RIAT 2025: The flying display will see fighter jets, helicopters and the most sustainable Red Arrows yet
July 14, 2025
This weekend, the quiet Gloucestershire village of Fairford transforms once more into the global heart of aviation, as the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT 2025) takes flight, blending aerial artistry with military might.
With over 250 aircraft expected from more than 25 nations, RIAT 2025 promises to be as spectacular as ever. But this year, there’s more than just engine roars and formation loops in the spotlight.
The RAF Red Arrows will fly their full display using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a bold and symbolic nod toward a greener aviation future.
Whether you’re attending or following along from home, here’s a look at the stars of RIAT 2025 taking part in the flying displays.
RIAT 2025: Fast jet and tactical demonstrations
The highlight of any airshow, RIAT 2025 will see plenty of fast jet action.
F‑16C Tiger Demo: Poland’s precision and prowess
The Polish F‑16 Tiger Demo Team showcases the Lockheed Martin F‑16C Fighting Falcon Block 52+, known locally as the Jastrząb (“Hawk”).
In service since deliveries under the “Peace Sky” programme between 2006–2008, this advanced F‑16 variant features Pratt & Whitney F100‑PW‑229 engines, APG‑68(V)9 terrain‑mapping radar, and the ALQ‑211(V)4 electronic warfare suite, marking it among the most capable F‑16s in NATO service.
Since its formation in the early 2000s and official establishment as the Tiger Demo Team in 2015, the display team has built a reputation for high‑energy solo performances, tight manoeuvres, and crowd‑pleasing visuals, all inspired by Poland’s strength in NATO exercises such as the Tiger Meet.
The demo pilot for the 2025 season is Major Maciej “SLAB” Krakowian.
Saab Gripen E: Sweden’s agile next-gen multirole fighter
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen E is a light, single-engine multirole fighter developed by Sweden’s Saab. Introduced in 1996, the E variant represents its most advanced iteration.
Equipped with a General Electric F414-G engine and an ES-05 Raven AESA radar, the Gripen E delivers situational awareness and sensor fusion from its updated digital cockpit and multifunction displays. These attributes helped Saab’s test pilot André Brännström win the Paul Bowen Trophy for Best Solo Jet Demonstration at RIAT in 2023.
The Paul Bowen Trophy for the Best Solo Jet Demonstration is named in memory of one of the co-founders of RIAT. In 2022, Captain David Szentendrei from the Hungarian Air Force won the same award flying a Gripen C, marking two years in a row a Gripen fighter jet was awarded.
F‑35A Lightning II: Stealth power from the 495th Fighter Squadron
The F-35A Lightning II, flown by the 495th Fighter Squadron – the Valkyries – based at RAF Lakenheath, is the USAF’s cutting-edge fifth-generation stealth fighter.
With its internal weapons bays, sensor fusion, and unparalleled low-observability characteristics, the F-35A brings a new level of battlefield awareness and survivability.
The 495th FS is the first USAF squadron in Europe to operate the F-35A, having received its first jets in 2021.
At the show, the 495th’s aircraft are expected to demonstrate vertical climb, precision handling, and stealthy presence, showcasing fusion-based combat performance.
MC-130J Commando II: USAF’s special ops workhorse
The Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II, operated by the 67th Special Operations Squadron from RAF Mildenhall, is a tactical airlifter modified for special operations missions.
With enhanced avionics, aerial refuelling capability, and terrain-following radar, the MC-130J can insert or extract special forces in challenging environments. The MC-130J primarily flies missions at night to reduce probability of visual acquisition and intercept by airborne threats.
Its presence in the flying display at RIAT 2025 is rare and offers spectators a glimpse of precision, low-level flying that underscores the quiet power of USAF’s unconventional mission fleet.
The first MC-130J aircraft was delivered in September 2011 to Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, with final delivery expected in fiscal year 2025.
C-21A Learjet 35A: Compact, classic and nimble
The Learjet (now Bombardier Aerospace) C-21A twin turbofan-engine aircraft is the military version of the Learjet 35A business jet. It provides airlift for eight passengers and 3,153 pounds of cargo. During aeromedical evacuations, it can transport one litter patient or five ambulatory patients.
Though not a fast jet in the traditional sense, its appearance in the flying display showcases the agility and versatility of one of the USAF’s lesser-known but vital assets.
Its compact profile and swift manoeuvres provide a refreshing change of pace between heavier and more aggressive aircraft types.
RIAT 2025: Helicopter flying demonstrations
Whether you’re here for the thump of the Chinook or the blistering manoeuvres of the Black Cats demo team, RIAT 2025 is a treat for rotorcraft lovers.
RAF Chinook Role Demo: Power and precision from a battlefield legend
The RAF Chinook Display Team, based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, exists to demonstrate the Chinook Force’s capability.
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook, an icon of British air mobility, takes centre stage in a role demonstration that combines brute strength with tactical agility. Operated by 18 and 27 Squadrons from RAF Odiham, the tandem-rotor helicopter demonstrates troop insertion, underslung load carrying, and rapid extraction.
Its distinctive rotor “thump” and tight turns belie its size and payload capability, making the Chinook a perennial highlight at RIAT.
The Mark 6A are used for the display, and make up the bulk of the RAF’s fleet. The Chinook is forecast to remain in Britain’s inventory until at least 2060.
