By: Scott Lee.
It is just over four
weeks until the self-proclaimed ‘world’s greatest air show’.
RIAT 2017 kicks off at RAF Fairford, UK on the 14th July
with an extensive participant list. The ever popular presence of the
USAF, celebrating its 70th anniversary year, will be a
major focus. The USAF contingent may turn out to be the largest in
recent times, and possibly surpass the UK presence! The USAF
Thunderbirds, returning after 10 yers, and the F-22 Raptor Display
Team will be making the transatlantic crossing to give the flying
display a bit of ‘Uncle Sam’ noise and spectacle, while a B-52H
and B-1B will be a major draw in the static park. They join up with
USAFE contingents including F-15E Strike Eagle’s, Pavehawk, RC-135R
tanker and CV-22 Osprey’s from RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall.
One major presence not to be repeated in 2017 however, is the much
publicised attendance of the F-35 from 2016, despite the type
appearing at the Paris Airshow this week.
