Royal International Air Tattoo 2009

[Decadence]

I am going for the first time this year with my family on the 18th July. Any tips from seasoned veterans? I have booked a B&B 12 miles away from the show near Cirencester...what time will I need to set off from there in the morning? How's the traffic? etc. etc.

Cheers!

[CDR]

Originally Posted by Decadence

How's the traffic?

VERY Bad usually..

I've not been for a few years but all I can remember is sitting for hours in traffic jams!

[Decadence]

Ok, so I'll get up early then!

[Bill Hicks]

Take a crash helmet and remember to duck a lot!

[nheather]

Flying tends to start early - around 10am - and that's not just the D-List but you often have some big A-Lists flying early - so make sure you are there early or miss out.

When I've been on my own or with like-minded friends I have generally got there around 8:30-9:00. Traffic has never been a problem at that time.

Don't worry - loads to see - hundreds of statics and traders to visit to fill your time until flying starts.

Last time my wife and family decided they wanted to come but didn't want to get up too early. We ended up just past Swindon at 10:30am and hit loads of traffic - got into the show at 12:00 - I was really upset because I missed the planes that were top of my list.

They don't publish the flying programme on the web or even publicise at the show other than in the programme. The programme is expensive (around £7) but worth getting for the flying display order so that you can plan what you want to see and when you can go and see other stuff.

Getting out can be manic. Sensibly you have two choices

(i) Go before the end of the flying display.

(ii) Hang around for at least 2 hours after the end of the flying display.

Flying display ends around 6pm. If you try to go then you will end up sat in your car for an hour just trying to get off the site.

It really is great but be prepared for a long day - 8am to 8pm.

Make sure you have plenty to drink and take sun cream. Most years it has been very hot - apart from last year when it was cancelled because of the rain.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Decadence]

Can't wait now! Hopefully the Vulcan will fly after this weekend's problems at Waddington. I have booked a bed and breakfast about 10 miles from the display site and will probably set off around 05:30 from there in order to stand a chance of getting in at a reasonable time...is anyone else going?

Sun Cream - check
Binoculars - check
fold-away chairs - check

anything else?

[Codehead]

Ear defenders. Typhoons are ******* noisy. There's two bombing about outside my window now.

[Decadence]

oh yeah...ear defenders - check!! I do have them but need to put them in the case to take with us...thanks!

By the way, compared to a B52 and Vulcan, how loud is a Typhoon?

[Codehead]

We had F15s, Tornados, Harriers and Typhoons all playing silly buggers last week. The Typhoons were the noisiest.

The Vulcan came in to see us last year, wonderful sight (I saw the last operational one doing the farewell rounds back in the early 90s), not that noisy. A lower, more powerful rumble that shakes your guts about. The Eurofighter on full reheat is stupidly loud.

Haven't heard a B52 for a while so can't compare.

I did the RIAT a couple of years ago, great show, but insanely busy, set off early.

[Decadence]

We will definitely be setting off early! Cheers.

[nheather]

Disappointed at the lack of US flying exhibits, though it'll be nice to see the B52 in the air again.

Really looking forward to the Vulcun.

I'm always a little disappointed by the Typhoon displays - they are good but the pilots don't push them the way I have seen the F16s done or even better, the Mig 29 and the Sukhoi 27/35.

One of my absolute favourites is the dispalys done by the Chinook - it's big, doesn't look like it should be able to fly yet the pilots throw it around as if it were a Lynx.

Also looking forward to seeing the Merlin fly.

Noise award has to go to the Harrier for me - when it's hovering in front of you.

Also looking forward to seeing the Rafale and Gripen in the air - a change from the normal stuff.

Hoping the weather is good. I was getting a little dismayed today because I had it in my head that the show is this weekend and the weather is looking bad. Just visited the site and realised I'm a week early - so fingers crossed for sunshine.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Decadence]

Yeah, considering it is a US base (am I right or wrong?) there isn't much by way of US hardware.

[Codehead]

I think the Typhoon display might have been wound back a bit when he nearly hit the runway a couple of years ago.

RE:Harriers, yep, they're noisy in the hover. They used to test the engines after a major by hovering just off the runway for 10-15 mins when I was in South Wales years back.

The Wokka guys do throw them about something crazy, last time I saw them doing that kind of thing was in Kandahar where they really needed to do that kind of thing for real. Not seen one do a backflip like a Lynx yet though.

The Italian version of the Red Sparrows (Tricolor?) were the most bonkers display when I did the RIAT. No where near as precise as the Sparrows, but alot more daring/dangerous.

[Dan2008]

I have never been...But i have just watched the RIAT 2007 DVD as i picked it up for a £1 at the weekend , And it looks like a great day out

All i have to look forward to is the Lowestoft Air Festival in a few weeks time

Speaking of the Harrier i saw one at the Local Air Show a few years back which crashed into the sea

[Wild Weasel]

Originally Posted by Decadence

Yeah, considering it is a US base (am I right or wrong?) there isn't much by way of US hardware.

They use it from time to time, but I don't think they have anything based there anymore. More for transit flights and the like.

I'll be going to Fairford too. My understanding is that they have different parking zones depending on what direction you're arriving from.