TOP DISPLAYS HONOURED AT AIR TATTOO 2017
Demo Teams from US, Italy, French, Czech Republic, Ukraine and Slovenia have been awarded at RIAT 17.
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| The Italian Air Force Panavia A-200A Tornado was awarded the prize for best livery at RIAT 17 |
After an amazing three days' flying at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2017, the airshow's best displays were honoured on Sunday evening during a traditional party.
Best Overall Flying Demonstration
The Capt. Jean-Guillaume 'Marty' Martinez, French Air Force Dassault Rafale C solo display pilot from Escadron de Transformation Rafale 3/4 'Aquitaine' at Saint-Dizier, was awarded for the best overall flying demonstration. The judges called his "a faultless, flowing and dynamic flying display". His sequence last year won him the award for best solo jet demonstration. After his 2017 success, 'Marty' commented: "I'm really happy because it's a wonderful prize. It was difficult due to the weather, but I tried to do my best. We have a nice jet and I'm well-trained to do it."
Best Solo Jet Demonstration
The Maj Dan 'Rock' Dickinson of the US Air Force's 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, receive for the seond year a prize for his F-22A Raptor demonstration.
The judges said the Raptor's performance was a "consistently accurate, powerful and superbly executed solo jet demonstration". "This is just absolutely awesome", said 'Rock', "especially on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Air Force. Again, to be representing the United States Air Force and the F-22 Raptor, our team is just humbled and honoured to win such an outstanding award, and especially to see some of the past names that are on that trophy."
Best Flying Demonstration by a UK Participant
The Flt Lt Ryan Lawton, Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 demo pilot from No 29 (Reserve) Squadron at RAF Coningsby was awarded for the best flying demonstration by a UK participant. Ryan said: "I'm absolutely thrilled and honoured. It was a tough weekend at RIAT with the weather, but I'm really pleased to have been able to display on the Sunday and to win best UK participant. I couldn't do it without the team as well. They've worked really hard all weekend."
Best Individual Flying Demonstration
The 1st Lt Andrej Fiorelli, a RIAT award-winner two years ago, received the trophy for best individual flying display with Pilatus PC-9M multi-role turboprop. "It's a great, great, honour to win a prize again and to be a part of the biggest airshow so far for me", Fiorelli said. "I have no words - what can I say? It's unbelievable; the biggest award I can get as a pilot."
Best Flying Demonstration by an Overseas Participant
The Capt Ivo Kardoš, Gripen demo pilot from the 211th Tactical Squadron at Čáslav flew what was judged to be a "consistently well flown and accurate fast jet demonstration" to win the trophy for the best flying demonstration by an overseas participant. "It was a wonderful, amazing airshow", reflected Kardoš. "It was the best one I've ever been to, and the best show in the world. Of course it's a great honour with the prize to represent the Gripen, and to represent Saab as well."
Friends of the RIAT Trophy
The Col Oleksander Oksanchenko, Su-27 demo pilot from the 831st Guards Tactical Aviation Brigade of Ukrainian Air Force received the trophy for the best overall flying demonstration as judged by members of the Friends of the Royal International Air Tattoo. It was the first time a Ukrainian 'Flanker' had taken part in the RIAT flying display for 18 years. Speaking through an interpreter, Oksanchenko said: "Thank you very much for your hospitality, your partnership and to all the guys who organise the Royal International Air Tattoo. A very high standard is set, and we are very happy to be here. Everything is well organised. God bless your Queen!"
Best Paint Scheme
The Italian Air Force Panavia A-200A Tornado displayed by Reparto Sperimentale Volo flight test centre was awarded the prize for best livery, as also voted for by FRIAT members and presented by Tim Griffiths, from Jeppesen. In the words of the aircraft's weapons systems operator Col Paolo Fiorella, "We painted this aircraft for the 60th anniversary of our squadron. Winning this award here is a dream come true. A lot of magazines around the world are talking about us, and it's important so people know how the Reparto Sperimentale Volo works and what we do."
