In 2002, RIAT moved back to its' more familiar home of RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire. While the base was having some work done on it, the show had spent 2 years at RAF Cottesmore, once itself home to the Tornado Tripartite Training Establishment, but more recently home to the UK Harrier force. Fairford is a much bigger airbase, and regular home to both B52 and B1 bombers during the Gulf War, and since. It did seem that the 2 years away had resulted in some loss of the expertise that had been ammassed in dealing with the large volumes of show traffic, but maybe that was combined with the additional security arrangements for entry to the show to make things worse again.
	Naturally the great change this year was the most extensive security operation for everyone coming into the airfield. The events of September 11th last year have had a huge effect quite naturally, and while many airshows around the world have been cancelled as a result of increased security and insurance costs, the spectators turned up in huge numbers as usual. I for one have no wish to hide away and change what I choose to do because of some terrorist hiding in a cave half a world away. Despite some delays caused by the security checks, good weather treated us to some impressive flying displays, although on Saturday we had the runway blocked for a few hours after an Italian transort landed heavily and lost its front undercarriage. A quick re-think for the organisers as they had to plan round that one. There were a number of "spirited" displays, including the Italian display team Frecce Tricolore, and the ever impressive RAF Harrier jump jet, in its latest GR7 configuration.
Still the star for many, the United States Air Force had a Stealth bomber, the B2 Spirit" do a single flypast, and which entailed a 20 hour round trip from its base in the continental USA, involving 3 lots of in-flight refuelling. For fans of elder stars, then the Spitfire and Hurricane remain a beautiful sight in the air, along with both the Lancaster and B17 bombers. From the '50s, then the classic sights of Hawker Hunter, De Havilland Sea Vixen and F86 Sabre all make for some compulsive viewing. Great that enthusiatic people keep these flying so well for us to see.
	Since preparing this, we now of course know of the terrible accident in the Ukraine. Shows such as this are very popular with the public, and this popularity is common around the world. RIAT has always made a special point of safety precautions, with strict rules regarding how aircraft may fly in relation to the crowd lines, and even what directions they may approach from. Skilled controllers in the tower can order a pilot who ignores these instructions to land immediately though this is now a rare event here. Many will remember the accident involving two Russian Migs at Fairford a few years ago, but no members of the crowd were hurt on that occasion. Our thoughts are still with the families of the casualties in the Ukraine.
Since visiting the show, I have read a number of letters and features which have criticised the event. Partly the organisation, partly the cost, and partly the lack of aircraft. So was it a good show or not? Were there the aircraft to attract the enthusiast? It is not unfair to say no, as the number of aircraft on static display was a huge number down on previous years. No long lines of F16s or exotic Eastern European visitors. However, it is no good trying to hide from how the world has changed since 9/11. Live commitments for Military Aircraft wordwide must have had an impact on what the organisers could manage. The greatly increased insurance costs scuppered many air shows, but RIAT managed to survive. So yes, it has been better in the past perhaps for many regular show goers, but I spoke to a number of visitors for whom it was their first visit, and they were stunned at the number of aircraft on show, and the whole size of the event. So, I guess it depends on your own standpoint.
	As I was working there for my 'real' employer, it did mean trying to get in as early as possible to get the stand set up. Some ill thought through and duplicated security checks meant some great delays for many traders, including yours truly. Yes, it was very frustrating. Yes we understood why, but the method left a lot to be desired. Still, in the very early morning sunlight, the whole atmosphere of the coming day hits you as you enter the airfield. With the bulk of the aircraft sitting around you, covers coming off, as the whole place shakes off the night time quiet, and you await the first whistle of a jet engine. Watch as a fast jet taxis onto the end of the runway amidst a haze of exhaust. The throttles are opened as the noise builds up to a crescendo, and then it launches towards you, lifts the nose and then leaves the ground behind as it screams past, often with the red jet of an afterburner as it powers out into the circuit. Somehow there just isn't anything to beat that sensation for me.
© Robin Buckland 2003