AIR TATTOO TO SERVE UP TRIPLE TREAT

Organisers of Europe’s largest airshow are preparing to serve up a triple helping of historic aircraft as three new nations prepare to touch down at RAF Fairford for the Air Tattoo next month.

Colombia has confirmed it will be sending a C-130H Hercules plus a rare training aircraft whilst the Republic of Korea will be represented by its aerobatic display team, the Black Eagles.

In May, the Koreans began shuttling 10 of its T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft to Manchester airport on board a 747 jumbo jet. The aircraft arrived in pieces and have since been reassembled at RAF Leeming.

Details of the third new participating nation are due to be announced by the Air Tattoo next week.

As well as almost 300 aircraft taking part in the airshow on July 7-8, the Air Tattoo will host one of the largest gatherings of international air chiefs ever assembled in the UK.

More than 44 military chiefs, representing air forces from countries including Brunei, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Kenya, Uruguay, New Zealand, the US and Singapore, will be joining more than 130,000 people over the weekend.

Air Tattoo Chief Executive Tim Prince said the Air Tattoo’s international reputation as one of the world’s biggest and best airshows helped secure the 250-plus aircraft from more than 22 countries.

He said: “I’m delighted that 41 years after the first Air Tattoo, the world’s air arms still see the Air Tattoo as the place to demonstrate the capabilities of their aircraft and aircrew. Everyone involved in next month’s Air Tattoo is very excited because we believe we shall be staging one of the greatest aviation events anywhere in the world this year. It’s really not to be missed.”

Among the highlights of the Air Tattoo’s eight-hour flying programme will be displays by seven international aerobatic teams, the only flying Vulcan bomber and a special flypast by the RAF’s heavyweight airlift fleet featuring the VC-10, TriStar, C-17, C130, A330 and A400M. There will also be a recreation of the mass flypast by 27 Hawk jets in ‘EIIR’ formation that took place over Windsor Castle in May as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  

Tickets for the Air Tattoo are only available in advance and are priced from £39. Visit airtattoo.com or call 0800 107 1940.  All accompanied under-16s go free. Free parking.