Last Saturday I spend a wonderful day at the RIAT airshow at RAF Fairford (England). Please find below a selection of pictures from this day. The light (or quite often the lack of thereof) was very challenging to say the least. With only very short spell of sunshine. Any comments are appreciated. You can see the rest of the them at my website. Apologies for picture heavy post.

B-2A Spirit. This was a real treat for me, was looking really forward to see the Spirit. Even though it was only a static display.


MV-22 Osprey, another first one for me.


Mig-29A


This Lancaster bomber is one of only two remaining airworthy in the world


Red Arrows are flying 7 ship formation only this year.


Vulcan Bomber


Black Eagles from Korea, their first display outside from Korea (AFIAK) was very impressive.


Airbus A400M "Atlas"


Chinook


Hope you enjoy them.

Great photos, Milan, good work! I heard how bad conditions were there, and you managed to get some very nice results. But tell me, how did you convince the B-2 guys to write your name and URL on the front of their airplane?

Wonderful shots Love the prop blur on the Airbus A400M. As if I knew its number designation as to type

Originally Posted by moose135 Great photos, Milan, good work! I heard how bad conditions were there, and you managed to get some very nice results. But tell me, how did you convince the B-2 guys to write your name and URL on the front of their airplane?

Thanks moose for looking and taking time to comment.
Oh and that name thing was quite easy, I managed to sneak in while the crew were having a coffee break

Originally Posted by DaddyO Wonderful shots Love the prop blur on the Airbus A400M. As if I knew its number designation as to type

Thanks Michael.

Originally Posted by Milan Vulcan Bomber

Nice shot! I remember this as being a very serious aircraft back in the 50s, and it must still be very impressive today!

Super shots! Great clarity. So many rare aircraft.

Originally Posted by W.W. Webster Nice shot! I remember this as being a very serious aircraft back in the 50s, and it must still be very impressive today!

My memory doesn't go as far back as fifties but it is definitely an impressive aircraft. Designed by the same guy who was behind the Lancaster bomber. This one returned to the sky in 2007, 14 years after the last flight and at the end of may it suffer 2 engine failures so it wasn't certain at all if the Vulcan would be able to perform at RIAT. Fortunately they managed to replace both engines at test the aircraft in time for the airshow.

Originally Posted by Newsy Super shots! Great clarity. So many rare aircraft.

Thanks for looking and taking time to comment.

Great pictures

The weather must have been challenging. Was there any rain on saturday?

I was in Fairford in 2007 and 2009. In 2009 it was raining early in the morning. It stopped as soon as the airshow started. And it started raining again as soon as the last aircraft had landed. During the day we could see the rain coming down around us, but not above the airfield. Kerosine must be good against rain

Originally Posted by GSPeP Great pictures The weather must have been challenging. Was there any rain on saturday? I was in Fairford in 2007 and 2009. In 2009 it was raining early in the morning. It stopped as soon as the airshow started. And it started raining again as soon as the last aircraft had landed. During the day we could see the rain coming down around us, but not above the airfield. Kerosine must be good against rain

Thanks!
Yep, there was one period of rain but fortunately most of the day was rain free, with a little bit of sunshine, but it was very gloomy most of the time. Few times it very dark almost like well after sunset. F/A-18 was displaying during one of these periods, which was a real shame because it was one of the best displays I have ever seen, and I don't have any really good pictures of it.
BTW my experience last year was very similar to yours, with a one significant difference, I got completely soaked while walking (quite slowly because of the queue) through the entrance and shortly afterwards.

I was at this show in 1985 and saw the Vulcan fly--it was impressive indeed. You have lots of shots of aircraft I have never seen, so I enjoyed this a lot. I really like the Osprey shot--you can just see the swirl of air around the rotors. Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by redleash I was at this show in 1985 and saw the Vulcan fly--it was impressive indeed. You have lots of shots of aircraft I have never seen, so I enjoyed this a lot. I really like the Osprey shot--you can just see the swirl of air around the rotors. Thanks for sharing.

You are very welcome.

Lots of history there. All nicely captured!