RIAT CEO AwardBest Overall Flying Demonstration
The Capt. Jean-Guillaume 'Marty' Martinez, French Air Force Dassault Rafale C solo display pilot from Escadron de Transformation Rafale 3/4 'Aquitaine' at Saint-Dizier, was awarded for the best overall flying demonstration. The judges called his "a faultless, flowing and dynamic flying display". His sequence last year won him the award for best solo jet demonstration. After his 2017 success, 'Marty' commented: "I'm really happy because it's a wonderful prize. It was difficult due to the weather, but I tried to do my best. We have a nice jet and I'm well-trained to do it."
Best Solo Jet Demonstration
The Maj Dan 'Rock' Dickinson of the US Air Force's 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, receive for the seond year a prize for his F-22A Raptor demonstration.
The judges said the Raptor's performance was a "consistently accurate, powerful and superbly executed solo jet demonstration". "This is just absolutely awesome", said 'Rock', "especially on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Air Force. Again, to be representing the United States Air Force and the F-22 Raptor, our team is just humbled and honoured to win such an outstanding award, and especially to see some of the past names that are on that trophy."
Best Flying Demonstration by a UK Participant
The Flt Lt Ryan Lawton, Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 demo pilot from No 29 (Reserve) Squadron at RAF Coningsby was awarded for the best flying demonstration by a UK participant. Ryan said: "I'm absolutely thrilled and honoured. It was a tough weekend at RIAT with the weather, but I'm really pleased to have been able to display on the Sunday and to win best UK participant. I couldn't do it without the team as well. They've worked really hard all weekend."
Best Individual Flying Demonstration
The 1st Lt Andrej Fiorelli, a RIAT award-winner two years ago, received the trophy for best individual flying display with Pilatus PC-9M multi-role turboprop. "It's a great, great, honour to win a prize again and to be a part of the biggest airshow so far for me", Fiorelli said. "I have no words - what can I say? It's unbelievable; the biggest award I can get as a pilot."
Best Flying Demonstration by an Overseas Participant
The Capt Ivo Kardoš, Gripen demo pilot from the 211th Tactical Squadron at Čáslav flew what was judged to be a "consistently well flown and accurate fast jet demonstration" to win the trophy for the best flying demonstration by an overseas participant. "It was a wonderful, amazing airshow", reflected Kardoš. "It was the best one I've ever been to, and the best show in the world. Of course it's a great honour with the prize to represent the Gripen, and to represent Saab as well."
Friends of the RIAT Trophy
The Col Oleksander Oksanchenko, Su-27 demo pilot from the 831st Guards Tactical Aviation Brigade of Ukrainian Air Force received the trophy for the best overall flying demonstration as judged by members of the Friends of the Royal International Air Tattoo. It was the first time a Ukrainian 'Flanker' had taken part in the RIAT flying display for 18 years. Speaking through an interpreter, Oksanchenko said: "Thank you very much for your hospitality, your partnership and to all the guys who organise the Royal International Air Tattoo. A very high standard is set, and we are very happy to be here. Everything is well organised. God bless your Queen!"
Best Paint Scheme
The Italian Air Force Panavia A-200A Tornado displayed by Reparto Sperimentale Volo flight test centre was awarded the prize for best livery, as also voted for by FRIAT members and presented by Tim Griffiths, from Jeppesen. In the words of the aircraft's weapons systems operator Col Paolo Fiorella, "We painted this aircraft for the 60th anniversary of our squadron. Winning this award here is a dream come true. A lot of magazines around the world are talking about us, and it's important so people know how the Reparto Sperimentale Volo works and what we do."
The Air Tattoo's CEO assigned his special award for an outstanding contribution to the show to the US Air Force Thunderbirds, whose F-16C and D Fighting Falcons deployed across the Atlantic especially to appear in the 2017 event's USAF 70th anniversary tribute. Thunderbird 7, Lt Col Kevin Walsh, the team's director of operations said: "It's a huge honour. With the field of other participants you have at this airshow, we couldn't be happier. There was a great team effort just to get the whole team overseas and in the air - to get us to put on a different demonstration out here we had to change our rules and change our display a little bit to fit the mould here. We thought we did well with it."
Source: RIAT
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