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78-606: The Royal International Air Tattoo ( RIAT ) is the world's largest military airshow , held annually in July, usually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire , England, in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. The show typically attracts a total of 150,000 to 200,000 spectators over the weekend. The first Air Tattoo was staged at North Weald Airfield in Essex in 1971, with just over 100 aircraft taking part. The event

156-421: A Ferrari 308 GTB , a 2015 Toyota Mirai , a 2021 Toyota Mirai , Ferrari F430 , Ferrari 458 Italia , 1984 Porsche 911 Turbo , a 2019 Tesla Model S 100D , a 2016 BMW i3 , and a 2005 Porsche Boxster S (which he claims is the first car he has ever purchased new). May currently owns a 2010 Porsche 911 Carrera S facelift , a 2018 Alpine A110 , a Fiat Panda , a Volkswagen Polo , a Tesla Model 3 Highland ,

234-567: A British Airways Airbus A318 and the British debut of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force 's Kawasaki P-1 , which performed in the flying display, as well as the static park. RIAT 2016 took place from the 8–10 July 2016. This show revolved around the latest generation of military aircraft types. The F-35 Lightning II (both the ' A ' and ' B ' variants) made its UK debut after its cancellation in 2014, and

312-580: A French Aéronavale Dassault Rafale duo; the Italian Air Force 's Frecce Tricolori aerobatic display team, and the RAF's Red Arrows. Visitors on Saturday were treated to a rare flypast by a USAF Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber that had made the round trip from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri , United States. In the static aircraft display there were examples of aircraft from around

390-546: A French Air Force C-135 tanker. RIAT 2020 was due to be staged from 17–19 July 2020, but was cancelled due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic . In its place a 'Virtual Air Tattoo' took place online that weekend, featuring content from past editions of the show as well as virtual displays from aerobatic teams in Digital Combat Simulator . RIAT 2021 was scheduled to take place from 16–18 July 2021, and

468-417: A business venture or as a trade event where aircraft, avionics and other services are promoted to potential customers. Many air shows are held in support of local, national or military charities. Military air firms often organise air shows at military airfields as a public relations exercise to thank the local community, promote military careers and raise the profile of the military. Air "seasons" vary around

546-632: A few stalls on the ground. Air displays can be held during day or night with the latter becoming increasingly popular. Air shows often, but do not always, take place over airfields; some have been held over the grounds of stately homes or castles and over the sea at coastal resorts. The first public international airshow, at which many types of aircraft were displayed and flown, was the Grande Semaine d'Aviation de la Champagne , held Aug. 22–29, 1909 in Reims . This had been preceded by what may have been

624-573: A flypast in formation with the Red Arrows on the Saturday. Sunday saw another pair of flypasts, most notably from the Red Arrows and Patrouille de France , who flew together, both in their 'Concorde' formation, to mark 50 years since the aircraft's first flight. To celebrate the 70th anniversary of NATO, a flypast took place on both Friday and Saturday, consisting of many F-16s and Eurofighter Typhoons from different air arms, three USAF F-15s , and

702-518: A large loss of life, such as the 1988 Ramstein air show disaster (70 deaths) in Germany and the 2002 Sknyliv air show disaster (77 deaths) in Ukraine . Because of these accidents, the various aviation authorities around the world have set rules and guidance for those running and participating in air displays. For example, after the breakup of an aircraft at 1952 Farnborough air show (31 deaths),

780-482: A large range of speeds. Manoeuvres include aileron rolls, barrel rolls, hesitation rolls, Cuban-8s, tight turns, high-alpha flight, a high-speed pass, double Immelmans, and touch-and-gos. Tactical demos may include simulated bomb drops, sometimes with pyrotechnics on the ground for effect. Aircraft with special characteristics that give them unique capabilities will often display those in their demos; For example, Russian fighters with thrust vectoring may be used to perform

858-476: A new line-up of presenters. May presented Inside Killer Sharks , a documentary for Sky , and James May's 20th Century , investigating inventions. He flew in a Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon at a speed of around 1320 mph (2124 km/h) for his television programme, James May's 20th Century . In late 2008, the BBC broadcast James May's Big Ideas , a three-part series in which May travelled around

