RIAT 2020 Cancelled due to Corona (COVID-19) Virus - Fairford Airshow Air Tattoo 2020 - Flying Display, Royal International Air Tattoo Timetable, Tickets, Hotels, Checklist, Weather, Camping

RIAT Information & Links

RAF Typhoon FGR4 at the Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford.

About RIAT:
• RIAT History

• RIAT Dates
• RIAT Themes
• RIAT Participating Aircraft

RIAT History
The first Air Tattoo was held at North Weald, Essex in 1971. North Weald was then still owned by the Ministry of Defence and it was was inactive so it had to be re-activated for the event. North Weald also hosted the Air Tattoo in 1972 but in 1973 the M11 motorway was being built close to North Weald's main runway so a new location was found for the Air Tattoo at RAF Greenham Common. Greenham Common hosted more aircraft and 2 days were allocated for the event. It was very successful and was hosted there in 1974 also.

In 1975 with the loss of the Director of the IAT, the withdrawal of a major sponsor, and an international fuel crisis there wasn't an Air Tattoo. However a proposal was put to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund which decided to support future Air Tattoos at Greenham Common. In 1976 the show became the International Air Tattoo (IAT). The 1977 IAT was the last of the annual International Air Tattoos, as it was then held every other year.

The International Air Tattoos in 1979, 1981, and 1983 became bigger and better but the 1983 IAT was the last to be held at Greenham Common due to the build up of cruise missile facilities and the reduced area for a large airshow. In 1985, RAF Fairford was chosen as the venue to host the Air Tattoo. The static display stretched for nearly 2 miles and was the longest single line-up ever presented in the UK. Fairford hosted the event biennially until 1993 and annually since then.

In recognition of its unique status, the current title of 'Royal International Air Tattoo' was granted by Her Majesty The Queen in 1996.

During 2000 and 2001 the Royal International Air Tattoo was held at RAF Cottesmore, Rutland because RAF Fairford was having its runways resurfaced. RIAT returned back to RAF Fairford in 2002.

Day-specific tickets were introduced for the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in 2008 because RIAT 2007 saw many more people attending on Saturday rather than Sunday because the weather was forecast was much better for Saturday. This resulted in traffic chaos and long queues on Saturday. It is thought that issuing day-specific tickets (Saturday or Sunday) which will have to be bought in advance (there will be no on-the-day tickets) will solve the problems of RIAT 2007. It is still possible to purchase a ticket which covers both saturday and Sunday but at a higher price.

The Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in 2008 was cancelled both days (Saturday and Sunday) due to a sustained period of heavy rainfall resulting in waterlogged conditions in the public carparks and also the airfield. Unfortunately in 2008 the United States Air Force Air Combat Command's F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team had made the first trans-Atlantic flight to participate in the show. However, the F-22 Raptor appeared and displayed at RIAT 2010.

RIAT 2012 saw the debut of the excellent Black Eagles aerobatic team from South Korea.

RIAT 2014 was the first time in its history that the show has been open to the public on a Friday and included a flying display. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter was to make its anticipated European debut in 2014 but the type was grounded in the U.S. due to an F-35 engine failure so couldn't attend the Royal International Air Tattoo.

RIAT 2016 included the international display debut of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Six F-35 Lightning II were flown over to RAF Fairford in June 2016 to take part in the show. The six F-35s included three USAF F-35A Lightning II (conventional take off and landing variant), two USMC F-35B Lightning II (short-take off and vertical-landing (STOVL) variant), and an RAF F-35B Lightning II. The F-22A Raptor also made a welcome return.

RIAT 2018 celebrated one hundred years of the Royal Air Force and had a full three days of airshows, with over 7 hours of flying on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

RIAT 2020 Airshow

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is a very large military Air show containing hundreds of modern military aircraft in the static line-up and air display from many different countries around the world.

This Airshow is usually held at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire which is a large base used infrequently by USAF deployments which makes it an ideal venue for such a large Airshow.

RIAT 2020 has been cancelled as a result of the challenging and unprecedented environment presented by COVID-19.

RIAT 2020 Dates:

• ~~17-19 July - Royal International Air Tattoo 2020~~ CANCELLED

Royal International Air Tattoo 2020:
RIAT 2020 Themes:

Themes include 'Fast Jet Combat Air Power' and 'Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR)'.

Royal International Air Tattoo Statement:

Royal International Air Tattoo Cancelled!

