Saab JAS-39 Gripen, quite a success on the export market, countries like Czech Republic (14), Hungary, South Africa, Thailand, are enthusiastically operating this most manoeuvrable jet fighter. Brazil has 36 on order yet (with an option to buy another 36). Multiple other countries show their interest in purchasing the aircraft. This Swedish JAS39C shows its sleek lines at the RIAT after its display.

An almost horrific scene, an enormous carefully plannend kinetic explosion was created on the ground at the end of a splendid Apache AH1 demonstration flight during this years's RIAT.

Only just withdrawn from use when it was pictured at a platform at Edwards (the fin tip of the aircraft was temporarly cannibalized to keep another prototype in the air), this B-1A prototype in a great camouflage jacket. The 74-0158 made its first flight on 23 December 1974 as the first of four prototypes of the Lancer from Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale (CA). By the time that the B-1A programme was cancelled, 0158 had made 79 flights totaling 405,3 hours. It was eventually dismantled and used for weapons training at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado.

RAF Manston (UK) open day yield this Torrejon air base (Spain) based F-16A of the 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron.

This F-4E flew with the 457th Tactical Fighter Squadron from Carswell AFB (TX). This base was later renamed to Naval Air Station , Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. The 457th, part of the Air Force Reserves (AFRes) flew with the squadron until March 1991 after which is was stored at Davis Monthan (as FP0622). In 2007 it was selected for the QF-4E programme and delivered to the 82d Aerial Targets Squadron (ATRS) at Tyndall in 2008. The Phantom was shot down (unmanned) over the Gulf of Mexico on 11 March 2010. Check the 7th Bomb Wing B-52Hs on the back ground, these were also based at Carswell.

A "Spads" F-4E at the flight line of Carswell AFB (TX) in Aug'89. The 457th started to fly the F-4D in 1981 and converted to the F-4E in 1987. These birds were swapped to F-16A/B Block 25 in 1991. The tailcode of the F-4Es stands for "Texas Humpbacks" (the F-16s now fly with TX tailcode). This 67-0392 is marked with two MiG-kills and a fine Texas flag over the intake. While operating with the 469th TFS from Korat, Thailand, this F-4E shot down a MiG-19 (or J-6) with an AIM-7E-2 "Sparrow" on 2 September 1972 and out manoeuvered a MiG-19 (or J-6) on 6 October 1972 that subsequently crashed.

This Ukrainian Air Force dual seat Su-27UB was modified to UB1M and since then sports a great digital camouflage design.

Two Ukrainian Air Force Su-27s full afterburner, leaving home after a succesful RIAT. The single seater, nearest to the camera, a Su-27P1M, and the dual seat Su-27UB both belong to the 831st Guards Tactical Aviation Brigade based at Myrhorod (Ukraine).

This F-16BM of 331 Skv received special colors as the RNoAF celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2019. Norway was inspired to paint this F-16 in the colors of an aircraft they once used: Spitfire IX, PL258 FN-K, of 331 (Norwegian) Squadron. This Spit has a Norwegian wartime history. FN-K crash landed on 29 Dec 1944 near Tubbergen (Netherlands). Remains of the wreckage were located by a team of the Norwegian Spitfire Foundation. These remains now form the core of a restoration project (temporary registration G-NSFS) that will become PL258/FN-K in Norway. The F-16 also sports D-Day stripings. To Romania with serial 1649 on 28 Jun'24

As Airbus Military reports: The A400M "Atlas" is the most advanced, proven and certified airlifter available, combining 21st century state-of-the-art technologies to fulfil the current and upcoming armed forces' needs. The A400M combines the capability to carry strategic loads with the ability to deliver even into tactical locations with small and unprepared airstrips and can act as a frontline-tanker. One aircraft that can do the work of three - the A400M. And I think they are right, and besides that, it's a beautiful aircraft too!

A fine buff at the static park of the RIAT 2019. Watch the massive paint damage on the leading edges of the wings, the inlets of the engines and the tail. The cockpit section was also damaged like this. A pilot said, "well probably some hail damage during a previous flight, I'm sorry about that but this was the aircraft we got assigned". This B-52H Stratofortress is alsmost 60 years old and flies out of Barksdale AFB (LA).

Great take-off of true Air Power! An F-15E Strike Eagle of the 48th Fighter Wing, 494th Fighter Squadron seen while departing the RIAT 2019. The pilots show proudly the US flag as well as their wings to the photographers. These massive wings only already measure some 610 square feet (some 57 square meters) of surface area! Roughly the size to park six BMW 3 series on...

An F-15C of the 22nd Tactical Fighter Squadron "Bumblebee" at the taxy way of RAF Alconbury (UK). The squadron was part of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing based at Bitburg airbase (Germany).

What a history the 78th TFS has, established at Waco (TX) in 1917 operating the JN-4/-6 Jenny, followed by S-4 (from '18), P-12 ('32), P-26 Peashooter ('40), P-36 Hawk ('40), P-40 Warhawk ('41), P-39 Aircobra ('42), P-47 Thunderbolt ('44) and P-51 Mustang ('44) before starting flying jets the F-86 Sabre ('52), F-84 Thunderjet ('54), F-101 Voodoo ('58), F-4 Phantom II ('65) and these A-10A Thunderbolt II ('79). In the final years of ops out of Woodbridge, the 78th flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon (1994). It converted to MQ-1 Predator (2006) and now flies MQ-9 Reapers out of Creech AFB (NV)

Great demo flight of a "Bitte ein Bit" Bitburg F-15C of the 22nd Tactical Fighter Squadron "Bumblebee", part of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing based at Bitburg airbase (Germany). In 1980, the more advanced F-15Cs and F-15Ds replaced the original F-15A and F-15Bs.

The once unarmed recce mission continues to be so attractive (to me). Intell directs recce bird FIRST IN for exact targeting purposes, bird take pictures of target(s), bird return to base, ground crew develops the wet film, commanders assess target, necessary data transferred to the bombers squadrons, recce bird take-off again - following the wave of bombers - to execute the battle damage assessment mission, so LAST OUT! The PR9 of the Royal Air Force had that great mission. This Canberra PR9 was assigned to No,1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, operating out of RAF Wyton.

An Unusual Boeing N2S-5 Stearman Kaydet (E75) with a cockpit canopy, what a beautiful aircraft! Pictured during the USAFE open house at Alconbury in its original livery.