Royal International Air Tattoo
RAF Fairford 2005
In 2005 Warthog major and minor ventured to Fairford for the annual air show, courtesy of Toyota. Despite media tales of endless traffic jams and fine weather, we drove in with little fuss and witnessed some of the most magnificent acrobatic displays and static exhibits.

Warthog major’s pictures on the ground are bad enough, but airborne jets from Eurofighter to a fantastic Italian squadron (the Frecce Tricolori) were too much for the old boy. However he did manage to capture some legible images of the inevitable Red Arrows; the more beautiful than ever (because it’s uncluttered) photo-recce Spitfire in blue; and some statics including the Tiger-decorated SU 22 and some tailplanes of note.

Worth attending, although rain/overcast can severely interrupt play...

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High altitude reconnaisance version of Spitfire Mk XIX. This aircraft, painted in the colours of 541 Squadron which performed unarmed photo-recce missions over Europe from 1944, is part of the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

More info: see HERE

Polish Air force Sukhoi SU-22 M3K (NATO code name 'Fitter-G') 2-seat trainer with Tiger paintjob.
McDonnell-Douglas RF-4E Phantom of the Hellenic Air Force.
Tornado GR4 of 12 Squadron RAF with tail paintjob for the squadron's 90th anniversary in 2005.

12 Sqdn. is currently based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.

A tale of two tails - (foreground) Tornado GR4 from RAF 14 Squadron in squadron's 90th anniversary colours, and (background) venerable VC10 tanker.