Local Community

The Royal International Air Tattoo is staged by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE), the trading arm of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT).

Since it was established in 2005, millions in grants have been handed out to a variety of groups whose projects meet the Trust's objectives.

 

Last year we spent more than £1.5 million in Gloucestershire Wiltshire and Oxfordshire setting up the airshow. When accommodation, food, fuel and other sundries are added, it is estimated that millions more is generated in the surrounding counties, with the service and tourism industries receiving the biggest boost.

RIAT provides a number of employment opportunities. The majority of RAFCTE's permanent staff live in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, with at least nine coming from the immediate area. A further 29 staff members are employed on temporary contracts.

Local homeowners turn spare rooms into B&B accommodation while homes with drives 'rent out' private parking spaces.

As in previous years, a limited number of complimentary RIAT tickets are regularly made available to schools, charities and organisations in the area - on a rotational basis - to help them raise money.

We sponsor the Outstanding Business Student of the Year Award for students at Farmor's School as part of the Fairford and Lechlade Business Club Awards.

As a thank you to local residents for their support, RIAT has a special offer on tickets. Residents are eligible for two half-price tickets per residential household for either Friday 14 July or Sunday 16 July.

At RIAT, we believe it is important to do as much as possible to minimise the impact of the airshow on people living in our local communities. We are hugely grateful to all the parish, town, district and county council representatives who help us try and achieve this. In particular, we would wish to thank Kempsford Parish Council for its ongoing help and support as we recognise that residents living in the parish are routinely most affected by our activities each year.

Indeed, in February 2022, we held face-to-face meetings with councillors from both Fairford Town Council and Kempsford Parish Council and we look forward to welcoming other parish, town, district and county councillors ? in addition to other interested parties ? at our Local Representatives' Briefing in May. This event not only allows us to outline our plans for the forthcoming Air Tattoo but also gives us the oppportunity to reinforce, after an absence of three years, the excellent relations we enjoy with our neighbours. In addition to this, we also produce a Residents' Newsletter providing a wide range of information about the forthcoming airshow as well as contact details in case local residents require assistance during the event.

If you have a community matter relating to the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, or any of its activities, please email communitymatters@rafcte.com

Offer: Two half-price tickets per residential household for either Friday 14 or Sunday 16 July 2023.

As a thank you to local residents for all your support, RIAT is offering half-price tickets to the 2023 airshow available for Friday 14 and Sunday 16 July. Residents living in the local area are being invited to purchase heavily discounted tickets for a limited time.

This offer is for up to 2 tickets per residential household subject to availability.

Once tickets have sold out, this offer will not be available.

Resident offer Prices

  • Friday 14 July - £20 instead of £40 per adult
  • Sunday 16 July - £34.50 instead of £69 per adult

Terms & Conditions

  • Available for Friday 14 and/or Sunday 16 July 2023.
  • Two tickets per residential household.
  • Only one application per residential household in the villages listed.
  • Applicants must be 18 and over, under 18s are free with a ticket holding adult.
  • Discounted tickets can be purchased by visiting Air Tattoo HQ in person with a household bill or document with name and address and photo ID.
  • RIAT HQ is located at Douglas Bader House, Horcott Hill, Fairford, GL7 4RB and is open from 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday (closed Bank Holidays).
  • Tickets are subject to availability.
  • Tickets are sold as non-refundable and non-returnable.

Availability 

Tickets are available for those living in the following villages:

  • Fairford
  • Quenington
  • Whelford
  • Kempsford
  • Dunfield
  • Hannington Wick
  • Castle Eaton
  • Water Eaton
  • Lushill
  • Hannington
  • Marston Meysey
  • Down Ampney
  • Latton
  • Meysey Hampton
  • Poulton
  • Ampney St Peter
  • Ampney Crucis
  • Lechlade