RAF Fairford, 13 July, 2018

And so to Fairford for the annual aviation extravaganza that is the Royal International Air Tattoo.

A days holiday was booked from work, as I visited on the Friday. I hoped for smaller crowds, but an early start was still required to ensure I didn't get caught in early morning traffic on the M25. However, I need not have worried, arriving before the gates opened, and getting some breakfast in the car park and then near enough walking straight onto the base.

The highlight for me was the Japan Air Self Defence Force's Kawasaki C-2 68-1203

Another next generation 'lifter was the Embraer KC-390 PT-ZNJ, but my attention was also caught by a much older aircraft, the Austrian Air Force's Hercules 8T-CA.

Although this was the first time I had seen an Austrian Herc, the aircraft was an old friend, having been seen by me at Fairford back in 1998 as XV181 when it served with the RAF.

I have long been a fan of the Panavia Tornado. Some of my earliest aviation memories were watching Tornados from the TTTE at RAF Cottesmore flying down the valley from my childhood home. The show provided my last opportunity to see an RAF GR4 as the type leaves the RAF shortly after the show after many years' distinguished service: 

Of all the foreign air arms represented at the show, the Canadians deserve special mention. Two Hornets joined a Hercules and a Griffon helicopter that hitched a lift across the Atlantic on a C-17 Globemaster. The Hercules brightened up its grey livery with a Canadian flag: 

It really was an excellent show, with many interesting aircraft. Here is the log:

