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The People who make RIAT happen
RIAT is often remembered for its noise, speed, and spectacle – the fast jets pulling tight turns, aerobatic teams painting the sky in colour, and rare military aircraft parked ready for thousands of visitors to explore. But none of it happens without the people you don’ t always see in the headlines: the organisers, crews, volunteers, and support staff who work for months, sometimes years, to get every detail right. Planning Starts Early For the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, planning for RIAT 2025 began almost as soon as RIAT 2024 ended. The ticket sales started already in July. Later on the Air Operations team started contacting air forces around the world, inviting participants, negotiating appearances, and working through the practicalities of bringing aircraft and personnel to Gloucestershire. Large aircraft might require staging stops and tanker support to get to Fairford. Permission has to be secured to fly over multiple countries. Some participants, like Pakistan’ s JF-17C fighters and Il 78 Midas tanker, had never attended RIAT before. That required an extra diplomatic and logistical effort to make their visit possible. While the flying display is a centrepiece, static displays, STEM zones, hospitality areas, and car parks all require their own planning teams. Display safety assessments are completed in advance, checking manoeuvres against airshow regulations to keep aircraft and people safe.
An Army of Volunteers One of the features that sets RIAT apart is the size and dedication of its volunteer force. Many are RIAT regulars who return each year to perform specific roles, while others join for the first time – often aviation fans who want to be part of the show in a hands on way.
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