GL events UK is flying high after supplying temporary structures and tiered seating for this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford. A sell-out crowd of 140,000 attended the three-day show to join celebrations marking the Red Arrows’ 50th display season at the world’s largest military airshow.
GL events Owen Brown installed over 6,000sqm of temporary structures, including 27 Smart System chalets used by exhibitors such as watch manufacturer Breitling, and a range of five star hospitality areas into the RAF base.
The Lightning Pavilion, created from GL events’ leading Absolute range, invited guests to experience the world’s greatest airshow from centre stage, positioned 100metres from the runway. Complete with its own private garden, the glazed windows gave guests the best seats in the house to watch the awe-inspiring flying displays.
Situated closer to the ‘crowdline’, the Aviation Club also boasted a private garden as well as a grandstand, provided by GL events Seating and Stadia. Meanwhile the Friend of the Royal International Air Tattoo (FRIAT) enclosure provided an exclusive area for members who extended their visit to the show.
The final structure was for Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP) and was used for the debut of Navy’s F35 Lightning II 5 jet in UK, as it was the first time the stealth fighter has appeared outside the USA.
GL events Seating and Stadia created over 4,000 seats across three grandstands in the Viewing Village which was first introduced in 2013, and expanded due to its popularity. Using the C-View system, the grandstands gave visitors in the private enclosure the option of an elevated view of the displays.
The Royal International Air Tattoo is staged annually in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, which in turn, awards grants in support of the RAF family, including serving personnel and Air Cadets. Since it was established in January 2005, the Trustees have awarded over £2.1 million to a wide range of projects and initiatives.
