Royal International Air Tattoo 2007

14 to 15 July – RAF Fairford’s Royal International Air Tattoo promises once again to be one of the world’s biggest and best air shows, with hundreds of aircrafts offering eight hours of death-defying displays to crowds from around the globe.

Every year the roar of engines can be heard thundering across Gloucestershire’s skies, as hundreds of aeroplanes head to the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford. This summer, if you crane your neck, you can expect to see more than 350 aircraft soaring to the county’s show ground, where they will wow crowds of almost 200,000 flying fans.

The Royal International Air Tattoo continues to be one of the biggest air shows in the global calendar of aviation events, and from Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 July, the 2007 show will host Europe’s largest tribute to the United States Air Force on its 60th anniversary.

As well as American military aircraft including B-52s, C-17s, B-1B bombers, F-15s and historic aeroplanes such as the legendary P-51 Mustang, F-86A Sabre and the Harvard, one of this year’s highlights will be a flying display from the US Air Force’s super-secretive F-117A stealth fighter. The US Air Force’s aerobatics display team, The Thunderbirds, will also be giving their very first aerial display at Fairford this summer, which promises to be a stunning example of skill and precision flying.

A truly global gathering in Gloucestershire if there ever was one, leading international aerobatics display teams including the legendary British Red Arrows, the flamboyant Italian display team, Il Frecce Tricolori, and the popular Royal Jordanian Falcons are also expected to make a flying visit at The Royal International Air Tattoo 2007.

For aviation fans, a selection of aircraft sourced from around the world are also scheduled to appear, including two Spanish Navy Harriers, two Turkish F-5 fighters and a Brazilian R-99, as well as rare aircraft from India. Plus, Second World War fighter planes, such as the Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane and Dakota also expected to grace the county’s skies as part of the eight-hour flying displays.

There is also plenty of entertainment on the ground including battling robots, record-breaking bikes and speedboats, plus adrenalin-inducing flight simulators if you fancy giving flying a go yourself. For the motoring fan, there will be more than 200 rare and classic cars on show at this year’s Air Tattoo, including a 1960s Le Mans Spitfire, a Messerschmitt TG500 and Ferraris galore. Plus, there’s stunt driving from the jaw-dropping Tri@RIAT, as well as karting for both the kids and the adults to try their hand at.

Entry into The Royal International Air Tattoo is free for the under 16s and there is plenty to keep RAF Fairford’s younger visitors happy. The Dairylea Freestyle Action Arena will be giving kids the chance to try skateboarding, in-line skating, bmx-ing, pogo-ing, dance mats and basketball, or they can watch the professional Team Extreme perform. There is also a funfair, hands-on activities for the 8 to 16 year olds, refreshments and hundreds of stalls to shop ‘til you drop at.

To round-off the evenings, there will also be a free two-hour sunset concert featuring the Royal Air Force band the swinging Squadronaires and Check Six – the United States Air Force’s jazz band, before a selection of hot air balloons take-off into the summer skies.

Event: Royal International Air Tattoo 2007
Venue: RAF Fairford
Dates: Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 July 2007
Times: The show ground opens at 7.30am on both days, with the flying displays starting at 10am.
Tickets: Adult tickets cost £32.50 for a day's entry in advance, and accompanied children under the age of 16 are free click here to purchase. Tickets will cost £37.50 on the gate. For more information, contact the Royal International Air Tattoo on 0870 758 1918.

SoGlos.com
2 July 2007