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936-545: A part-time job as a moulder at the foundry his father was employed at and suggested in a 2017 interview with The Times that this formed his interest in mechanics. During the early 1980s, May worked as a sub-editor for The Engineer and later Autocar magazine, from which he was dismissed for performing a prank. He has since written for several publications, including the regular column England Made Me in Car Magazine , articles for Top Gear magazine, and

1014-552: A prototype 1989 Rover Mini Cooper RSP, "a couple of Land Rovers", a Triumph Stag , a 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale which he ordered following his exit from Top Gear and the VW Beach Buggy used in The Grand Tour Special "The Beach Buggy Boys". He often uses a Brompton folding bicycle for commuting. He passed his driving test on his second attempt and justified this by saying "All the best people pass

1092-493: A race between German model railroad enthusiasts and their British counterparts. The two teams would start at opposite ends along double tracked mainline. This time, the effort succeeded with both teams successfully running three trains the entire route. A special Christmas Episode called Flight Club , aired in December 2012. In this special, James and his team built a huge toy glider that flew 22 miles (35 km) from Devon to

1170-591: A relationship since 2000. In July 2010, May was awarded an honorary doctorate by Lancaster University , where he had previously studied music. He holds a Doctor of Letters degree. In August 2014, May was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote against independence from the United Kingdom in September's referendum on that issue . In June 2016, he supported Remain in

1248-572: A small, bedsit -like kitchen setup called "The Bug-out Bunker". The channel has since been rebranded as "What Next?" May became an Internet meme when one of his Foodtribe videos went viral. In it, while preparing to make two cheese sandwiches, May bluntly uttered the word "cheese" after placing a block of Red Leicester on a table. The quote went viral, and was used in various memes and image macros. May lives in Hammersmith , West London , with art critic Sarah Frater, with whom he has been in

1326-777: A smaller crowd than usual of 138,000 attend the show. The pilot of the SoloTürk team, Murat Keleş was honoured with the highest award, the King Hussein Memorial Sword for the Best Overall Flying Demonstration. RIAT 2012 was held on 7–8 July 2012 . It saw the debut of Royal Air Force 's largest-ever aircraft, the Airbus Voyager ; its new aerial refuelling multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft, which are military-converted Airbus A330 wide-body airliners. Another debut

1404-712: A special "Dambusters Tribute Flypast " featuring an Avro Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight accompanied by a Panavia Tornado and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft, all operated by the No. 617 Squadron RAF . Other flying highlights included displays by the USAF Heritage Flight ; a Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27; a Royal Canadian Air Force McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet ;

1482-430: A tribute to Raymond Baxter . Notes From The Hard Shoulder and James May's 20th Century , a book to accompany the television series of the same name, were published in 2007. In an interview with Richard Allinson on BBC Radio 2 , May confessed that in 1992 he was dismissed from Autocar magazine after putting together an acrostic in one issue. At the end of the year, the magazine's "Road Test Yearbook" supplement

1560-585: A variety of other aeronautical attractions as well, such as wing-walking, radio-controlled aircraft, water/slurry drops from firefighting aircraft, simulated helicopter rescues and sky diving . Specialist aerobatic aircraft have powerful piston engines, light weight and big control surfaces, making them capable of very high roll rates and accelerations. A skilled pilot will be able to climb vertically, perform very tight turns, tumble his aircraft end-over-end and perform manoeuvres during loops. Larger airshows can be headlined by military jet demonstration teams, such as

1638-533: A weekly column in The Daily Telegraph . He has written the book May on Motors (2006), which is a collection of his published articles, and co-authored Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure (2006), based on the TV series of the same name. He wrote the afterword to Long Lane with Turnings , published in September 2006, the final book by motoring writer L. J. K. Setright . In the same month, he co-presented

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1716-995: Is EAA AirVenture Oshkosh , with approximately 10,000 aircraft participating annually. The biggest military airshow in the world is the Royal International Air Tattoo , at RAF Fairford in England . On the other hand, FIDAE in II Air Brigade of the FACH , next to the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago , Chile , is the largest aerospace fair in Latin America and the Southern Hemisphere . Some airshows are held as

1794-400: Is a whole raft of legislation concerning health & safety, in particular corporate manslaughter , which can involve the event organiser being charged with a criminal offence if any of the insurances and risk assessments are not fully completed well in advance of the event. Rules govern the distance from the crowds that aircraft must fly. These vary according to the rating of the pilot/crew,