3	Boeing C-17A Globemaster III	NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization
	Boeing C-17A Globemaster III	USAF - United States Air Force
08 BLUE	Alenia C-27J Spartan	Lithuanian Air Force
08-0050	Bell/Boeing CV-22B Osprey	USAF - United States Air Force
11-0058	Bell/Boeing CV-22B Osprey	USAF - United States Air Force
92-2104	Lockheed Martin MC-130J Hercules	USAF - United States Air Force
130	Dassault Rafale C	French Air Force
130614	Lockheed Martin CC-130J-30 Hercules	Royal Canadian Air Force
146430	Bell 412CF/CH-146 Griffon	Royal Canadian Air Force
15-5125	Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II	USAF - United States Air Force
15-5164	Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II	USAF - United States Air Force
1503	Lockheed C-130E Hercules	Polish Air Force
163918	Boeing E-6B Mercury	USN - United States Navy
169335	Boeing 737-800A (P-8A Poseidon)	USN - United States Navy
177705	Boeing C-17A (CC-177) Globemaster III	Royal Canadian Air Force
188776	McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet	Royal Canadian Air Force
188783	McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet	Royal Canadian Air Force
1962	Alenia C-27J Spartan	Slovak Air Force
23	Dassault Rafale M	French Navy
260	Pilatus PC-9(M)	Irish Air Corps
261	Pilatus PC-9(M)	Irish Air Corps
30+94	Eurofighter 2000	German Air Force
305	Dassault Rafale B	French Air Force
306	General Dynamics F-16BM Fighting Falcon	Royal Norwegian Air Force
344	Lockheed C-130H Hercules	Royal Jordanian Air Force
39278	SAAB Gripen JAS-39C	Swedish Air Force
39293	SAAB Gripen JAS-39C	Swedish Air Force
39825	SAAB Gripen JAS-39D	Swedish Air Force
4052	Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon	Polish Air Force
4055	Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon	Polish Air Force
41 YELLOW	Antonov AN-2	Estonian Air Force
4178	Lockheed C-130E Hercules	Pakistan Air Force
44+65	Panavia Tornado IDS	German Air Force
45+66	Panavia Tornado IDS	German Air Force
5	Dassault Rafale M	French Navy
50+72	Transall C-160D	German Air Force
505	Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules	Royal Air Force of Oman
520	General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon	Greek Air Force
529	General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon	Greek Air Force
54+10	Airbus A400M	German Air Force
58 BLUE	Sukhoi SU-27B	Ukrainian Air Force
6	Dassault Rafale M	French Navy
61-0321	Boeing KC-135R	USAF - United States Air Force
624	Dassault Mirage 2000D	French Air Force
649	Dassault Mirage 2000D	French Air Force
671	General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon	Royal Norwegian Air Force
672	Dassault Mirage 2000D	French Air Force
68-1203	Kawasaki C-2	Japan Air Self-Defense Force
71 BLUE	Sukhoi Su-27UB	Ukrainian Air Force
77	Embraer 121AN Xingu	French Navy
78820	Ilyushin IL-76MD	Ukrainian Air Force
85-0069	Rockwell B-1B Lancer	USAF - United States Air Force
86-0172	McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle	USAF - United States Air Force
87-0120	McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender	USAF - United States Air Force
88-0029	General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon	Turkish Air Force
88-0032	General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon	Turkish Air Force
8T-CA	Lockheed C-130K Hercules	Austrian Air Force
90-26227	Sikorsky HH-60G Blackhawk	USAF - United States Air Force
91-0316	McDonnell Douglas F-15E Eagle	USAF - United States Air Force
92-2104	Lockheed HC-130H Hercules	USAF - United States Air Force
9239	SAAB Gripen JAS-39C	Czech Air Force
A-912	Pilatus NCPC-7	Swiss Air Force
A-916	Pilatus NCPC-7	Swiss Air Force
A-918	Pilatus NCPC-7	Swiss Air Force
A-924	Pilatus NCPC-7	Swiss Air Force
A-925	Pilatus NCPC-7	Swiss Air Force
A-926	Pilatus NCPC-7	Swiss Air Force
A-929	Pilatus NCPC-7	Swiss Air Force
A-931	Pilatus NCPC-7	Swiss Air Force
A-934	Pilatus NCPC-7	Swiss Air Force
A-938	Pilatus NCPC-7	Swiss Air Force
B-536	Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Hercules	Royal Danish Air Force
CE-02	Embraer 135	Belgian Air Component
CPX622	Alenia-Aermacchi T-346A Master	Aermacchi
CSX62219	Alenia C-27J Spartan	Italian Air Force
D-106	Boeing CH-47D Chinook	Royal Netherlands Air Force
D-CNEU	Dornier 228-212(NG)	RUAG Aviation
D-HDDL	Eurocopter EC135 P2+	German Navy
E-018	General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon	Royal Danish Air Force
E.25-13	CASA 101EB	Spanish Air Force
E.25-27	CASA 101EB	Spanish Air Force
E.25-31	CASA 101EB	Spanish Air Force
E.25-38	CASA 101EB	Spanish Air Force
E.25-52	CASA 101EB	Spanish Air Force