Air Tattoo Statement (Noon on Friday, March 20, 2020)

It is with enormous regret and disappointment that we have to announce the cancellation of this year's Royal International Air Tattoo, due to take place from 17 to 19 July, as a result of the challenging and unprecedented environment presented by COVID-19.

This decision has not been taken lightly and a significant amount of work sits behind this course of action. The crisis, which is worsening by the day, and the implications of which are becoming more profound, has led us to conclude that the most prudent course of action is to cease any further planning to deliver this significant event.

The Air Tattoo is reliant on the support of a wide range of stakeholders, not least the participation of international air arms, medical professionals, military security teams and our Emergency Services, many of whom are delivering a fundamental contribution to fighting this crisis. We believe delivery of our event would distract them from this.

At the heart of this difficult decision is our firm belief that staging the Air Tattoo this year would not only run counter to the current Government advice but would also be beyond what we could reasonably ask of our supporters. We recognise that our decision will have a negative financial impact on our valued suppliers and traders, on the local economy that benefits so much from the large influx of people who arrive in the area for one week in July, as well as on our parent charity. For this we apologise.

We would like to thank all our partners, the RAF, USAF, sponsors, the world's air forces, our amazing volunteers and of course the public who turn up year on year to support our magnificent event. We seek your patience and encouragement over the next few weeks as we plan for the future in order to return in 2021 to celebrate the Air Tattoo's 50th Anniversary.

Participating aircraft:
(F)=Flying Display, (S)=Static Display

Austrian Air Force
• C-130K Hercules (S)

Belgian Air Component
• F-16AM Fighting Falcon (F)
• Embraer ERJ-135LR (S)

Polish Air Force
• F-16C 'Tiger Demo Team' (F) - TBC

Royal Danish Air Force
• CL-604 Challenger (S)
• F-16AM Fighting Falcon (F)

Swedish Air Force
• Gulfstream S102B Korpen (S)
• Saab S100D Argus (S)

Swiss Air Force
• Patrouille Suisse (F)
• F/A-18C Hornet (F)

United Kingdom
Royal Air Force
• F-35B - TBC
• Poseidon MRA1 - TBC

Royal Navy
• Avenger T.1 (S)
• Hawk T.1 (S)
• Merlin HM.2 (S)
• Wildcat HMA2 (S)
• Wildcat HMA2 (F)

United States Air Force
• F-16 & Mustang (Air Force Heritage Flight) (F) - TBC

RIAT Accommodation:

RIAT 2020 Tickets:

• Please check with the official RIAT website for ticket prices and booking.

RIAT 2019 Review:

• RIAT 2019 Review & Photos.

Park and View 2020
Park and view is available to watch the aircraft arrivals on Wednesday 15th July & Thursday 16th July as well as aircraft departures on Monday 20th July 2020. Park and view is open from 7.30am to 7.30pm on arrivals days (15th & 16th) and 7.30am to 4.30pm on departures day (Monday 20th July).

There are two Park & View Enclosures, one situated at the East and one at the West end of the airfield. Both locations are signposted by yellow AA signs on the roads leading to the airfield. In the main, aircraft land and depart from the East end of the runway but this is dependent on the prevailing wind direction.

Car parks open at 6am with free parking. There are also toilets, catering, disabled parking, and a stepladder enclosure.

Park and View Prices:
Wednesday 15th July 2020 - £15
Thursday 16th July 2020 - £15
Monday 20th July 2020 - £20
Under-18s go free but require a ticket so please order the quantity required.

Park and View Opening Times:

Please check with official RIAT website for Park and View Ticket booking or call 01285 713 456 (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri).

Press Releases

• Royal International Air Tattoo
Virtual Air Tattoo attracts international support...

• Royal International Air Tattoo
Virtual Air Tattoo...

• Royal International Air Tattoo
Royal International Air Tattoo 2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19...

• Royal International Air Tattoo
F-35B & P-8A Aircraft Announcement and 2020 Theme Announcement...

RIAT Maps

RIAT Maps:

Tweets by RIAT

RIAT Future Dates:

Fri 17, Sat 18, Sun 19 July 2020
Fri 16, Sat 17, Sun 18 July 2021
Fri 15, Sat 16, Sun 17 July 2022

Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2020 - Fairford Airshow

Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2020
(Fairford Airshow)

Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2020 - Fairford Airshow

Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2020 (Fairford Airshow)

Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2020
(Fairford Airshow)