FACTS AND ANECDOTES
Did you know………………
- A team of around 3,000 volunteers - ranging from air traffic controllers and aircraft engineers to medics and firefighters - provide the backbone of the Royal International Air Tattoo
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More than 15,000 packed meals are produced for the volunteer staff during the Airshow
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Air Tattoo organisers increase the number of catering staff from four to 380 during the period of the airshow
- More than 3,000 bottles of champagne and wine are drunk during the Air Tattoo
- 100,000 individual pieces of crockery, cutlery and glassware are brought in to cater for guests
- More than four miles of fencing and barriers have to be erected and 50kms of rope & stake put up
- 10,000 cones are laid out on the airfield for routing vehicles and static aircraft
- 535 aircraft attended the Air Tattoo in 2003 leading to it being officially recognised as the ‘world’s largest military airshow’ by the Guinness World Records
- Gen John Jumper, the former Chief of the US Air Force, has accepted an invitation to become an Air Tattoo Honorary Vice Patron
- The Air Tattoo hosts a number of charities each year, free of charge. In 2006, a group of 24 young carers from the Gloucestershire Young Carers’ Project in Gloucester spent the day at the Tattoo as part of the airshow’s involvement with BBC Children in Need. And for the third year running, the Air Tattoo joined forces with sponsor Northrop Grumman to host a visit from the charity Cherished Memories, which provides memorable days for the families of children with life-threatening illnesses
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Airshow Testimonials.......
- “It was fantastic. I loved every minute of it”
Ms T Hart, Swindon
- “The whole family enjoyed the day, great value for money!”
Mr Lucas, Guildford - “No traffic problems, we were in the showground within 40 minutes”
Robert Perkins, Swindon - “It’s all about show business “
Capt Gert-Jan Vooren, Display Pilot, Royal Netherlands Air Force
- “We have now visited airshows at Paris, Oshkosh, Farnborough as well as some smaller ones but this time you trumped them all’
Derek and Rebekah Fowler, Woking
- “I would like to say a big thank you for all you did to make our visit to RIAT a most spectacular exhilarating and above all memorable day out”
Suzette Bradman, Cherished Memories
- “This is my favourite airshow. I am always proud to come back. RIAT is unique”
General John Jumper, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, Ret’d
- “As a first-timer to FRIAT, thanks for an enjoyable six days – see you next year”
Martin, Essex
- “That this year’s Tattoo remained so impressive is a testament to its enduring pre-eminence and appeal”
Aircraft Illustrated, September 2006
- “This is the best airshow”
Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 astronaut
- “It’s a hard-to-beat experience”
P Tabois, Grimsby
- “It was a difficult time to hold a military airshow with so much uncertainty in the Middle East yet RIAT still managed to create an event to entertain and inspire everyone”
Paul Johnson, Flightline UK