The initial details for the 2025 Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) have been announced, promising a focus on specialised aircraft used for various missions, including intelligence, surveillance, maritime patrol, and search and rescue. The theme for next year’s event, titled “Eyes in the Skies”, will highlight these critical aircraft roles.
Despite being over 250 days away, the event, which is scheduled to take place at RAF Fairford, has already seen more than 20,000 tickets sold. Enthusiastic aviation fans have secured their spots even before the participating aircraft have been revealed. Organisers expect to announce the first participating aircraft early in 2025.
The 2024 RIAT was a resounding success, hosting 248 aircraft from nearly 30 countries and drawing a sold-out crowd of 168,000 attendees. The event also achieved a record £2.6 million donation to its parent charity, the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, making it the most successful event in the air show’s history.
Paul Atherton, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, expressed excitement over the early ticket sales for the 2025 event. “This year’s show was a huge success, and we are thrilled to see people are already booking tickets for next year,” Atherton said.
He added that planning for RIAT25 is well underway, and the announcement of the event’s theme marks the beginning of preparations. “Our event offers a unique chance for people to see and interact with a wide variety of aircraft. Next year’s theme will allow visitors to get a closer look at specialist aircraft, which usually operate behind the scenes due to the nature of their missions,” he explained.
RIAT25 is scheduled from Friday, July 18, to Sunday, July 20, 2025. This edition will mark 40 years since the renowned air show found its home at RAF Fairford after originally being held at North Weald and later Greenham Common. To commemorate this milestone, organisers plan to showcase the history of the event with special exhibits looking back on four decades at RAF Fairford.
Atherton acknowledged the significance of this anniversary, saying, “RAF Fairford has been our home for the past four decades, and in that time, we have seen some incredible aircraft at RIAT. It’s only fitting that we celebrate this milestone with the local community and the visitors who have made the event what it is today.”
The 2025 Royal International Air Tattoo promises to be another exciting chapter in the long history of this world-class air show, continuing to captivate aviation enthusiasts from around the globe.
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