Air show's 'spiritual excitement like Glastonbury'

The Royal International Air Tattoo is celebrating its 40th anniversary

The co-founder of a popular air show which is marking its 40th anniversary says the "spiritual excitement" of the event "is a bit like Glastonbury".

Thousands of people have attended the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) every year since 1985 at RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, for air shows and displays.

RIAT is one of the biggest military air shows in the world, hosting the latest technology in aviation.

This year's event started on Friday and finishes at about 19:30 BST on Sunday.

Tim Prince, RIAT's co-founder, said: "Most people go away having seen airplanes from Germany, France and Russia in the past.

"From all these different countries with all their difference colours, and their flying overalls and their spirit enthusiasm.

"It's a bit like Glastonbury. It's that whole spiritual excitement you get."

He said the volunteers were "an incredible force to be reckoned with".

"They know what to do and when to do it. They work all hours to make things happen.

"They're not just aircraft enthusiasts, they're just people who love an impossible challenge."

To mark its 40th anniversary, visitors submitted pictures and stories of wonderful moments they had over the years to the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.

David Traynor and Angie bonded over their love of aviation

One such example was from David Traynor who said he spotted Angie's picture on a dating website with her favourite plane in the background at RIAT in 2019.

He messaged her and years later they got married.

Richard Toms celebrated his 50th birthday on Concorde

Getting to see inside the Concorde cockpit was a highlight for many

Richard Toms said among his most memorable days at RIAT was having an extra 20 minutes inside Concorde while he celebrated his 50th birthday.

"It was the 26 July 1996 and a supersonic flight on Concorde G-BOAB over the Bay of Biscay," he said.

"We had an extra 20 minutes added to the flight due to a delay in the flying display over Fairford, so we were treated to a run along the English Channel as far as Beachy Head and back before returning to the the airfield via Lymington."

Many volunteers have helped out over the years

Russell Powell said his local running club, Fleet and Crookham Athletic Club, would dress up to sell RIAT programmes for charity.