Photos show RIAT's first year at RAF Fairford 40 years ago
Known in 1985 as the International Air Tattoo, the weekend of aerial displays and moved to a new home in Oxfordshire.
Photographer Jeremy Flack highlighted the histories of certain aircraft on display, such as the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms.
The prototype first flew in 1958 and by the time production had ended 5,195 had been built. An extremely versatile aircraft- it has been operated as a fighter, attack, bomber, reconnaissance and flown from carriers as well as airfield.
It has achieved numerous word records and is still operated by a number of air forces. Turkish and Greek examples are expected to be displayed it the 2025 RIAT.
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Also on display was the RAF Handley Page Victor K.2.
Various modifications were made resulting in sub-variants until a re-role saw the fleet gradually taking on the role of an aerial tanker.
The Victor tankers were heavily used during the Falkand and Gulf wars and were retired in 1993.
More details of each aircraft can be found in the picture captions.
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Getty Images Here is how we shape up on the grid for today's race — grid penalties included… 1: MAX VERSTAPPEN (RBR) > 2: Oscar Piastri (MCL) Oscar Piastri (MCL) 3: Lando Norris (MCL) Lando Norris (MCL) > 4: George Russell (MER) George Russell (MER) 5: Lewis Hamilton (FER) Lewis Hamilton (FER) > 6: Charles Leclerc (FER) Charles Leclerc (FER) 7: Fernando Alonso (AST) Fernando Alonso (AST) > 8: Pierre Gasly (ALP) Pierre Gasly (ALP) 9: Carlos Sainz (WIL) Carlos Sainz (WIL) > 10: Kimi Antonelli (MER)* Kimi Antonelli (MER)* 11: Tsunoda (RBR) / 12: Hadjar (RB) 13: Albon (WIL) / 14: Ocon (HAS) 15: Lawson (RB) / 16: Bortoleto (SAU) 17: Stroll (AST) / 18: Bearman (HAS)** 19: Hulkenberg (SAU) / 20: Colapinto (ALP) Including *3-place and **10-place grid penalty Getty Images These are the drivers who have come out on top in qualifying, with Max Verstappen closing in on Oscar Piastri — who had stated that one of his preseason goals was to improve his qualifying performance. 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Getty Images Here is how the 2025 intra-team battles look from qualifying this season, with today's results from Silverstone and Round 12 qualifying added into the mix… Aston Martin: ALONSO ** 12-0 Stroll ** 12-0 Stroll Mercedes: RUSSELL ** 11-1 Antonelli ** 11-1 Antonelli Red Bull: VERSTAPPEN ** 10-0 Tsunoda ** 10-0 Tsunoda Ferrari: LECLERC 8-4 Hamilton ** LECLERC 8-4 ** Racing Bulls: HADJAR ** 8-2 Lawson ** 8-2 Lawson Williams: ALBON 7-5 Sainz ** ALBON 7-5 ** McLaren: PIASTRI ** 7-5 Norris ** 7-5 Norris Haas: Ocon 6-6 Bearman ** Ocon 6-6 ** Sauber: Hulkenberg 6-6 Bortoleto ** Hulkenberg 6-6 ** Alpine: GASLY ** 5-1 Colapinto ** 5-1 Colapinto Alpine: GASLY 5-1 Doohan* Red Bull: VERSTAPPEN 2-0 Lawson* Racing Bulls: Tsunoda 1-1 Hadjar* *Inactive teammate pairing; **Qualifying victor at Silverstone Getty Images Continuing with Andrea Stella, he reckoned small changes in conditions also helped Max Verstappen unleash the best of the Red Bull package when it mattered in Q3: 💬 'The gaps are very small and Max also went out for the final lap in Q3 a few minutes later or a minute later, and here there could be a slight variation of wind that can affect one tenth here and there. 'The reason why we never rule out Max is because he is Max Verstappen. It would be extremely naive to think Max is not in the game. He gave another bit of evidence today of how quick he is, how capable he is of maximizing the potential he has available. 'We also know at these tracks where we have high speed, smooth circuits, Red Bull can do very well. So no surprise with Max, no surprise with Red Bull.' Getty Images McLaren team boss Andrea Stella is always worth listening to. At his written media briefing in the Silverstone paddock last night, he explained McLaren actually thought Ferrari was the bigger pole threat after its strong practice pace. Despite his former team ultimately finishing behind the McLaren drivers and Mercedes' George Russell in Verstappen's wake in Q3, Stella said: 💬 'Looking at the lap times Ferrari has pulled off in every session, Ferrari seems to be the strongest team, probably they still are. 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Max Verstappen unleashed another stunning lap to claim a third pole of the year at a track where the many high-speed corners play to Red Bull's car strengths. These got even better with a floor upgrade this weekend, and helped it topple the mighty McLaren squad once again this year. McLaren was in the fight as ever, but Ferrari was also a real threat too — until Lewis Hamilton made a mistake at the final corners and lost critical time in Q3. Don't expect this every weekend from now on. McLaren should dominate at Hungary and Zandvoort either side of the summer break, thanks to the lower average speeds and longer corners of those tracks. But Silverstone and Spa could serve up different winners to the season's main trend. They did that in 2025 too. Getty Images The final free practice of the weekend appeared to back-up the promise of a Ferrari challenge at Silverstone, with Charles Leclerc quickest and Lewis Hamilton further down the order only after his final flying laps were compromised. It was a messy end to that session with a pair of red flags, and Oliver Bearman then inexplicably crashing in the pit lane entrance under those conditions. He paid a high price for that error too, with a 10-place grid penalty — scuppering an impressive qualifying performance later in the day. That was when Max Verstappen came good again. There was clear improvement in his RB21 come FP3, and confidence in his voice ahead of Q1. He then made sure his car was the last on track for the final runs in Q3, and nailed pole ahead of both McLarens and two Ferraris that appeared to lose their edge just when it mattered most. Getty Images There were a few choice takeaways from the two hours of free practice at Silverstone on Friday. Firstly, there was Lewis Hamilton topping the time sheets in FP1. You would normally take such events with a pinch of salt in the opening session of a weekend, but the apparent strength of the Ferrari this weekend was immediately being taken seriously across the paddock. More familiar service was resumed come FP2, with Lando Norris out in front and with a decent buffer to the rest of the field — including his McLaren teammate and championship leader, Oscar Piastri. However, those Ferraris were best of the rest again and while Max Verstappen continued to complain about Red Bull's performance, no one pays much attention to that these days. And once again, Saturday would be a totally different story… Page 2