E.25-63	CASA 101EB	Spanish Air Force
E.25-78	CASA 101EB	Spanish Air Force
E.25-87	CASA 101EB	Spanish Air Force
EC-400	Airbus A400M Atlas C.1	Airbus Military
ET-198	General Dynamics F-16BM Fighting Falcon	Royal Danish Air Force
F-GITZ	American-General AG-5B Tiger
FA-101	General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon	Belgian Air Component
FA-129	General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon	Belgian Air Component
G-AHKX	Avro 652 Anson C19 Srs 2	BAE Systems
G-AHSA	Avro 621 Tutor	Richard Shuttleworth Trustees
G-ANKT	De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth	Richard Shuttleworth Trustees
G-ANRP	Taylorcraft Auster AOP.V	PETER RADFORD JOHNSON, JEAN SUSAN JOHNSON
G-AVYL	Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee
G-AWII	Westland Spitfire Vc	Shuttleworth Collection
G-AWII	Westland Spitfire Vc	Shuttleworth Collection
G-AZWS	Piper PA-28R-180 Cherokee Arrow	Peter Charles Dugdale
G-BBND	De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk	Bernoulli Syndicate
G-BCPU	De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk
G-BEOL	Short SC.7 Skyvan 3-200	Liberty Aviation
G-BKOU	Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.3	G-BKOU/2 Ltd
G-BNKI	Cessna 152	RAF Halton Aeroplane Club
G-BNKI	Cessna 152	RAF Halton Aeroplane Club
G-BNPH	Hunting Percival P.66 Pembroke C.1	Mark Stott
G-BPOB	Tallmantz Sopwith Camel F.1 Replica	Bianchi Aviation Film Services Ltd
G-BVEZ	Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.3A	Newcastle Jet Provost Company Ltd
G-BVGE	Westland WS.55 Whirlwind HAR.10	Andrew Whitehouse
G-BWSG	Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.5
G-BXTS	Diamond DA20-A1 Katana	Ian Michael Armitage, David James Short
G-BYUH	Grob G 115E Tutor T.1	Babcock Aerospace/RAF - Royal Air Force
G-BYWL	Grob G 115E Tutor T.1	Babcock Aerospace/RAF - Royal Air Force
G-BYXM	Grob G 115E Tutor T.1	Babcock Aerospace/RAF - Royal Air Force
G-BYXZ	Grob G 115E Tutor T.1	Babcock Aerospace/RAF - Royal Air Force
G-CBZP	Hawker Fury F Mk.I	Historic Aircraft Collection
G-CCYR	Comco-Ikarus C42 FB80	Airbourne Aviation Ltd
G-CDVI	Comco-Ikarus C42 FB80	Airbourne Aviation Ltd
G-CJZO	Vintage Aviator BE2E-1	Oliver Wulff
G-ETPA	Pilatus PC-21	QinetiQ
G-ETPD	Grob G 120TP-A	QinetiQ
G-ETPF	Airbus AS350 B3/H125	QinetiQ
G-GBNZ	AeroPro Eurofox	Christopher Pote
G-GGRR	Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1	Derek Sharp
G-HACS	Tecnam P2002-JF Sierra	RAF Halton Aeroplane Club
G-HMCF	Evektor EV-97 EuroStar SL	RAF Microlight Flying Association
G-HMCH	Evektor EV-97 EuroStar SL	RAF Microlight Flying Association
G-JWMA	Gloster Meteor T.7 (mod)	Martin-Baker Aircraft Co Ltd
G-MCGW	AgustaWestland AW189	Leonardo MW Ltd
G-NIAC	TL Ultralight TL-2000UK Sting Carbon	John Middleton
G-ONAA	North American Rockwell OV-10B Bronco	Liberty Aviation
G-OWTN	Embraer 145	BAE Systems
G-PERX	Eurocopter AS355 NP Ecureuil 2	Helicopter Services
G-PULR	Pitts S-2AE	Anthony Ayre
G-RFCA	Tecnam P2008 JC	The Waddington Flying Club
G-RFCB	Tecnam P2008 JC	The Waddington Flying Club
G-ROON	Sikorsky S-76C-2	Rooney Air Ltd
G-RORI	Folland Gnat T.1	Heritage Aircraft Ltd
G-RVCH	Van's RV-8A
G-XXEB	Sikorsky S-76C-2	Queens Helicopter Flight
H29	Agusta A.109HA	Belgian Air Component
HB-KAB	Socata TB-20 Trinidad
HN-426	McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet	Finnish Air Force
HN-435	McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet	Finnish Air Force
J-017	General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon	Royal Netherlands Air Force
J-5010	McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet	Swiss Air Force
J-5016	McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet	Swiss Air Force
J-879	General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon	Royal Netherlands Air Force
L4-01	LET L-410UVP-E	Slovenian Air Force
L9-65	Pilatus PC-9(M)	Slovenian Air Force
L9-68	Pilatus PC-9(M)	Slovenian Air Force
LF363	Hawker Hurricane IIc	RAF - Royal Air Force
LN-DHY	F + W DH.100 Vampire FB.6	Flyvpnets Historiske Skvadron
LN-DHZ	F + W DH.115 Vampire T.55	Flyvpnets Historiske Skvadron
MK356	Supermarine Spitfire LF.IXe	RAF - Royal Air Force
MM54505	Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN (MLU)	Italian Air Force
MM54514	Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN (MLU)	Italian Air Force
MM54517	Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN (MLU)	Italian Air Force
MM54534	Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN (MLU)	Italian Air Force
MM54538	Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN (MLU)	Italian Air Force
