A Look Back: Steve Lewis Visits RIAT 2024

Photos by Steve Lewis

The long-running Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) has attracted military aircraft from around the world since 1971. It is the world’s largest military air show, which features several hundred static and around two dozen flying displays every year. The event is a three-day airshow, but it offers more as arriving and departing aircraft form their own attraction. Several days before the weekend’s show and the Monday after the show are sought-after photo days for enthusiasts and photographers who can attend under the Friends of the Air Tattoo (FRIAT) ticketing offers

Themes are adopted each year – in 2024 there were several, including the 50th anniversary of the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the 75th Anniversary of NATO. 

Many RIAT events contain aircraft with commemorative or otherwise special color schemes. Sometimes a Tiger Meet will have just occurred, and those aircraft are part of the static display, to the delight of enthusiasts.

The event has also become a great venue for warbirds, with World War II and early jet aircraft being featured in the flying display.

This year’s RIAT dates are July 17-19, 2026.

Here are some highlighted aircraft from the 2024 RIAT, as shared by Steve Lewis.