SUNSHINE DELIGHTS AIRSHOW FANS
RAF Fairford basked in glorious sunshine this afternoon, setting the seal on the 40th anniversary of this weekend's Royal International Air Tattoo.
Thousands of visitors turned out for the first day of the annual event, and despite the early-morning downpours on exhibitors and people queuing to get in, the sun peaked through the clouds and shone from just after lunch resulting in a glorious day for all of the families attending.
Among those in the crowds was Civil Servant Anthony Charles from Newport, South Wales, who has been coming to the show for the last two years. Anthony so enjoyed the day that he's decided to sign up to join the Friends of RIAT next year.
"It's been fine," he said. "I'm a bit disappointed that some things were cancelled (due to the weather) but what has been on has been very good. The Vulcan is always a high point of mine and the Reds, of course, and it was good to see the Frecce Tricolori from Italy.
"We will still be around tomorrow chasing up on what we missed today on the ground. It's just a good weekend all round."
Peter Bosch drove over two days from Stuttgart in Germany to get to the Air Tattoo and is stopping in a bed and breakfast in Castle Eaton.
"We arrived after 10am due to the weather this morning," he said. "After the rain we went to look at the static aircraft and the shopping. Compared to the morning, the weather was 100 per cent the opposite and it has been really excellent. I first came here in 1991 and I have been here every year except 2006."
Jo Pearman from Broadstairs in Kent is visiting the event for four days. She said: "I really enjoyed today's show despite the rain. My highlight was seeing the Vulcan and I'm looking forward to seeing the Spartan tomorrow. The Air Tattoo is a real treat."
And Fredrick Contet from Paris, France, is enjoying his first visit to the airshow. He said: "I enjoyed seeing the Eurofighter and the Tornados and I'm looking forward to seeing it all again tomorrow. This afternoon's show made up for the rain this morning."
E-tickets are still available for tomorrow (up to 9pm tonight) from the Air Tattoo website, here.
Tickets will not be available at the gate but can still be bought, subject to availability, at branches of Barclays Bank, Little Chefs and at Tourist Information Centres.
July 16, 2011