MM54539	Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN (MLU)	Italian Air Force
MM54551	Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN (MLU)	Italian Air Force
MM55052	Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN (MLU)	Italian Air Force
MM55053	Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN (MLU)	Italian Air Force
MM55058	Aermacchi MB-339A/PAN (MLU)	Italian Air Force
MM55220	Leonardo T-346A Master	Italian Air Force
MM62223	Alenia C-27J Spartan	Italian Air Force
MM7040	Panavia Tornado IDS	Italian Air Force
MM7307	Eurofighter F-2000A	Italian Air Force
MM7343	Eurofighter F-2000A	Italian Air Force
MM7345	Eurofighter F-2000A	Italian Air Force
MM81805	AgustaWestland HH-139A	Italian Air Force
MM81868	AgustaWestland HH-101A	Italian Air Force
N550GA	Gulfstream G550	Gulf Coast Capital Holdings LLC
N880ZJ	Bombardier Global 5000	Zetta Jet Pte Ltd
NH-219	NH Industries NH90-TTH	Finnish Army
NH-221	NH Industries NH90-TTH	Finnish Army
OE-XSY	Bristol 171 Sycamore Mk.52	The Flying Bulls
PA474	Avro 683 Lancaster I	RAF - Royal Air Force
PH-CGC	Dornier 228-212	Netherlands Coast Guard
PS915	Supermarine Spitfire PR.XIX	RAF - Royal Air Force
PT-ZNJ	Embraer KC-390	Embraer
PZ865	Hawker Hurricane IIc	RAF - Royal Air Force
Q-29	Boeing AH-64D Longbow Apache	Royal Netherlands Air Force
TE311	Supermarine Spitfire LF.IXe	RAF - Royal Air Force
XF113	Supermarine Swift F.7	Boscombe Down Aviation Collection
XG290	Hawker Hunter F.6	Boscombe Down Aviation Collection
XW216	Westland/Aerospatiale SA.330E Puma HC.2	RAF - Royal Air Force
XW217	Westland/Aerospatiale SA.330E Puma HC.2	RAF - Royal Air Force
XX157	British Aerospace Hawk T.1A(F)	Royal Navy
XX203	British Aerospace Hawk T.1A(F)	RAF - Royal Air Force
XX219	British Aerospace Hawk T.1A(F)	RAF - Royal Air Force
XX242	British Aerospace Hawk T.1(F)	RAF - Royal Air Force
XX244	British Aerospace Hawk T.1(F)	RAF - Royal Air Force
XX245	British Aerospace Hawk T.1(F)	RAF - Royal Air Force
XX278	British Aerospace Hawk T.1A(F)	RAF - Royal Air Force
XX310	British Aerospace Hawk T.1(WF)	RAF - Royal Air Force
XX311	British Aerospace Hawk T.1(W)	RAF - Royal Air Force
XX319	British Aerospace Hawk T.1A(F)	RAF - Royal Air Force
XX322	British Aerospace Hawk T.1A(F)	RAF - Royal Air Force
XX325	British Aerospace Hawk T.1(F)	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZA543	Panavia Tornado GR.4	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZA588	Panavia Tornado GR.4	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZA772	Westland WA.341 Gazelle AH.1	Army Air Corps
ZA947	Douglas C-47A-60-DL Dakota C.3	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZE636	Grob G 103A Viking TX.1	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZE652	Grob G 103A Viking TX.1	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZE700	British Aerospace 146 CC.2	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZF290	Short Tucano T.1	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZF378	Short Tucano T.1	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZH103	Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW.1	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZH839	AgustaWestland Merlin HM.2	Royal Navy
ZH887	Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules C.5	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZH891	Boeing-Vertol Chinook HC.6A	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZJ692	Bombardier BD700 Sentinel R.1	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZK001	AgustaWestland Merlin HC.3A	Royal Navy
ZK032	British Aerospace Hawk T.2	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZK318	Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZK328	Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZK352	Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZK378	Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZM304	Grob G 120TP Prefect T.1	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZM337	Embraer 500 Phenom 100	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZM411	Airbus A400M Atlas C.1	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZM416	Airbus A400M Atlas C.1	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZM500	Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZM530	Airbus EC135 Juno HT.1/TH135	Ascent Flight Training
ZZ190	Hawker Hunter F.58	Hawker Hunter Aviation
ZZ191	Hawker Hunter F.58	Hawker Hunter Aviation
ZZ330	Airbus A330-243 Voyager KC.2	RAF - Royal Air Force
ZZ515	AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat HMA.2	Royal Navy
ZZ665	Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint	RAF - Royal Air Force