This year’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford is set to make history as the iconic Red Arrows perform using sustainable fuels for the first time ever. The event, running from Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 20, expects to attract over 170,000 aviation enthusiasts eager to witness this groundbreaking display.
For the first time in any national aerobatic team’s history, the Red Arrows will fly powered not only by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) but also a renewable biofuel called Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). These fuels will create the Red Arrows’ signature vapour trails while significantly reducing environmental impact.
Joining the Red Arrows in using SAF will be the RAF Typhoon display team, which debuted its routine on SAF at last year’s RIAT in another historic milestone.
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Kate McKinley, Director of People and Sustainability at Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, expressed her excitement: “We are thrilled to have the Red Arrows performing on sustainable fuel at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo. Their world-renowned nine-ship formation is a perfect highlight for the event here at RAF Fairford. Following last year’s successful public SAF display with the Typhoons, adding the Red Arrows this year enhances our commitment to sustainability and innovation.”
Over the weekend, the Red Arrows will deliver three performances powered by SAF, plus participate in various special formation flypasts. These historic runs follow their inaugural public flight on sustainable fuel last month during HM King Charles’ official birthday celebrations over London.
Squadron Leader Andy King, the Red Arrows’ Senior Engineering Officer and leader of the pioneering fuels project, emphasized the significance: “The Royal International Air Tattoo’s mission to inspire future aviators perfectly aligns with the Red Arrows’ commitment to sustainability. Showcasing world-leading sustainable fuel technology on such a platform underlines the team’s dedication to thrilling aerobatics combined with environmental responsibility.”
The success of these flights is made possible through collaboration with Air Space Intelligence, Intel Foundry, Team Lewis, along with fuel suppliers Power Electrics and AFS Aviation.