1872-478: Is an English television presenter and journalist. He is best known as a co-presenter, alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond , of the motoring programme Top Gear from 2003 until 2015 and the television series The Grand Tour for Amazon Prime Video from 2016 to 2024. He also served as a director of the production company W. Chump & Sons. May has presented other programmes on themes including travel, science & technology, toys, wine culture, and

1950-525: Is another travel documentary with James May on a journey throughout the country of India. In October 2024, May confirmed the series was cancelled. May created Head Squeeze (now renamed "BBC Earth Lab"; May no longer features as a presenter). The channel is a mix of science, technology, history and current affairs. The first video was published in December 2012. Videos are produced by 360 Production for BBC Worldwide . May created his own YouTube channel, titled "JM's Unemployment Tube", in 2015 after Top Gear

2028-658: The EU referendum . May has described his political leanings as " liberal ". In 2020, May bought half the ownership of a pub in Swallowcliffe , Wiltshire called The Royal Oak, which dates from the early 18th century and is a Grade II listed historic site. May has owned many cars. These include a 2005 Saab 9-5 Aero , Bentley T2 , Rolls-Royce Phantom , Triumph 2000 , Rover P6 , Alfa Romeo 164 , 1971 Rolls-Royce Corniche , Triumph Vitesse , Jaguar XJS , 1992 Range Rover Classic Vogue, Datsun 120Y , Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 ,

2106-527: The cobra maneuver or the Kulbit , while VTOL aircraft such as the Harrier may display such vertical capabilities or perform complex maneuvers with them. Some military air shows also feature demonstrations of aircraft ordnance in airstrikes and close air support , using either blanks or live munitions . Air shows may present some risk to spectators and aviators. Accidents have occurred, sometimes with

2184-500: The magnetic North Pole in 2007, using a modified Toyota Hilux . In the words of Clarkson, he was the first person to go there "who didn't want to be there". He also drove a modified Toyota Hilux up the side of the erupting volcano Eyjafjallajökull . Following the BBC's decision not to renew Jeremy Clarkson 's contract with the show on 25 March 2015, May stated in April 2015 that he would not continue to present Top Gear as part of

2262-789: The "off-season" does not mean a period of inactivity; pilots and performers use this time for maintenance and practice. The type of displays seen at shows are constrained by a number of factors, including the weather and visibility. Most aviation authorities now publish rules and guidance on minimum display heights and criteria for differing conditions. In addition to the weather, pilots and organizers must also consider local airspace restrictions. Most exhibitors will plan "full", "rolling" and "flat" display for varying weather and airspace conditions. The types of shows vary greatly. Some are large scale military events with large flying displays and ground exhibitions while others held at small local airstrips can often feature just one or two hours of flying with just

2340-552: The "star" of the show, a replica Messerschmitt Me 262 , making its only flying appearance on Sunday. Further highlights were the return of an Italian A-129 Mangusta , a Spanish Navy McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II , a rare appearance of an American WC-130J Weatherbird, and the return of the Al Fursan display team from the UAE since their last appearance in 2012. RIAT 2024 was staged from 19–21 July 2024. The main theme celebrated

2418-664: The 150th anniversary of Cadets . Nine members of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and three members of the New Zealand Air Training Corps were invited to the event for the first time, as part of the International Air Cadet Exchange . The F-22 Raptor also appeared in its first RIAT flying display since 2008's cancelled show. Notable visitors to the 2010 show included James May and David Jason . RIAT 2011

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2496-589: The 2007 series , he took a Bugatti Veyron to its top speed of 253 mph (407 km/h), then in 2010 he achieved 259.11 mph (417 km/h) in the Veyron's newer 16.4 Super Sport edition. In an earlier episode he also tested the original version of the Bugatti Veyron against the Pagani Zonda F . May, along with co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson and an Icelandic support crew, travelled by car to

2574-623: The 50th anniversary of the F-16 Fighting Falcon with other themes commemorating the 75th anniversary of NATO and the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force . On 24 July 1993, two MiG-29 Fulcrums of the Russian Air Force collided in mid-air and crashed away from the public. No one was hurt. After ejecting , the two pilots landed safely. Investigators later determined that pilot error

