In the fifth and final set of our RIAT arrivals air-to-air photoshoots, we return to fast jets, this time we cover Gripens, Lightnings, Vampires & Hunters.

In all of our years doing air to air photography, the SAAB JAS-39 Gripen was the one fighter type that eluded us. However, the RIAT arrivals photoshoot broke the spell with Gripens from not one, but two air arms.

First to join was a three-ship formation of Gripens from F21 Wing at Lulea Air Base, with a pair of single seat C variants, and a solo twin seat variant joining behind the Skyvan. Later in the day, a solo C variant from 211th Tactical Squadron (211 Taktcka Letka) joined up. This Gripen was sporting a special Tiger Meet colour scheme.

Next on the list is a special "old & new" formation, consisting of a Hawker Hunter, operated by Hawker Hunter Aviation, in formation with a Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II from the 495th Fighter Squadron "Valkyries", based at RAF Lakenheath.

Hot on the heels of the Hunter & F-35 formation came a pair of F-35A Lightning IIs from 332 Skvadron of the Royal Norwegian Air Force. This was our first time seeing and F-35 in the air fitted with a drag chute pod on the upper fuselage. The Norwegians, along with a few other cold weather operators of the type, have requested drag chutes for operations on snowy or icy runways.

Last, but certainly not least, we had a brief meeting with a single seat De Havilland Vampire FB52 from the Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron that was painted in Canadian colours to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

A Big Thank You Goes To....
Eric Coeckelberghs and the Aviation PhotoCrew, as well as the Royal International Air Tattoo, for the opportunity to photograph all of these aircraft the air-to-air.