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Air Tattoo attendees soak up the sun on day one

BBC The Red Arrows on the tarmac at RAF Fairford, with a pilot walking in front of them holding two backpacksBBC
The Red Arrows arrived at RAF Fairford on Thursday

Aviation fanatics have travelled from all over the world to catch a glimpse of their favourite planes at a huge military air show.

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) got off to a flying start at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire earlier, with planes from across the globe touching down on the tarmac.

Highlights of this year's programme include high-speed manoeuvres from Boeing F-15QA Ababil, a pair of F-16 Fighting Falcons, and a special display from the Red Arrows to mark their diamond jubilee.

It was a hot and sunny day in the Cotswolds, with attendees keeping cool in the shade with ice cream as temperatures reached the high 20s.

Typhoon FGR4 on the runway at RAF Fairford for the Royal International Air Tattoo on a sunny day
The Typhoon FGR4 first took to the skies 30 years ago
2nd Lieutenant AJ Fischer of the US airforce in the cockpit of a US C-17
2nd Lieutenant AJ Fischer, US Air Force, pilot of a US C-17

More than 250 aircraft, either on display or taking to the skies, are appearing at the three-day event, which will wrap up on Sunday.

This year's themes include the 50th anniversary of the F-16 jets and the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).

People at RIAT under a large red marquee
A lot of attendees have been sitting in the shade, with highs of 28C predicted for Fairford
The Serbian Air Force's Airbus C295MW on the runway at RAF Fairford on a sunny day
The Serbian Air Force's Airbus C295MW, first flown in 1997

This year's RIAT will see the Norwegian Yellow Sparrows perform above the UK for the first time.

The Typhoon, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and F-35B will also be in attendance.

Red Arrows pilot George Hobday standing by his red arrow with his arms folded, smiling
George Hobday, Pilot for Red 6 of the Red Arrows
Forca Aerea Portugal KC-390 Embraer on the runway at RAF Fairford
This Forca Aerea Portugal KC-390 Embraer has also made an appearance at RIAT this weekend

While planes are the main focus of the event, this year's line-up has quite a broad scope, rather than just looking and watching the aircraft.

Away from the runways, attendees can hear talks from Red Arrows pilots, astronauts and Tom Fletcher of McFly fame.

There is also a Techno Zone, as big as 12 tennis courts, which includes a virtual reality hub with Metaverse VR, lunar landing games and cutting-edge space technology.

A man and a child in the cockpit of a plane, smiling at the camera, at RIAT 2024
Some RIAT attendees have been escaping the beating sun by touring the cockpits of planes
People with cameras looking at planes on the tarmac at RIAT
Aviation fanatics have been soaking up the atmosphere and the sun rays on the first day of RIAT 2024

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