Friday 17 July will be the focus for our official commemorations marking the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Attendance on Friday will include exclusive 'pit' access to operational aircraft, their crews and engineers; this will not be available on Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday there will be a four hour flying display with the debut of a special mass flypast of historic aircraft. The Vintage Village will take on the 'Battle of Britain' theme and will be expanded to include additional static aircraft, re-enactors and a number of other 'Friday only' features.

Improvements for 2015 include opening the showground from 7.30am, entry from the Green Car Parks through the Green Entry Point with upgraded and additional buses dropping you at the nearest accessible point on the showground (approx. 2 minute journey), additional aircraft in the 'Pit Area', more of the showground open as well as the Viewing Village Grandstand for that bird's eye view!

Following on from the success of the Red Arrows pit area introduced in 2014 this is your only opportunity for that intimate view of aircraft that will be part of the flying display. However, there are only a limited number of tickets available, currently priced at £26, so book yours now at http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/visiting/airshow-tickets

- Controlled 'Pit Area' access to historic and other aircraft representing our 'Securing the Skies - Past, Present and Future' theme - open before and after the flying display.
- Four hour flying display from 11am to 3pm (pit area is closed during this time)
- Debut of a special mass flypast of historic aircraft to commemorate the Battle of Britain
- Full access to the East Showground from 7.30am to 6pm. Click here for the map
- Aircraft arrivals and rehearsals before and after the flying display
- RAF Village, Vintage Village, Techno Zone and Autodrome (NEW for 2015) open
- Aviation Club, Cotswold Club and the Viewing Village Grandstand enclosures open
- Frequent free showground buses (upgraded for 2015) from the Green car park and entry point directly into the showground (no additional queueing at another entry point).

Whether countering increasingly sophisticated and diverse military threats or delivering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, Securing the Skies and demonstrating Air Power is critical at home and around the globe.

Today, thanks to cutting-edge platforms operated by highly skilled personnel, the RAF is capable of controlling airspace, providing timely and accurate intelligence and mobilising quickly and effectively to meet a wide range of missions.

The same is true of those air arms operating alongside the RAF, and in 2015 the Royal International Air Tattoo will be inviting them to RAF Fairford to help highlight how Securing the Skies is achieved across the world.

On the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the spotlight will fall on this historic aerial conflict, the bravery of the pilots from 14 nations who flew with RAF Fighter Command and the contribution new technology such as radar then played in Securing the Skies.

From the Supermarine Spitfires and Hawker Hurricanes of yesteryear to the Typhoons of today and the Lightning IIs of tomorrow, the RAF, often operating alongside its NATO allies or coalition forces, is committed to providing frontline protection from aerial threats.

Mastery of the aerial battlespace remains as important today as it was in 1940 and on 17-19 July 2015 the Air Tattoo will highlight the crucial role that aircraft play in Securing the Skies.

In support, highly trained RAF servicemen and women perform a wide range of specialist roles, from armourers, technicians and aerospace battle managers to chefs, medics and firefighters, all contributing towards the effectiveness of the Royal Air Force.