RIAT 18 MASSIVE FLYPAST: MORE THAN 50 RAF AIRCRAFT ARE EXPECTED

RIAT 18 massive flypast: more than 50 aircraft are expected.

The Air Tattoo 2018 will include special flypasts featuring several RAF aircraft including the new Lightning. Thanks to its recent arrival in the UK, the Royal Air Force's newest stealth fighter jet, the Lightning II F-35B is scheduled to join the formation on all three days.

At around 2.15pm on Friday a special flypast featuring around 50 aircraft from the Royal Air Force will provide a stunning aerial celebration to mark RAF100 at the Air Tattoo.

The massed flypast, will see many of the RAF's operational aircraft including the new Lightning, Typhoons, Tornado GR4s, an A400M Atlas, the Red Arrows, plus Puma and Chinook helicopters, accompanied by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Lancaster, Spitfires and Hurricanes flying in formation.

The Royal Air Force will also stage RAF100 themed flypasts on Saturday and Sunday comprising a diamond nine of RAF Typhoons and a special '617 Squadron Tribute' of BBMF Lancaster, Tornado GR4 and the new Lightning jet.

On the ground, a large area is dedicated to the RAF Centenary, where visitors will be able to see aircraft from the RAF's past, present and future as well as meet those currently serving to learn about the variety of roles they perform in today's RAF.

Air arms from around the world are participating in the Air Tattoo including Canada, Switzerland, Spain, Greece, Finland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Slovenia and Demark. Joining them will be an historic P-51D Mustang and a state-of-the-art, stealthy USAF F-35A Lightning II that will perform a joint display as part of the US Air Force Heritage Flight.

Source: Air Tattoo
Image Credit: Jerry Howells