USAFE supports Royal International Air Tattoo

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Martie Moore
  • 421st Air Base Squadron Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, England (USAFENS) --  More than 150,000 people attended the 2005 Royal International Air Tattoo here Saturday and Sunday, according to RIAT officials.

RIAT has been officially named by the Guinness World Records as the World’s Largest Military Air Show with participation of more than 300 aircraft from more than 30 nations.

This year’s theme was surveillance and included aircraft such as the E-8C JOINT STARS and an unmanned Global Hawk from the U.S. Air Force along with the E-3D Sentry and Nimrod MR2 from the Royal Air Force. This year also marks the U-2 Dragon Lady’s 50th anniversary, first flown in the Soviet Union during the Cold War and continues to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In addition to surveillance, a salute to the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II and the formation of the United Nations was highlighted.

The airshow recognized the role played by aircraft and air arms in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions since 1945.

“It’s a pleasure and an honor to represent not only the U.S. Air Force but the 351st, (Air Refueling Squadron)” said 1st Lt. Dave Caswell, KC-135 co-pilot, RAF Mildenhall, England . “It was nice to talk to the spectators about our aircraft and mission ... it provides an ideal opportunity to build good international relations.”

The U.S. Air Force participated with static displays, aerial flight demonstrations as well a presentation from Gen. John P. Jumper, Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

“RIAT is unique. It’s great to come here and show all this to the public so they can see what they get out of their tax dollars, meet the air crews who go into harms way -- all the elements of air power, on the ground and in space,” he said.

In addition to surveillance aircraft the C-5 Galaxy, B-52H Stratofortress, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16C Fighting Falcon, B-1 Lancer and A-10 Thunderbolt were some of the various U.S. military aircraft from bases in Europe, England and the United States.

“This is probably the most involved airshow I’ve seen in terms of number of countries, aircraft and vendors,” said Capt. Hans “Steely” Hilterman, F-15E pilot, 492nd Fighter Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, England. “This was a chance for us to inform the public about what we do ... many of the spectators were locals who are familiar with our operations and this venue allowed them to see up close our equipment and what we do.”

More than 300 U.S. Air Force personnel participated in the air show to include aircrew, maintenance and administrative support services in addition to active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve aircraft and personnel from bases around the globe took part in the show.

Capt. Steph Jardine, a C-130J pilot from the 314th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., flew more than six hours to participate in this year’s show.

“It was very exciting and we felt very welcomed and well received by the British public,” she said. “This wasn’t work at all.”