20230715 (309)_FA-68_General_Dynamics_F-16A_Fighting_Falcon
A worn Belgian Air Force F-16A in the static at RIAT 2023 held at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, with a Luftwaffe Typhoon beyond it. The Typhoon is lined up behind the drogue pod on the wing of a RNAF Airbus A330 MRTT and the Belgian F-16A boom receiver is behind the refuelling boom beneath the tanker's rear fuselage. Contributing to the Skytanker theme of the show, it was a good demonstration of NATO interoperability - a chance well and truly missed in creating the current RAF tanker fleet, particularly ironic considering the number of recent boom receiver purchases such as RC-135 and P-8. The world's largest military airshow, with participants from around the globe, RIAT is a must each year for UK aviation enthusiasts at least.
20230715 (309)_FA-68_General_Dynamics_F-16A_Fighting_Falcon
A worn Belgian Air Force F-16A in the static at RIAT 2023 held at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, with a Luftwaffe Typhoon beyond it. The Typhoon is lined up behind the drogue pod on the wing of a RNAF Airbus A330 MRTT and the Belgian F-16A boom receiver is behind the refuelling boom beneath the tanker's rear fuselage. Contributing to the Skytanker theme of the show, it was a good demonstration of NATO interoperability - a chance well and truly missed in creating the current RAF tanker fleet, particularly ironic considering the number of recent boom receiver purchases such as RC-135 and P-8. The world's largest military airshow, with participants from around the globe, RIAT is a must each year for UK aviation enthusiasts at least.