2652-478: The 60th anniversary of NATO by charting its history in chronological order. The show also featured a Search and Rescue display to recognise the significance of missions undertaken by the aircraft and people that undertake these jobs. The show reportedly had over 160,000 spectators. RIAT 2010 was held on 17–18 July 2010. The themes for the show were the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain , Training Aircraft and

2730-599: The 70th anniversary of NATO. Notable appearances included the Turkish Air Force F-4 Phantom on static display, a flying display from the heavily upgraded Romanian Air Force MiG-21 LanceR-C , designed in the 1950s, and the Spanish Navy 's EAV-8B Matador II Plus on flying display. 2019 marked the centenary of British Airways, and, as such, a British Airways Boeing 747 in BOAC livery performed

2808-613: The Hellenic Air Force, a second Ukrainian Su-27 and an Ilyushin Il-76 . The USAF provided many aircraft for static including a B-1 Lancer , B-52 Stratofortress and a Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. RIAT 2018 was staged over 13–15 July 2018. The 2018 show featured 302 aircraft from 43 air arms and 30 nations, and featured a celebration of the centenary of the founding of the Royal Air Force. The show included

2886-741: The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor also made a rare appearance. Other acts included the Swedish Air Force Saab Gripen and French Air Force Dassault Rafale . Notable static display items included the Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom , the first UK airshow appearance of a German Air Force Airbus A400M and the last airshow appearance of the QinetiQ Alpha Jet . RIAT 2017 took place between 14–17 July 2017. The show

2964-585: The Moon. This was followed by another documentary on BBC Four called James May at the Edge of Space , where May was flown to the stratosphere (70,000 ft) in a US Air Force Lockheed U-2 spy plane. Highlights of the footage from the training for the flight, and the flight itself was used in James May on the Moon , but was shown fully in this programme. This made him one of the highest flying people, along with

3042-415: The RAF and RAF Regiment in front of selected guests and VIPs . A week of heavy rainfall made the already-waterlogged car parks and parts of the airfield unusable. Safety concerns for the hundreds of thousands of expected visitors led the organisers to a last-minute cancellation of the public section of RIAT for the first time in the show's history. RIAT 2009 was held on 18–19 July 2009. The show celebrated

3120-690: The United States Navy Blue Angels , United States Air Force Thunderbirds , Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds , Royal Air Force Red Arrows , and Swiss Air Force Patrouille Suisse , among many others. Solo military demos, also known as tactical demos, feature one aircraft. The demonstration focuses on the capabilities of modern military aircraft . The display will usually demonstrate the aircraft's very short (and often very loud) rolls, fast speeds, slow approach speeds, as well as their ability to quickly make tight turns, to climb quickly, and their ability to be precisely controlled at

3198-552: The aircraft bounced up and came back heavily on the nose wheel, which then collapsed. The crew evacuated the aircraft safely and the show was paused while the runway was cleared of the damaged aircraft. Airshow The largest air show measured by number of exhibitors and size of exhibit space is Le Bourget , followed by Farnborough , with the Dubai Airshow and Singapore Airshow both claiming third place. The largest air show or fly-in by number of participating aircraft

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3276-599: The country which has intrigued him for a long time. During the trip through major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto , he is accompanied by a cast of different guides and translators. A second series, James May: Our Man in Italy , is a travel documentary with May on a journey throughout the regions of Italy from Palermo to the Dolomites on a trip exploring the culture, food, and more. A third series, James May: Our Man in India ,

3354-547: The first deliveries of the Airbus A380 to British Airways , both of which flew in formation with the Royal Air Force Red Arrows aerobatic team over the show weekend. RIAT 2013 was also notable due to the lack of U.S. military aircraft represented at the event, due to U.S. government sequestration . RIAT 2014 took place 11–13 July 2014; the first time in its history that the show has been open to

3432-583: The first ever gathering of enthusiasts, June 28 – July 19 of the same year at the airfield at La Brayelle , near Douai . Before World War II , air shows were associated with long-distance air races, often lasting many days and covering thousands of miles. While the Reno Air Races keep this tradition alive, most air shows today primarily feature a series of aerial demos of short duration. Most air shows feature warbirds , aerobatics, and demonstrations of modern military aircraft, and many air shows offer

