RIAT 2007
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RIAT… Fairford... THE military air show well known among air show enthusiasts. No wonder as it is the biggest event worldwide of this kind. Due to the commercialisation of the show and the high fees that will await you there during one week-end only I have resisted to go there for a long time. But this year I finally decided to attend the biggest (and best?) military air show on the globe to get my own opinion, and experience the flair of being there.
Where? RAF Fairford, UK
When? 14-15/07/2007
Though the legendary days when RIAT saw the amazing participations of eastern build jets are already over, it still remains very interesting as it attracts many exotic aircraft. In 2007 the expected highlight was the appearance of the restored Vulcan XH558, but some weeks before the week-end in July it became clearer and clearer that this will not be the case. So we have to wait one more year or another to see this impressive bomber in the skies above Fairford. But the announced appearance of an Omani BAC 1-11 and Indian Su-30 made the decision easy to book my flight already some months in advance.
Wednesday, July 11th
Though the trip to Fairford began very British flying from Munich on-board British Airways' oldest A320-100 (G-BUSB) to London Heathrow Airport. Arriving there we had one hour delay which was not that bad because in the last sunlight I was still able to take some nice photos of wide bodies leaving the airport to foreign destinations. Furthermore the traffic on London's ring road M25 was already gone and the drive towards Fairford was easy. A quick stop at a filling station to get an ice cream and something for next day’s breakfast put an end to that day.
a quick stop at London Heathrow (LHR)
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