The Royal International Air Tattoo organization managed to put together in 2012 one of the best line-ups of aircraft in recent years. Aircraft at the static display included the amazing B-2 Spirit, returning to Fairford for the first time since 1999, the C-5 Galaxy, one of the largest aircraft in the world, and an exciting mix of rare and new aircraft from across the globe.

Despite happening during one of the wettest weekends in the summer, the event took place almost entirely without rain. Back in 2008, it was the storm conditions that ultimately led to the cancellation of the airshow for the first time. The car parking could not cope with the amount of water that came down 2 days before the event.

Attracting most of the attention was the USAF Global Strike Command B-2A Spirit from Whiteman AFB. The aircraft arrived after an eleven hour trip to mark the first static appearance of the aircraft at the Tattoo since 1999. At the opposite end of the static display a Boeing KC-767J tanker from the Japanese Air Self Defence Force, marked the first time a Japanese military aircraft had appeared in public in the UK.

The flying display, which lasted eight hours on each day, showed some of the best acrobatic teams in the world. The display included the Royal Air Force Red Arrows, the Patrouille Suisse, the Al Fursan from the United Arab Emirates, and making their first western appearance, the Black Eagles, the acrobatic team from South Korea flying eight KAI T-50B Golden Eagles. The Avro Vulcan XH558 made its first display of the year following the replacement of 2 of its engines.

The Royal Air Force naturally took centre stage to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee by performing the "EIIR" formation of 27 Hawk aircraft.

RAF Fairford Airbase

United Kingdom - July 2012