gallery: My favourite RIAT 2014 photos
gallery: RIAT2014 - Wednesday
gallery: RIAT2014 - Thursday
gallery: RIAT2014 - Friday
gallery: RIAT2014 - Red Arrows 50th Season
gallery: RIAT2014 - Polish Air Force Sukhoi Su-22
A Soviet Cold War era attack/bomber aircraft appearing in the flying at RIAT was going to be good, two flying (with a 3rd in reserve) even better. Poland is the last European operator of the Su-22 (export version of the Su-17 - NATO code name 'Fitter'), current plans could see them continue to fly into the next decade.
Their display made good use of two aircraft, starting with some flypasts with the aircraft in close formation; but showing different settings of the variable wing geometry. Followed by solo flypasts of the two aircraft.
Brilliant display, a Photographers delight, particularly in the great light for Thursday's practice/validation flight.
gallery: Textron AirLand Scorpion
A prototype/development light attack and Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) jet aircraft developed by Textron and AirLand Enterprises. This prototype was built by Cessna and first flew in December 2013.
The aircraft made its first international appearance at RIAT 2014 on static (succeeding in making the Atlantic crossing unlike the much more expensive and developed F35 failed).
.....Looking forwards to seeing this aircraft in future flying displays.
gallery: RIAT2014 - F18 'A Hornets Nest'
RIAT 2014 promised two F18/Hornet flying displays, including one by a US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet (presented curtsey of Boeing it's manufacturer). The Super Hornet didn't live up to the promise from previous years (giving a distant/high display on the Saturday and disappearing off to Farnbourgh before the flying display started on Sunday). In The air it was outclassed by the older/smaller Swiss F/A 18C.
Also making an appearance for the static was a Spanish EF-18BM Hornet, looking good with slightly more pronounced markings.
gallery: RIAT2014 - A-7 Corsair II - Greek Hellenic Air Force : 336 Mira
The Greek Hellenic air force is the final operator of the Corsair II, though it intends to retire it's aircraft in later in the year (2014). The appearance of 2 A-7E/TA-7C aircraft (static) at RIAT is therefore likely to have been the last chance to see this aircraft type flying.
A US subsonic light attack aircraft, which first flew in 1965, seeing action in Vietnam. The A-7E version was built for the US Navy for operation from carriers and was last used by the US in action in the 1990 Gulf War.Following the Gulf War 62 A-7E/TA-7C (2 seat training aircraft) where sold to Greece.
09-JUL-2014
German Tornado arriving. Nice paint scheme!
