the overall lack of aircraft - barely 100 in the static - was undoubtedly the major influence. This page covers Wednesday through to the Vulcan arrival on Friday afternoon.


  • Proof the sun did shine! Tornado IDS 4553 of the German Air Force shortly after arrival.

  • A 'new' Hercules for the Dutch Air Force. G-988 is, in fact, an ex-US Navy C-130H.

  • Swedish Air Force JAS-39C Gripen 39268.

  • Hungarian Air Force JAS-39C 30 heads a line of all five Gripens from the show.

  • J-5004 of the Swiss Air Force was one of six Hornets at RIAT.

  • Making its debut at the show was EC725 Caracal 2555/SF of the French Air Force.

  • The Frecce Tricolori returned for RIAT 09.

  • Another French Air Force debutant was the stunning Rafale. This is 321/113-HQ.

  • The second Rafale was 335/113-IJ.

  • The Dutch Air Force F-16 has a stunning new scheme for 2009. The aircraft is J-015...

  • ...and the pilot is Capt Ralph 'Sheik' Aarts.

  • J-015

  • J-015

  • RIAT had its 51st nation for 2009 - Algeria. The Air Force sent C-130H Hercules 4935/7T-WHE.

  • Harriers flew at their first show for 2009. This ZD461/51A a GR7A of the Naval Strike Wing at Cottesmore.

  • Returning after a gap of too long were the Spanish Hornets. this is EF-18A+ C.15-61/12-19.

  • Royal Marines Lynx AH7 XZ612 was one of many aircraft in the Fly Navy 100 flypast.

  • Two Navy Merlin HM1s - ZH861/84 and ZH839/83 - on the ground with the Frecce Tricolori rehearsing.

  • The Rafale going through its paces. 321/113-HQ is the jet.

  • 321/113-HQ

  • Merlins ZH839/83 and ZH861/84 taxying out for the flypast rehearsal.

  • ZH861/84

  • 321/113-HQ and 335/113-IJ

  • Sea King HC4 ZD825/P taxies after the flypast with two Lynxes waiting to recover.

  • ZH839/83

  • After last year's aborted show, the Vulcan managed to make it this time. XH558 on finals.

  • XH5s8

  • Cold War Warriors - XH588 and B-52H 60-0058/LA sandwich former Commuinist state Hungary.