Start Date	Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:00:00
End Date	Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:59:00
Location	RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire
Speaker

On 17-19 July 2009 the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) welcomed the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on the occasion of its 60th anniversary.  The UK Ambassador to NATO, Sir Stewart Eldon, and the UK Military Representative to NATO, Lt. Gen. David Bill, led a delegation from NATO Headquarters to the event.  The delegation included the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero, as well as Ambassadors and Military Representatives to NATO from a number of Alliance countries.

The event showcased a display of aircraft that represented not only the wide variety of tasks NATO performs, but also illustrated its past, present and future. From its inception, the Air Tattoo has been committed to showing the world's military and industry leaders, as well as the general public, the importance of the NATO Alliance. This special occasion was marked by aircraft and aircrew from around the globe coming together to make a spectacular tribute to the core values of NATO: freedom, democracy and security. The Air Tattoo charted the chronology of NATO's 60 year history, illustrating its political and military growth alongside its crisis management and peace keeping involvement in the Korean War, Cold War and current operations.  As part of this celebration, the Air Tattoo hosted a number of NATO Tiger Squadrons, which embody the spirit of NATO, bringing unique colour and vigour to the show.

Flickr photo gallery