Gallery: Air Power On Display At Royal International Air Tattoo

Making its debut at this year’s Air Tattoo is this former French Securite Civile-operated Grumman S-2 Firecat. A development of the carrier-borne anti-submarine-warfare tracker operated by the U.S. Navy between the 1950s and 1970s, this twin-turboprop was used for firefighting in France between 1987 and 2019 when the type was withdrawn from use. It is now flown by a group of enthusiasts from the French historic aviation group Amicale Alençonnaise des Avions Anciens.

QinetiQ, in collaboration with BAE Systems, has adapted this Avro RJ100 regional airliner into an airborne technology demonstrator (ATD). QinetiQ says the aircraft will be made available to support radar and sensor integration work for future programs, but has not said which programs they will be. The ATD, which first flew with its distinctive fighter nose last August, was created to “rapidly test, develop and prove new digital technologies,” QinetiQ officials have previously said.

With the Air Tattoo marking 50 years of the F-16, organizers have gathered examples of the type from nearly 10 countries, including this Blk. 50 model operated by Greece’s Hellenic Air Force. Greece is currently in the process of upgrading many of its Blk. 50 models to Blk. 70 standard, equipped with the Northrop Grumman Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) APG-83 active, electronically scanned array radar.

With its desert camouflage contrasting with the green grass of RAF Fairford, this two-seat “family model” is one of two Royal Moroccan Air Force Blk. 50 F-16s appearing at this year’s Air Tattoo. The presence of the Moroccan F-16s at Fairford marks the public debut of the type outside the North African country.

In the days leading up to the Air Tattoo, nations send numerous transport aircraft to support the delegations of platforms attending, including Airbus A400M Atlas and Lockheed C-130 Hercules. A400Ms from three customer nations are supporting year’s event, with aircraft from Germany, Turkey and the UK Royal Air Force (pictured) present or visiting the show.

Boeing’s big C-17 airlifter is also making its presence felt at this year’s event, with examples from NATO, the UK Royal Air Force and the U.S. Air Force, as well as the Qatar Emiri Air Force featured in the static display of the airshow. One Qatari C-17 aircraft also delivered an NHIndustries NH90 anti-submarine-warfare helicopter ahead of the event so it could participate in the static display. The Qatari presence at the show is significant as the air arm marks its 50^th year in 2024.

The tri-national swing-wing Panavia Tornado is becoming an endangered species as it marks 50 years since its first flight. The Italian Air Force painted this Tornado in a special color scheme showing the various guises the type has worn in Italian service, including a pale yellow color that Italian Tornados wore during Gulf War I back in 1991. Italy is planning to withdraw the Tornado as soon as 2027.

Increasingly the pre-eminent combat aircraft in Europe, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has an increasing presence in the Air Tattoo static display with examples from Norway, the U.S. and UK, with the pictured example a UK Royal Air Force/Royal Navy-operated short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing-capable F-35B. A single British example will perform a role demonstration in the RIAT flying display.

Enjoying a star billing at this year’s Air Tattoo is Boeing’s F-15 Advanced Eagle being flown in the colours of Qatar’s Emiri Air Force. Two F-15QAs are participating in the flying display, putting on a breathtaking performance of power and agility. One is being flown in a “dirty" configuration with no fewer than 12 AIM-120 Amraam air-to-air missiles, while the other is being flown “clean” with no stores. The F-15QAs will also perform at the upcoming Farnborough International Airshow.