70th Anniversary of NATO to be Celebrated at the Air Tattoo

70th Anniversary of NATO to be Celebrated at the Air Tattoo.

The Royal International Air Tattoo Staff has announced that there are preparations underway to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Fairford this summer.

According to the RIAT official website, the show will include a special anniversary flypast to showcase NATO's air power capabilities and will feature current operational aircraft from a number of NATO member nations including the UK, Belgium, Germany and the USA. The flypast will take place on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 July.

This special occasion will be marked at the Air Tattoo by aircraft and aircrew from around the globe coming together as a tribute to the NATO core values of freedom, democracy and security. The intent of the organizers is to bring together several NATO member nations at RIAT 2019 both within the flying display and the static displays, to illustrate NATO's role today.
Chief Executive Andy Armstrong said, "The Air Tattoo has always performed an important role in developing this spirit of co-operation, friendship and integration; member states, partners and aspiring member states have been invited to participate in the 2019 Air Tattoo's tribute to mark the Alliance's 70th anniversary."

NATO is one of the longest-lasting and most successful alliances in history. Established in April 1949 by the UK and 11 other democracies from Europe and North America the fundamental role of NATO both then and now is to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries by political and military means. In the current climate NATO is playing an increasingly important role in crisis management and peacekeeping, now with 29 members making up the Alliance.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach GBE KCB ADC DL RAF, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee commented, "NATO is delighted to be partnering with the Air Tattoo in this 70th anniversary year. As the world's largest military airshow, the Air Tattoo remains the forum for Air Forces and other Armed Services from around the world to demonstrate their aviation skills, roles and professionalism to the most diverse, knowledgeable and critical audience. The event also provides an unrivalled opportunity to further strengthen existing, or create new, relationships and alliances through the common theme of airpower; I very much hope that 2019 will attract significant support from NATO nations as we celebrate the 70th year of our Alliance."

Image: RAF