RIAT 2023

[Walkingthedog]

1997 at RIAT, 96 at Farnborough. Remember everybody went very quiet.

[teedoubleudee]

Think you might be a little out there. Here is my own photo from my RIAT 2004 folder. Pretty sure that was the first year but happy to be proven wrong.

[teedoubleudee]

Lancer, B52, F117, U2 and Reds from same year (2004)

[Walkingthedog]

Think you might be a little out there. Here is my own photo from my RIAT 2004 folder. Pretty sure that was the first year but happy to be proven wrong.

Afraid not. These are quotes from the B2 history. I was actually working at Farnborough on that day.

Sept 2nd 1996 B-2 88-0332 "Washington" performed a flypast at the Farnborough Air Show on September 2nd 1996. This is believed to be the first time that a B-2 was in UK airspace

May 24th 1997 B-2 93-1086 performed a flypast at the RAF Mildenhall Open House during a 30-hour mission.

The 1997 RIAT was the first time a B2 landed in the UK.

[teedoubleudee]

You're right Bian, like I said happy to be disproved LOL. Been doing a bit of my own research and found this https://fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/view ... hp?t=61327. Half way down and I quote:

"July 17th 2004 and July 18th B-2 93-1086 "Spirit of Kitty Hawk" performed flypasts at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2004 at RAF Fairford. On Saturday July 17th the aircraft flew a 20-hour Global Power misson from Whiteman and back as "Death 53". The following day the same aircraft, with a different crew, flew the same mission as "Death 63". On both occasions the aircraft was escorted by four F-15E Eagles from RAF Lakenheath."

I wrongly assumed that because it was such a strange mission, USA-UK-USA without landing it was still on a classified list, whereas it seems it was more of an endurance test for pilot and aircraft. Was still a sight to remember as it was greeted with almost complete silence by the crowd.

[teedoubleudee]

Getting back to this year, I heard an F35 leaving Marham yesterday afternoon (not a normal occurence for a Sunday) and guessed it was off to do a display somewhere. Did it display at RIAT by any chance?

[Walkingthedog]

It’s an amazing sight. I remember seeing my first SR71 Blackbird land at Farnborough. At it taxied past with the cockpit open the crew wearing astronaut suits waved at the crowd. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

[Walkingthedog]

Getting back to this year, I heard an F35 leaving Marham yesterday afternoon (not a normal occurence for a Sunday) and guessed it was off to do a display somewhere. Did it display at RIAT by any chance?

There was an F35 display.

[bulleidboy]

Did you see the ME262?

[RAF96]

Did you see the ME262?

I was (inadvertently) chatting to the driver (or one of his support team) on FB and he reckoned although the new engines are fine they still have the same old airframe problems.
Rudder balance is critical to avoid flutter and when going supersonic (just) he gets ‘quote’ control reversal same as Chuck Yeager did way back when ‘unquote’