Here is the second part of my resume of the wet and windy Royal International Air Tattoo 2023.
In this final instalment we begin with the rare appearance of the Saudi Hawks display team, using the aircraft more familiar as the jet used by The Red Arrows. many of their moves are similar to the reds, but the aircraft are painted very differently.
The fast jet action follows with the first of the Saab Gripen displays from the Swedish AF, then we turn to the "home teams" of the unique Boeing Chinook display and then the mighty "Typhoon Blackjack" attractively adorned with it's patriotic livery. This year is a stunning display of high energy tight turning aerobatics.
A totally unique sight follows of two generations of jet hovering with the now vintage Harrier AV8B from the Spanish Navy joining up with the ultramodern LockheedMartin Lightning II from the Royal Air Force.
After a quick flypast they break and do separate hovering demos at different parts of the crowd line.
Following this we turn to the brand new Saab Gripen E, displayed in the UK for the very first time by the company test pilot.
With more thrust than the C model it has more capability and some of it is shown here.
After the Gripen E we go back to the World's very first operational jet fighter aircraft the Messerschmitt Me262 of the Luftwaffe.
This faithful replica using modern reliable engines gives us our first glimpse in the UK since the late 1940's of the dark shape of the Nazi fighter aircraft.
Following this is a search and rescue demonstration from the Italian Military, and then we wrap up with the crowdfavourite Red Arrows aerobatic team from the RAF, giving their usual high precision and dynamic display.
That ends RIAT 2023, which will probably be remembered more for the shocking weather than anything else, but their were some fine performances throughout the weekend and that first sight for many of us of the Me262.