RIAT 2017

We had quite a bit of fun at last year’s Duxford air show. So much so that my buddy James dropped a list of 2017 air shows to the gang and asked if anyone was up for a few shows. I don’t think he knew what he was getting us into. He had the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford (UK) on his list. That would have not been a big deal if it wasn’t for the USAF Thunderbirds coming to that show.

I had not seen the USAF Thunderbirds in 25 years! We had not seen the USAF Thunderbirds in 25 years!

Plans were drawn. Luc, James and I got together, booked a hotel in London and the Eurostar to get to London. Oh wait… We also needed tickets to the air show. And it was sold out! It took us a couple of dozen of emails and some help from friends to get a hold of tickets: “Thunderbirds are GO!”

And not even a little grey skies would keep us away. It was touch-and-go with the weather though. With a cloud base as low as 600ft at some point, some displays got cancelled, but not the USAF Thunderbirds.

USAF Thunderbirds Flying the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
USAF Thunderbirds Flying the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

Adding to my excitement were displays by the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey and the Airbus A400M Atlas. I had never seen them displayed before. Both planes have amazing capabilities. It don’t always have to be fast moving jets to be impressive.

Airbus A400M Atlas at RIAT 2017
Airbus A400M Atlas at RIAT 2017
Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey at RIAT 2017
Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey at RIAT 2017
Prev The Music City's Neon Lights
Next The Johnny Cash Museum

Comments are closed.