Skip Navigation

Aircraft In The Spotlight

Royal International Air Tattoo
Royal International Air Tattoo
Royal International Air Tattoo
Royal International Air Tattoo
Find out about all the aircraft at this year's Air Tattoo.

FINNISH HORNET

The McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet began life as the Northrop YF-17 Cobra which lost the US Air Force's lightweight fighter competition to what would eventually become the ubiquitous F-16. Chosen by... More »

FINNISH HAWK

The British designed and built BAE Systems Hawk is one of the world's most successful advanced jet trainers. Originally designed by Hawker Siddeley, the Hawk first flew in 1974 and entered... More »

GERMAN NH90

The NH90 was formerly a product of the NHIndustries conglomerate, which is now part of Airbus Helicopters. This multi-role machine is available in two main versions, the TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter)... More »

LITHUANIAN SPARTAN

The Leonardo C-27J Spartan is essentially a heavily modernised and more powerful version of the Aeritalia G.222 which was known as the C-27A in the USA. Co-developed between Alenia Aermacchi (now... More »

CIVILIAN HAWKER HUNTER

The Hawker Hunter is the most successful post-war British fighter jet with 1,972 aircraft produced for 22 nations. The Hunter first flew in 1951 and is still in front line service... More »

RAF RED ARROWS

The British designed and built BAE Systems Hawk is one of the world's most successful advanced jet trainers. Originally designed by Hawker Siddeley, the Hawk first flew in 1974 and entered... More »

SLOVAK LET 410

The Let L-410 Turbolet is a Czech designed and built twin-engined light transport aircraft that possesses excellent short and unpaved airfield capabilities. The first prototype of the L-410 flew on 16th... More »

COASTGUARD S-92

Launched at the Paris Airshow in 1995, the Sikorsky S-92 first flew in 1998 at West Palm Beach in Florida. Designed as a medium lift twin-engined helicopter, the S-92 is essentially... More »

COASTGUARD AW189

The AW189 is a civilian twin-engined medium lift helicopter built by Leonardo as a development of the military orientated AW149. Developed primarily as an offshore support, search and rescue and passenger... More »

PATRULLA AGUILA

The CASA C-101 Aviojet is a single-engined advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft indigenously developed for the Spanish Air and Space Force by CASA with assistance from Germany's MBB and... More »

NAVY WINGS WASP

Developed from the same program that produced the Westland Scout for the British Army, the Westland Wasp was a first generation turbine-powered helicopter produced for the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm.... More »

SPANISH CASA 295

The CASA, now Airbus C-295 is a medium transport aircraft that was developed from the CN-235 medium transport which was originally developed for the Spanish and Indonesian Air Forces. The key... More »

NAVY WINGS RELIANT

The Stinson Reliant first flew in 1933 and was developed as a single engine civilian aircraft which was produced up until 1941. Featuring a high wing, the plane was built in... More »

NAVY WINGS SEAFIRE

The Supermarine Spitfire first flew in 1936 and in 1938 discussions began to develop a navalised version of what would soon become one of the most iconic aircraft ever made. The... More »

BBMF LANCASTER

The Avro Lancaster was designed by Roy Chadwick who also designed the legendary Avro Vulcan. The Lancaster was developed as a four engined heavy bomber and was based on the smaller... More »

BBMF SPITFIRE

The Supermarine Spitfire was designed by the Schneider Cup winning Reginald J Mitchell and first flew in March 1936. The aircraft was originally going to be called the Shrew but was... More »

BBMF HURRICANE

The Hawker Hurricane was designed by Sir Sydney Camm, who also designed the Hunter and Harrier. The Hurricane was a monoplane single engine fighter that was originally developed from the Hawker... More »

RAF TYPHOON

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a multi-role high performance combat aircraft which was a multi-national development between the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain. Achieving its first flight in March 1994, deliveries to... More »

CIVILIAN JET PROVOST

Developed by Hunting Percival who also developed the Piston Provost during the early 1950s, the Jet Provost was initially designed in anticipation of the RAF requiring a jet trainer. The RAF... More »

CIVILIAN LYNX

First flying in 1971, the Westland Lynx to this day holds the international speed record for a helicopter at 249.09mph, new designs have gone faster but are not classed as a... More »

BELGIAN FIGHTING FALCON

The General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon is currently the most numerous combat aircraft in NATO. Originally developed for the USAF as a day fighter, the F-16 has evolved... More »

BELGIAN SF.260

The SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 was developed by Italy in the early 1960s as a light aircraft and has found favour with a number of military operators as a trainer with aerobatic capabilities.... More »

SWEDISH GRIPEN

The SAAB JAS 39 Gripen is a light-weight multi-role fighter indigenously developed by Sweden to replace the legendary Draken and Viggen with the Swedish Air Force. The Gripen is powered by... More »

SWEDISH SK.60

The SAAB 105 is a twin engine side-by-side seating trainer which began life as a private venture. The Swedish government eventually sponsored the production of a prototype in 1961. Developed as... More »

DANISH FIGHTING FALCON

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is currently the most numerous combat aircraft in NATO. Originally developed for the USAF as a day fighter, the F-16 has evolved into a highly... More »

SPANISH HARRIER

The McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II was a joint project between the US and UK to develop a new generation of Harrier. The UK initially left the project in 1975 only... More »

CIVILIAN NIPPER

Developed in 1952 Ernest Oscar Tips, the Tipsy Nipper was designed as an easy to fly plus cheap to buy and maintain whilst being fully aerobatic. Named after Ernest's granddaughters nickname,... More »

CIVILIAN TIGER

The Grumman American AA-5 is a four-seat light aircraft which was based on their AA-1 Yankee Clipper. Unusually for a light aircraft, the AA-5 has a sliding canopy which can be... More »

CIVILIAN BULLDOG

Originally designed by Beagle Aircraft until they ceased trading, the Bulldog was a basic side-by-side trainer developed for military applications and featured a full aerobatic capability. The rights to the aircraft... More »

CIVILIAN BIRD DOG

Based on the four-seat Cessna 170, the Cessna 305A was propose dot satisfy a US Army requirement for a liaison and observation aircraft. The 305A differed from the 170 by having... More »

Stay in touch Don't miss out on all our Air Tattoo news and updates, sign up here

Subscribe