RIAT 2025 started with a VERY early wake-up. Getting up around 4 a.m. on Wednesday wasn’t pleasant, but the excitement of heading for my first full-event shoot outweighed the sleepiness. The 4-hour drive from Suffolk to RAF Fairford gave me plenty of time to think about the incredible week ahead. Shooting the full event—from arrivals to departures—was an absolute joy, and I know I’m doing this for every future RIAT.

Wednesday & Thursday: Arrivals and Practice Displays

Arriving on Wednesday, the airfield was already alive with activity. As I was assembling the tent at the campsite, I of course had to stop and quickly grab the camera to shoot the arrivals. Teams were setting up, aircraft were taxiing in, and the hum of engines filled the morning air. I spent the day standing underneath the approach, getting some amazing, close-up detail shots of the aircraft passing overhead, ready for the exciting days ahead.

Throughout the week, my kit became as much a part of the experience as the aircraft themselves. I shot the entire event on my Canon R7, pairing it with a Canon EF 70–200mm f/2.8 L IS USM II for the large aircraft and panning shots, and the EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM for the small, fast jets. The 70–200 quickly became my go-to lens while standing under the approach on Wednesday, capturing crisp detail as aircraft thundered overhead, while the 400mm shone during the display days—pulling in distant jets with gorgeous clarity. Shooting all six days with just these two lenses reminded me that you don’t need exotic glass to do RIAT justice—just the right tools and a willingness to chase every moment.

Thursday brought more aircraft in, including practice displays, giving us a special treat: the Spanish Typhoon performed in its striking 2018 NATO Tiger Meet livery. Unfortunately, the aircraft developed a fault and had to revert to an airframe with the ‘standard’ livery for the weekend show days—a minor disappointment visually, but it was fascinating to see how quickly teams adapted.

The static display lineup also offered incredible photographic opportunities. The Pakistani JF-17s were a real standout, drawing huge interest from enthusiasts and photographers alike. The Fiat G.91, making its first UK flight in many years, was a historic moment I was thrilled to capture.

Friday: Pre-Show Chaos and Drama

Friday was an unforgettable day. The Army Air Corps display managed to set a patch of grass on fire during their routine, requiring four fire trucks to bring it under control—a chaotic yet strangely photogenic moment! Despite the unexpected drama, the flying displays continued with incredible energy, giving spectators a taste of the precision and skill that define RIAT. Today we got a Flypast of the U2! This was the first appearance of the Spy-Plane at a European airshow, EVER! This was also my first time spotting a U-2. I heard one on the radio, passing overhead in the Mach Loop back in November, however that was at 50,000 feet so didn’t count!

Unfortunately, the RAF Typhoon display had to abort mid-way through due to an aircraft issue, its things like this that remind us all of the extreme caution that goes into putting on these displays, and the tragedies that could occur if the proper precautions are not in place. We were also supposed to have a flypast of the RAFs new AEW.1 Wedgetail Airborne early warning and control aircraft, developed by Boeing being a modified B737 however, due to unknown reasons, this did not appear and instead the Red Arrows made a flypast on their own, before starting their own display. This was an important weekend for the Reds, since it was Red 10 (Graeme Muscat)s final time commentating the Red Arrows at Fairford. His legendary commentary will be missed by us all. 207 Squadron of the RAF, based at Marham, made an appearance, making a flypast using the STOVL mode on the F-35B.

Saturday & Sunday: Main Display Days

Saturday brought another surprise: we got a second U-2 flypast! Capturing the iconic “Dragon Lady” twice in one event was a real privilege, especially given how rarely it appears in UK skies.

The weekend also included meaningful, emotional moments. The RDAF F-16 display on Sunday was TEO’s final UK performance, marking the end of an era as Denmark transitions from the F-16 to the F-35. The Czech Sokol pair also made one of their final UK displays before their helicopters are retired. These routines added a layer of nostalgia to the already electric atmosphere.

And of course, it wouldn’t be RIAT without checking out the crew swag. The USAF patches were—as always—painfully overpriced but absolutely gorgeous. Runway25 also had some fantastic patches on offer, including the Greek god nose art from the 492nd Fighter Squadron, released after their deployment earlier in February.

Sadly, one of the most anticipated flypasts—the B-1 Lancer—was cancelled. The aircraft suffered a rough landing on Tuesday, putting it out of action for the weekend. However, we did get a unique moment on Monday: a B-1 “Taxi Past”, with the bomber being towed down the runway from its static position to a hangar—a strange sight, but a fitting farewell to its RIAT appearance.

Monday: Departures

Monday was quieter, but no less interesting. Aircraft departed, crews packed up, and photographers captured final waves and taxi movements. The Polish Tiger Demo Team’s pilot SLAB gave us a beautiful wing-wave before he and two other Polish F-16s performed a formation flypast—a farewell to RIAT that became especially poignant after SLAB’s tragic death during a practice display at Radom just a month later.

The drama didn’t end there. The three Spanish Typhoons were forced to return to Fairford shortly after departing, unable to transit through French airspace due to an ATC strike. While inconvenient for them, it gave everyone one last chance to photograph the Tiger livery before they departed again later, finally cleared to head home.

Reflections

Shooting the full RIAT event was a whirlwind of experiences: early mornings, long days, and rare moments that remind me why I love aviation photography. From historic flights to final displays, from unexpected fires to surprise flypasts, RIAT 2025 was packed with stories worth capturing.

The biggest takeaway is simple: photographing the full week transforms RIAT from an airshow into an adventure. And I’m already counting down the days until I get to do it all again next year.