The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is taking place at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire from 19-21 July.

One of the annual event’s key themes this year will be to commemorate NATO’s 70th anniversary, with special multinational flypasts to be conducted on each of its first two days.

With rain forecast on its opening day, we took the chance to capture images of some of RIAT’s broad range of attractions on 18 July, as aircraft arrivals gathered pace. All images by Craig Hoyle/FlightGlobal

Su-27 Ukraine RIAT 2019 - Craig Hoyle/FlightGlobal

Ukrainian air force Su-27 lands at RIAT

SAC HAW C-17 RIAT 2019 - Craig Hoyle/FlightGlobal

Heavy Airlift Wing C-17, visiting from Papa air base, Hungary

Spanish navy AV-8Bs RIAT 2019 - Craig Hoyle/Flight

Spanish navy AV-8B Harriers sport special tail markings

Typhoon Gripen RIAT 2019 - Craig Hoyle/FlightGloba

UK Typhoon and Swedish Gripen are appearing side by side

Pakistan C-130B RIAT 2019 - Craig Hoyle/FlightGlob

Pakistan’s air force has brought colourful C-130B to the show

Danish F-16 RIAT 2019 - Craig Hoyle/FlightGlobal

Danish colours adorn this striking F-16

Super Tucano RIAT 2019 - Craig Hoyle/FlightGlobal

Embraer is displaying its A-29 Super Tucano turboprop

US Navy P-8A RIAT 2019 - Craig Hoyle/FlightGlobal

US Navy P-8A Poseidon

Lithuanian C-27J RIAT 2019 - Craig Hoyle/FlightGlo

Lithuania has deployed C-27J Spartan airlifter to UK event

ETPS pair RIAT 2019 - Craig Hoyle/FlightGlobal

PC-21 and Avro RJ70 “flying classroom”; used by Empire Test Pilots’ School

Norwegian F-16 RIAT 2019 - Craig Hoyle/FlightGloba

Norwegian F-16 received special livery for 75th anniversary of D-Day landings

Canadian CP-140 RIAT 2019 - Craig Hoyle/FlightGlob

Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft

Source: FlightGlobal.com