3510-453: The gender divide of toy appeal. In series 3, episode 3 of Gordon Ramsay 's The F Word , May managed to beat Ramsay in eating bull penis and rotten shark and with his fish pie recipe. May was briefly a co-presenter of the original Top Gear series in 1999. During an interview in 2020, Jeremy Clarkson claimed that the show's original producers had decided to replace him with May in 1999, though they felt dissatisfied with May as he

3588-476: The globe in search of implementations for concepts widely considered science fiction. He also presented James May's Man Lab from 2010–2013. In 2013, May narrated To Space & Back , a documentary on the influence of developments in space exploration on modern technology produced by Sky-Skan and The Franklin Institute . James May on the Moon (BBC 2, 2009) commemorated 40 years since man first landed on

3666-677: The ground. To gain such authorisations, the pilots will have to demonstrate to an examiner that they can perform to those limits without endangering themselves, ground crew or spectators. Despite display rules and guidances, accidents have continued to happen. However, air show accidents are rare and where there is proper supervision air shows have impressive safety records. Each year, organizations such as International Council of Air Shows and European Airshow Council meet and discuss various subjects including air show safety where accidents are discussed and lessons learned. James May Former employers: James Daniel May (born 16 January 1963)

3744-529: The island of Lundy . In 2013, May created a life-size, fully functional motorcycle and sidecar made entirely out of the construction toy Meccano . Joined by Oz Clarke , he then completed a full lap of the Isle of Man TT Course , a full 37 + 3 ⁄ 4 mile-long circuit. In late 2006, the BBC broadcast Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure , a series in which May, a committed bitter drinker, travelled around France with wine expert Oz Clarke . A second series

3822-471: The legacy of Bader. The 2008 airshow was to feature two themes, the 90th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force and Global Engagement and was scheduled to be held on 12–13 July. The USAF Air Combat Command 's F-22 Raptor Demo Team had made the first trans-Atlantic flight for the new stealth aircraft to participate in the show. On 11 July, the day before the air show opened to the public, Queen Elizabeth II presented, in poor weather conditions, new colours to

3900-483: The magazine's management called for May to be fired. His past television credits include presenting Driven on Channel 4 in 1998, narrating an eight-part BBC One series called Road Rage School , and co-hosting the ITV1 coverage of the 2006 London Boat Show . He also wrote and presented a Christmas special called James May's Top Toys (for BBC One). James May: My Sisters' Top Toys attempted to investigate

3978-426: The message: "So you think it's really good, yeah? You should try making the bloody thing up; it's a real pain in the arse." In a 2019 interview with Carscoops.com, May stated that while the hidden message originally passed through the magazine's pre-printing review processes unnoticed, he was found out when readers began calling in to Autocar 's offices, thinking there might be a prize involved. Upon learning of this,

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4056-568: The pilot, at that time, after the crew of the International Space Station . Beginning in October 2009, May presented a six-part TV series showing favourite toys of the past era and whether they can be applied in the modern-day. The toys featured were Airfix , Plasticine , Meccano , Scalextric , Lego and Hornby . In each show, May attempts to take each toy to its limits, also fulfilling several of his boyhood dreams in

4134-721: The plight of manliness in modern times. He wrote a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph ' s motoring section from 2003 to 2011. James Daniel May was born in Bristol , the son of aluminium factory manager James May and his wife Kathleen. He was one of four children; he has two sisters and a brother. May attended Caerleon Endowed Junior School in Newport . He spent his teenage years in South Yorkshire where he attended Oakwood Comprehensive School in Rotherham and

4212-469: The process. In August 2009, May built a full-sized house out of Lego at Denbies Wine Estate in Surrey. Plans for Legoland to move it to their theme park fell through in September 2009 because costs to deconstruct, move and then rebuild were too high; despite a final Facebook appeal for someone to take it, it was demolished on 22 September, with the plastic bricks planned to be donated to charity. Also for

4290-478: The public on a Friday. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II was to make its anticipated European debut but was grounded in the U. S. due to an engine failure before it could cross the Atlantic. Highlights of 2014's show included a pair of Polish Air Force Sukhoi Su-22 Fitters along with celebrations for the 50th display season of the Red Arrows. RIAT 2015 was staged from 17–19 July 2015. The show's main theme

