The US Air Force B-2 ‘Spirit’ stealth bomber, which last touched down at RAF Fairford for the airshow in 1999, was this year one of the stars of the RIAT 2012.

Colombia and Japan are attending their first Tattoo and logistics for countries travelling a long distance is breathtaking.

The Colombians have brought their small T-90 training aircraft in the back of a C-130 Hercules while the South Koreans, whose Black Eagles display team was making its UK debut, shuttled their eight display aircraft on giant 747s.

These aircraft were dismantled in South Korea, flown to Manchester and rebuilt at RAF Leeming.

The Tattoo offers something for everyone – classic warbirds including the Hurricane, Spitfire, Lancaster and beautifully-crafted historic aeroplanes like the Super Constellation and the Douglas DC-3 are appearing alongside aircraft displaying the latest aircraft technology, such as the MV-22 Osprey.

Some of the world’s greatest fast jets are taking part, including the Typhoon, Mig-29, Rafale, F-18, Gripen and a Russian Yak-130.

There are helicopters such as the Chinook, Apache and Lynx and seven display teams including the Red Arrows and the United Arab Emirates’ Al Fursan team – making their European debut.

A series of special flypasts includes a repeat of the 27-ship mass flypast of Hawk jets in a special EIIR formation as a tribute to The Queen.

In the skies over RIAT last weekend flew the future of RAF air lift capability.

A400M Atlas will enter RAF service in 2014 as the long serving VC10, C130K Hercules and TriStar fleets are retired. At RIAT 2011 the new Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) was officially named Voyager and has now commenced flying from RAF Brize Norton.

The RAF has just taken delivery of an eighth C-17 and was proud to present a flypast of VC10, C130 Hercules, Tristar, C-17, Voyager, and A400M Atlas flying together for the first time at RIAT 2012; a strong new fleet delivering air lift for the UK.

The illustrious VC-10, flown by 101 Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton, made its final air show appearance at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) before it retires from Service early in 2013.

Photo: Rob Vogelaar Z.A.P.P.