RIAT 2024 - Your guide to the skies

A special display will mark the diamond jubilee of the Red Arrows at this year's RIAT

Royal International Air Tattoo (RAIT) 2024 kicks off on Friday at RAF Fairford in the Cotswolds.

The three day event will see more than 250 aircraft either on display or taking to the skies, alongside exhibitions and discussions featuring some of the biggest names in the aviation sector.

This year's themes include the 50th anniversary of the F-16 jets and the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).

Funds raised from the event will go towards the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.

How to get there?

Organisers recommend using the dedicated shuttle bus from Swindon Bus Station or the Park & Ride from Cheltenham Racecourse.

The Swindon Shuttle service leaves the town from 06:45 BST and then every 20 minutes until 12:00.

The return service operates from 14:00 BST and then every 20 minutes until 18:00 on Friday, and until 19:30 on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets on the Cheltenham Park and Ride will need to be purchased in advance.

On Friday, two services will take passengers to the air tattoo in the morning - one at 07:30 and then at 08:30. Return shuttles operate from 17:00 and then 18:00.

The departure times are earlier for Saturday and Sunday - the first service from Cheltenham leaving at 06:45 and then every hour until 09:45.

The first shuttle leaves the air tattoo at 16:30 and then every hour until 19:30.

Motorists can set their location to GL7 4EG in order to arrive at the airfield.

A one-way system of roads will be in operation, meaning there will be no way for a taxi to pick up or drop event-goers.

Three days of displays

F-16s, like these from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, will also be on display

The gates open to customers from 07:30 BST across the three days.

The flying display will run from 11:00 until 15:00 on Friday. For a full timetable, click here.

Flying displays run from 10:00 to 17:30 at the weekend. The full programme of events can be found here for Saturday and Sunday.

This year, RIAT is highlighting the F-16 as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, 75-years of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the Royal Canadian Air Force’s centenary.

The Red Arrows will be performing a special exercise to mark their diamond jubilee.

The Norwegian Yellow Sparrows will also be performing in the UK for the first time.

Elsewhere at the event, the Typhoon, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and F-35B will also be in attendance.

Attendees can find a full list of confirmed aircrafts on static or performing displays here.

Away from the runways, a link up with Antarctica, virtual reality and a member of McFly are just some of the other must-see attractions at this year's event.

Brollies or sunscreen?

It was a very wet Friday at last year's event

Unsurprisingly, given the recent weather, the answer is both.

Temperatures on Friday could reach as high as 26C and attendees can expect sunny intervals and a gentle breeze.

But visitors on Saturday can expect some light rain, followed by a sunny Sunday.

So it is worth coming prepared, but organisers have also warned people to "pack light".

Security measures at the show mean every bag brought into the event will be searched, so bear this in mind when deciding what to bring.