RIAT Fairford Air Show 2022, Departure monday

Introduction

RIAT 2022 Departure Monday marked the culmination of the world’s largest military airshow as operational detachments returned to their home stations. Staged at RAF Fairford, the event provided aviation photographers, analysts, and enthusiasts unmatched trackside views of combat aircraft, heavy transports, and flight demonstration teams departing the airfield under historic summer temperatures.

General Information About the Airshow

• Official Title: Royal International Air Tattoo 2022 (RIAT 2022)
• Airfield Location & Address: RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, GL7 4DL, United Kingdom
• Event Dates: Public airshow days occurred 15–17 July 2022; Departure Monday took place on 18 July 2022
• Weather Conditions: Exceptional heatwave with clear skies; surface temperatures peaked between 36 °C and 38 °C, accompanied by light easterly surface winds

History

RIAT 2022 returned following a two-year hiatus caused by global pandemic restrictions, welcoming approximately 170,000 visitors over the event weekend. On Departure Monday, thousands of registered spectators in designated Park and View enclosures documented the mass egress of 266 aircraft.

Demonstration teams executing flight departures included the Republic of Korea Air Force Black Eagles (flying the KAI T-50B Golden Eagle), the Royal Air Force Red Arrows (flying the BAe Hawk T.1), and the Italian Air Force Frecce Tricolori. Solo tactical demonstrators featured the USAF F-35A Lightning II, the Belgian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the Swedish Air Force JAS-39C Gripen. Major static aircraft departing included the USAF Boeing E-4B Nightwatch, a Bahrain Air Force C-130J Hercules, the Embraer KC-390 Millennium, and historic jets such as the Saab AJS 37 Viggen and Saab J 35 Draken.

Specifications

• Showground Dimensions: Single asphalt-and-concrete runway measuring 3,047 meters in length and 61 meters in width; total static display line along the northern taxiway spanned 3.2 kilometers across an active base footprint exceeding 514 hectares.
• Event Nature: Predominantly military aviation (approx. 90% military assets, 10% specialized civilian support aircraft, including an Oil Spill Response Boeing 727-200).
• Participating Nations: 33 countries fielded aircraft, including the United Kingdom, United States, South Korea, Sweden, Italy, Bahrain, Germany, Belgium, and Canada.
• Stars of the Show: The USAF Boeing E-4B National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), the ROKAF Black Eagles, the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus, and the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight.