The Royal Air Force has once again touched down at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), bringing not just aircraft but the beating heart of the Service, its people.
While RIAT's flying display delivered four hours of a jam-packed programme for aviation fans, it’s on the ground in the RAF Experience where the public meets the breadth and depth of the RAF’s capability, culture, and community.
The RAF Experience area at RIAT 2025 offers visitors an immersive journey into life in the RAF. From interactive displays and operational briefings to hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) activities and recruitment insight, the Experience gives the public, especially the next generation, the opportunity to engage directly with RAF Regulars, Reservists, and Cadets.
Talking of the next generation, commanding a prominent presence in the Experience are the RAF Air Cadets, some were lucky enough to begin their RIAT journey on board an A400M Atlas.
Once on the ground, cadets took over the RAF’s official podcast InsideAIR, turning the mics on each other to capture their stories, motivations, and RIAT highlights. Supported by Reservists from 7644 Squadron, cadets interviewed RAF personnel asking what helped them explore their career paths and understand how the RAF operates as a Whole Force.
At the opposite end of the RAF Experience, you could find 3 Mobile Catering Squadron who this year marked their 50th anniversary.
“For the 50th anniversary, we had a Dining in Night where we invited nearly 200 people who were former members of the Squadron for a four course menu. The guests absolutely loved it.
To showcase our capability today at RIAT, we have brought along displays with photos to show previous exercises and operations we have been on, along with both old style and new style grills. We are letting people know what we can do, where we can deploy and also what competitions we take part in.”
Corporal Jody Huteson
Also featured in the RAF Experience are Air Command and Control, who caught the attention of visitors interested in surveillance, and airspace security and vigilance.
“We’re here to raise awareness of how the broader RAF is supported by a wide range of personnel, from surveillance officers monitoring UK airspace 24/7 to defence officers and controllers managing airborne threats. It’s not just pilots flying Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions, there’s a Whole Force behind every aircraft.
We've had strong public interest, and RIAT is a great platform to highlight these behind-the-scenes roles. Our WWII-style plotting map showing the UK's defence radar network has been a great conversation starter. It helps visitors visualise how all the elements fit together.”
Flt Lt Jacob Tasker
No. XIX Squadron RAF Boulmer
Away from airspace and defence, visitors could also trial RAF Sport from jumping in motorsport cars to kicking a football and playing volleyball, chat to the display team pilots and visit the A400M and its crew (which is stationed at the heart of the experience), and visit displays by RAF ASTRA, RAF Engineering, RAF Regiment and 71 (Inspection & Repair) Squadron, just to name a few!