The COVID-19 pandemic curtailed any opportunity for the Royal International Air Tattoo to mark its 50th anniversary with the scale of celebration it deserved. In 2025, however, RIAT was presented a new occasion for commemoration: the 40th anniversary of its first show at RAF Fairford, now firmly established as the Air Tattoo’s modern-day home. We look at this year’s show and also reflect on the event’s future in light of the discussions that have dominated the post-show discourse. Over the course of the show weekend, the AeroResource team was on the ground in Gloucestershire.