4368-405: The separation between display and spectators was increased. Air displays are often monitored by aviation authorities to ensure safe procedures. In the United Kingdom, local authorities will first need to approve any application for an event to which the public is admitted. The first priority must be to arrange insurance cover and details can be obtained from local authorities. An added complication

4446-532: The series, he recreated the banked track at Brooklands using Scalextric track, and an attempt at the world's longest working model railway along the Tarka Trail between Barnstaple and Bideford in North Devon, although the attempt was foiled due to parts of the track being stolen and vandals placing coins on the track, causing a short circuit. Later, in 2011, May tried for the record again, proposing

4524-491: The type of aircraft and the way the aircraft is being flown. For instance, slower, lighter aircraft are usually allowed closer and lower to the crowd than larger, faster types. Also, a fighter jet flying straight and level will be able to do so closer to the crowd and lower than if it were performing a roll or a loop. Pilots can get authorizations for differing types of displays (e.g., limbo flying, basic aerobatics to unlimited aerobatics) and to differing minimum base heights above

4602-579: The world including debut appearances by an Embraer KC-390 from Brazil, a Kawasaki C-2 from Japan and an HH-101A variant of the AgustaWestland AW101 tactical helicopter from the Italian Air Force. RIAT 2019 was staged from 19–21 July 2019, with 245 aircraft in attendance. The theme for the 2019 show was 'Air and Space, inspiring the next generation air force' and Tim Peake was among the guest speakers. The show also celebrated

4680-590: The world's military, taking place the week after the annual Global Air & Space Chiefs' Conference in London and the week before the bi-annual Farnborough Airshow which occurs in 'even' years. RIAT allows the military aerospace industry to showcase its products to both the general public and customers in a more relaxed environment outside the commercial selling pressure of the Farnborough trade show. The Farnborough show also restricts public attendance, in 2022 this

4758-528: The world. The United States enjoys a long season that generally runs from March to November, covering the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Other countries often have much shorter seasons. In Japan air shows are generally events held at Japan Air Self-Defense Force bases regularly throughout the year. The European season usually starts in late April or Early May and is usually over by mid October. The Middle East , Australia , and New Zealand hold their events between January and March. However, for many acts,

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4836-641: Was 'Training the Next Generation Air Force' but it also focused on the 75th Anniversary of the USAF, which included a rare appearance of the Boeing E-4 performing a flypast on the Friday and being on static display over the weekend. The Airbus BelugaXL made its Air Tattoo debut on the Saturday, performing two flypasts. One of the special guests of this year was actor Tom Cruise . RIAT 2023

4914-427: Was a choirboy at Whiston Parish Church. May studied music at Pendle College , Lancaster University , where he learned to play the flute and piano; he also spent a year studying metalwork at a technical college. After graduating, May briefly worked at a hospital in Chelsea as a records officer and had a short stint in the civil service before taking up journalism and broadcasting in his thirties. He also held

4992-416: Was a tribute to the 70th anniversary of the United States Air Force (USAF) and saw the return of the Thunderbirds demonstration team for the first time in 10 years. The show featured a special flypast from the USAF that included a C-130 Hercules , three F-15E Strike Eagles , two F-16 Fighting Falcons , a KC-135 Stratotanker and on the Sunday a special appearance from a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. There

5070-480: Was also a display from the F-22 Raptor on the Sunday of the show. A Sea King Helicopter from the Belgian Air Component performed a search and rescue demo. The flying display also saw the Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27 as a last minute addition as well as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Avro Lancaster bomber flying with three Spitfires and a Hurricane in a formation known as Thompson formation. Notable static displays included two F-4 Phantoms from

5148-491: Was broadcast in late 2007, this time with May and Clarke in the Californian wine country, and was followed by a third series in 2009 called Oz and James Drink to Britain . In January 2020, May hosted a travel documentary named James May: Our Man in Japan , the 6-episode series was released on Amazon Prime Video and follows May's journey from the north end of Japan to its south. Over the course of three months, May explores and participate in many activities to truly understand

5226-439: Was due to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the show. However, it was cancelled for the second year running due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of restrictions on both large crowds and international travel being in place by then. After two years of being cancelled, RIAT 2022 was staged from 15–17 July 2022 and featured 266 aircraft. The show heavily focused on training aircraft as this years operational theme