Royal Navy Black Cats: Wildcat HMA.2 pair’s aerial ballet
The Black Cats Helicopter Display Team fly two AgustaWestland Wildcat
HMA.2 helicopters from 825 Naval Air Squadron, based at RNAS Yeovilton.
Once seen as a nimble utility platform, the true character of the Wildcat helicopter is now coming into sharper focus, that of a fearsome maritime attack aircraft, fully equipped and combat-ready.
In its early years, the Wildcat often flew light, rarely armed with the kind of munitions that could threaten hostile ships or submarines. But that phase is firmly in the past.
Today, the Royal Navy’s Wildcat has grown its “claws and fangs.” Its stub wings now bristle with Martlet missiles designed to neutralise fast attack craft and boat swarms, Sting Ray torpedoes for submarine threats, and soon, the Sea Venom missile, a potent tool capable of disabling corvettes or even larger surface warships.
No longer a mere scout or spotter, the Wildcat has become a frontline force multiplier.
At RIAT, the Black Cats are expected to perform with sharp coordination and theatrical flair.
RIAT 2025: Aerobatic display teams
Everyone’s eyes turn skywards when the Red Arrows arrive, but RIAT 2025 brings more than just the UK’s own display team, with aerobatics from all over the world.
RAF Red Arrows: Flying history in greener skies
The Royal Air Force Red Arrows, Britain’s iconic nine-aircraft aerobatic display team, will make history at RIAT 2025 by performing their entire display powered by 100% SAF. It’s first such use of SAF for any national military aerobatic team during a public display.
The team’s signature coloured smoke trails are also now generated with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) biofuel, making every plume a display of environmental commitment as well as performance.
This landmark initiative aligns with the RAF’s Defence Aviation Net Zero Strategy and highlights military aviation’s potential to reduce carbon emissions without compromising mission capability.
Patrouille Suisse: Swiss precision in F-5E Tiger IIs
The Patrouille Suisse serves as the official aerobatic display team of the Swiss Air Force, representing both the Swiss military and the nation itself.
For over six decades, this elite team has wowed spectators across Switzerland and beyond with their tightly choreographed aerial displays.
Flying the Northrop F-5E Tiger II, the six-ship Patrouille Suisse team, formed in 1964, represents the very definition of precision.
The Tiger II’s compact agility, delta-shaped canopy, and clean design make it ideal for tight, fast-moving formations.
Their red-and-white paint scheme complements the Swiss flag and their flying style: calm, measured and meticulously executed.
Saudi Hawks: Bold manoeuvres with a desert flair
Formed on January 24, 1999, the Saudi Hawks or the Green Hawks Team are the Royal Saudi Air Force’s official aerobatic team, flying seven green-and-white BAE Hawk Mk.65A aircraft.
Based at King Faisal Air Base, Tabuk, the team brings Middle Eastern precision and flair to European skies. Their routine combines loops, bomb bursts, and formation passes, projecting the Kingdom’s growing aviation professionalism and regional engagement.
Fursan Al Emarat: UAE’s golden knights of the sky
Flying seven Italian-built Aermacchi MB-339 NAT jet trainers, Fursan Al Emarat (“The Knights of the Emirates”) are the national aerobatic team of the United Arab Emirates.
Formed in 2010, they are known for elegant, choreographed routines punctuated by gold, red and black smoke trails. With a blend of showmanship and discipline, they reflect the UAE’s ambition and growing aerospace investment.
Reports have it that the Al Fursan aerobatic team has moved closer than ever to getting a new fleet of jets from China to replace their Aermacchi MB-339s, as the UAE reportedly signed a firm order for the Hongdu L-15 Falcon.
According to AVIC, the aircraft’s manufacturer, the UAE has signed a contract in 2023 for the purchase of 12 L-15 trainer jets, with an option for 36 additional aircraft.
Given that the UAE had been exploring replacements for Al Fursan’s fleet of 10 MB-339s by mid-decade, it is likely that the national aerobatic team will be the primary beneficiary of this initial order.
Royal Jordanian Falcons: Propeller-powered precision from the Hashemite Kingdom
Adding vibrant flair to RIAT’s jet-dominated skies, the Royal Jordanian Falcons soar in with their fleet of five Extra 330LX aircraft, one of the world’s most agile, high-performance aerobatic aeroplanes.
With razor-sharp loops, graceful barrel rolls, and seamless formation transitions, their performance showcases not only the aircraft’s astonishing roll rate and climb capabilities but also the elite flying skills honed by this celebrated team.
Founded in 1976 under the patronage of His Majesty King Hussein, the Falcons are more than an air display team – they are Jordan’s roving ambassadors. With each routine, they carry a message of pride, tradition, and modernity from the Hashemite Kingdom to audiences around the world.
Their presence at RIAT brings a distinctive regional flavour and a legacy of precision flying that spans nearly five decades.
As they carve arcs of smoke across the Cotswold sky, the Falcons offer a thrilling contrast to the thunder of fast jets, reminding crowds of the artistry and discipline embedded in propeller-driven aerobatics.
Their display is not only a visual spectacle but also a celebration of national identity, making them a perennial favourite among RIAT visitors.
What time is the flying display at RIAT 2025?
The 2025 edition of the Royal International Air Tattoo opens on Friday, 18 July, and runs through to Sunday, 20 July. Each day, the showground will open at 07:30 and close at 18:00.
The flying is scheduled to start at 11:00 on Friday, with displays running through to 15:00. Saturday and Sunday have a longer display with more variety, running from 10:00 until 17:30.
