For as long as I can remember, July has meant one thing: RIAT.

The Royal International Air Tattoo isn’t just a day out in our family — it’s tradition, nostalgia, excitement, and now, something I get to share with my own daughter.

I’ve been going since 1994. I was just a baby the first time I attended, and apart from the year it was cancelled due to bad weather — and the two cancelled during the pandemic — I’ve never missed one.

That’s over three decades of walking through the gates at RAF Fairford and feeling that same little spark of excitement.

And now? My two-and-a-half-year-old will be attending for her third year. Which, when you think about it, isn’t bad going at all.

My Earliest Memories of RIAT

Some of my first clear memories are walking through the static park and seeing row after row of aircraft. All shapes. All sizes. Jets towering above me. Helicopters you could stand beneath. Huge transport aircraft that made you feel impossibly small.

There is nothing quite like the static line at RIAT. It’s overwhelming in the best possible way.

I didn’t just stumble into aviation. My mum and dad had been attending the Royal International Air Tattoo for years before I was even born. It was already part of our family culture. I was simply brought along for the ride — and I’ve never stopped going.

Growing up, RIAT was the highlight of the year. Not Christmas. Not birthdays. RIAT.

The Years It Didn’t Happen

The one year it was cancelled due to bad weather? I was gutted.

When something is such a huge annual marker in your life, its absence feels strange. But even as a child, I understood it wouldn’t have been safe to continue.

The pandemic years were different again. Missing two consecutive Royal International Air Tattoos felt surreal. But I genuinely appreciated the effort that went into creating a virtual show — packed full of archive footage, pilot interviews and behind-the-scenes features.

It was also the first time I could finally put a face to the commentator, Ben, whose voice had been the soundtrack to my summers for years.

It wasn’t the same. It never could be. But it reminded me just how special the RIAT community is.

How RIAT Has Changed Since 1994

Absolutely everything has changed — and yet somehow it’s still the same.

Back in the 90s, you’d order your tickets at your local information centre. They would physically send off for them. You’d wait for them to arrive. It felt like an event before the event.

Now? You book online in minutes.

Technology across the show itself has advanced massively too. Aircraft are more sophisticated. Displays are more dynamic. The Techno Zone and RAF Village now offer interactive experiences that simply didn’t exist when I was younger.

Security has understandably tightened over the years. It’s 100% searches — every bag, every person wanded. But rather than feeling intimidating, it’s reassuring. It reflects the world we live in today and shows how seriously the event is managed.

And that management is part of why RIAT works so well.

Why I Still Go Every Single Year

Part of it is nostalgia.

Part of it is that genuine fear of missing out and watching it all unfold on social media instead of being there.

But mostly? It’s the feeling.

There is a buzz at the Royal International Air Tattoo that is unlike anything else. It’s thousands of like-minded people gathered together, celebrating aviation, history, technology and shared passion.

It reminds me a little of football supporters supporting the same team. Except instead of chants, it’s jet noise.

It’s also about the friendships. The familiar faces. The campsite chats. The volunteers who recognise you. The pilots who remember signing your programme years before.

It’s community.

From One Day to a Full Week

I used to attend for just one day.

Now? We make a week of it.

We camp just ten minutes’ walk away — perfectly positioned for catching the arrivals earlier in the week. And honestly, the arrivals are half the magic. Seeing aircraft come in that may only ever appear on static display adds another layer to the experience.

Being one of the first through the gates and one of the last to leave has become part of our rhythm.

Sensible shoes are non-negotiable. It’s a lot of walking.

Taking My Daughter to RIAT

Taking my daughter to RIAT for the first time was magical — and nerve-wracking.

She’d been to smaller airshows before, but nothing on this scale. I was excited but also slightly anxious about how she’d cope.

Last year she had only just learnt to walk the week before the show, so thankfully she hadn’t quite found her speed yet.

This year? She runs like Usain Bolt. It will be a completely different experience.

But what surprised me most was how interested she was in everything. She loved the Navy Wings tent and kept asking to go back — which felt even more special as they’re local to us.

Like most children, she adores the Red Arrows. But honestly, she watches everything.

Ear defenders are always packed, even if she refuses to keep them on.

She’s too young to understand that this is a tradition stretching back generations. But one day she will.

And when that day comes, I hope she feels the same magic I do.

Why RIAT Is a Brilliant Family Day Out

If you’re wondering whether the Royal International Air Tattoo is suitable for families, the answer is absolutely yes.

I was three months old at my first show. Nellie was six months old.

There are:

• Plenty of toilets
• Huge food variety
• Space for picnics
• Dedicated family zones
• The Techno Zone
• The RAF Village
• Static aircraft to explore up close

It’s completely manageable with a buggy.

The key is preparation.

Pack for all weathers — suncream, waterproofs, layers. Take snacks. Take small toys for queues. Get there early before security queues build. Remember that you won’t realistically be going back to your car.

It’s a full day.

But it’s worth it.

Is RIAT Worth the Ticket Price?

I can remember when tickets were under £30.

Times have changed.

But for what you get — world-class flying displays, rare international aircraft, interactive experiences, static access — I genuinely believe it’s worth it.

Like everything, costs have risen. But RIAT continues to deliver something unique.

The Volunteers – The Heart of RIAT

The volunteers deserve their own section.

They are cheerful, helpful, knowledgeable and endlessly patient. They hand out the coloured stickers my daughter now collects each year. They help with directions. They share stories.

They are a huge part of what makes the Royal International Air Tattoo feel safe, welcoming and organised.

Moments I’ll Never Forget

Harriers will always be special to me.

Watching the Ukrainian SU-27 Flanker perform was unforgettable.

Special flypasts over the years have been extraordinary — from the B-2 Spirit making its first display and landing outside the USA, to the debut of the F-22 Raptor, to seeing icons like the Avro Vulcan, Concorde, Boeing 747 and Airbus BelugaXL.

Display teams such as the Black Eagles and the Thunderbirds have added international flair.

Rain or shine — blistering heat or pouring down — RIAT delivers.

Our Little Traditions

We collect the different coloured stickers from volunteers.

We bring an autograph book and ask pilots and crew to sign it. Many hand out free stickers to pop inside. It’s such a lovely thing to look back on — especially as some aircraft are now retired.

And of course, we can’t forget our annual family selife.

It’s never in the same place. Each year we choose an icon of that particular show – whether that’s a standout aircraft, a special anniversary jet, or something unique that made that year memorable – and that becomes our backdrop.

Looking back through those photos feels like flipping through a living timeline of RIAT itself. Different aircraft. Different weather. A growing toddler. The same excitement.

Sharing RIAT Beyond the Showground

Over the years, RIAT has become more than just something I attend – it’s something I document and share.

Through Kelly Aviation on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, I post aviation photography and video content throughout the year, with a huge amount of RIAT featured across the platforms. From arrivals and departures to flying displays, special liveries and those blink-and-you-miss-it moments in the sky, it’s a way of keeping the magic going long after the final aircraft has landed.

It’s also connected me with an incredible online aviation community – people who may only attend for a day, those who travel internationally, and families just starting their own traditions.

RIAT isn’t just a weekend in July for me. It’s something that lives on all year round.

Just Try It

If you’ve never been to the Royal International Air Tattoo, just try it.

There truly is something for everyone.

It’s not just an airshow. It’s history. It’s technology. It’s community. It’s tradition. It’s nostalgia. It’s the future.

And for our family? It’s part of who we are.