5304-431: Was founded by Paul Bowen and Timothy Prince , who were CAA air traffic controllers , and Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling . From 1973 to 1983 it was held intermittently at RAF Greenham Common , initially under the title of the Royal Air Forces Association, South Eastern Area, Air Tattoo before moving to RAF Fairford in 1985. The show became the International Air Tattoo in 1976, and recognition of its unique status

5382-441: Was granted by Elizabeth II in 1996, when the current Royal International Air Tattoo title was adopted. The event has had a number of air show firsts, including the first display and landing of the B-2A Spirit stealth bomber outside the United States of America during the 1997 "50 Years of the USAF " event and in 2008 the first landing of the Lockheed F-22 Raptor in Europe. The RIAT has evolved into an important showcase for

5460-455: Was held on 16–17 July 2011. This Air Tattoo looked back over the past four decades as it celebrated the show's 40th anniversary with a series of special aerial displays and ground entertainment. It also hosted a gathering of specially-decorated "Tiger" aircraft from the NATO Tiger Association . Tiger aircraft came from NATO squadrons that have a Tiger or Big Cat in their emblem and their association marked its 50th anniversary in 2011. RIAT 2011 saw

5538-477: Was postponed by the BBC following Jeremy Clarkson's dismissal. Mainly featuring cooking videos filmed from his kitchen, as well as mock builds of Airfix models, the channel has over 230,000 subscribers as of March 2021. In 2016, May launched, with his former Top Gear presenters, a social network for motoring fans called DriveTribe . In 2019, May moved on to created videos on a Drivetribe spin-off brand Foodtribe (replacing JM's Unemployment Tube) frequently using

5616-468: Was published. Each spread featured four reviews and each review started with a large red letter (known in typography as an initial or a drop cap ). May's role was to put the entire supplement together. To alleviate the tedium, May wrote each review such that the initials on the first four spreads read "ROAD", "TEST", "YEAR" and "BOOK". Subsequent spreads seemingly had random letters, starting with "SOYO" and "UTHI"; when punctuated, these letters spelt out

5694-571: Was soon fired in 2000, shortly before the entire program was cancelled the following year. Following the first season of the show's relaunch in 2002, Clarkson managed to convince Andrew Wilman to rehire him to replace Jason Dawe . He first co-presented the revived series of Top Gear in its second series in 2003, where he earned the nickname "Captain Slow" owing to his careful driving style, and his OCD -like obsessions with order. Despite this sobriquet, he has done some especially high-speed driving – in

5772-424: Was staged from 14–16 July 2023. The theme for RIAT 2023 was SKYTANKER23, focusing on aircraft capable of performing air-to-air refuelling as 2023 is the centenary of the first air-to-air refuelling. Also the 100th anniversary of the Italian Air Force was celebrated with a large number of Italian aircraft. Heavy rain and high winds saw the cancellation of many of the planned flying displays on Friday and Saturday, with

5850-662: Was the Black Eagles aerobatic team from South Korea and Japan became the 54th nation to participate at the tattoo with the arrival of one of its four Boeing KC-767Js operated by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force , which also brought the JASDF Taiko Drummers to the show. RIAT 2013 took place on 20–21 July 2013. Invitations of participation were distributed to over 70 countries. The programme featured an Airbus A400M Atlas and one of

5928-481: Was the cause, after one pilot did a reverse loop and disappeared into the clouds, the other one lost sight of his wingman and aborted the routine. In 2002 a G-222 of the Italian Air Force made a hard landing after demonstrating a steep descent approach, also known as the "Sarajevo approach", developed for the airbridge for supplying Sarajevo during its blockade in the Bosnian War . After initial touchdown

6006-614: Was the celebration of 75 years since the Battle of Britain took place in the summer of 1940. RIAT 2015 also marked the last year of Avro Vulcan XH558 's airworthiness, being retired later in the year. The show also paid tribute to 35 years of the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment , with three aircraft performing flypasts over the weekend. Other participants included the Finnish Air Force F/A-18C Hornet ,

6084-529: Was to a single day with free entry for under-21s to promote aerospace careers/recruitment. As an extension to the Air Tattoo, Bowen and Price started the Flying Scholarship for Disabled People in 1983 in memory of Douglas Bader , who was a war hero and pilot despite losing his legs in an aerobatic crash. They have given over 400 scholarships to people with all types of disabilities and carry on

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