8th June

• 8th Jun 2023

Starting this week's update with another national aerobatic team for the RIAT 2023 flying display! We look forward to welcoming the Saudi Hawks Display Team, flying their seven Hawk jet trainers in an attractive green colour scheme. The team will be flying on all three days of RIAT 2023.

Two additions to the SKYTANKER23 gathering at RIAT 2023, both of which coming in the form of Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. The Royal Saudi Air Force will send one of their tankers, operated by 22 Squadron for static display. In addition, the Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Unit (MMU) will also participate at RIAT. The MMU operate a fleet of A330 MRTT aircraft which are shared between member nations. The plan is for this aircraft to arrive on Friday, and be on static display in the Green Zone on Saturday & Sunday.

In addition to the tankers, this week we also confirm the participation of a CP-140M and CC-130J from the Royal Canadian Air Force, pair of Hawks from the Qatar Emiri Air Force and also a factory fresh Eurofighter Typhoon from BAE Systems, ahead of its delivery to Qatar. We're also very pleased that Bristow Helicopters will be bringing their Dauphin helicopter, used to support Royal Navy FOST operations, for static display at RIAT 2023. Other interesting civilian aircraft joining the participation list include a Top Aces Alpha Jet and two aircraft operated by QinetiQ, flown by the Empire Test Pilots School.

Yesterday we completed our 'Longest Day' where we plan all the arrival slots and aircraft parking plan for RIAT 2023. With more than 250 aircraft due for the show, this is quite the challenge! The Flying Display planning continues and in the coming weeks we plan to update the participation list to highlight which aircraft will fly as part of Friday's flying display.

Finally this week; the previously announced Argentinian Boeing 737 will no longer be participating at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2023.