McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet (J-5011) from the Swiss Air Force at the RIAT 2019, RAF Fairford (United Kingdom)
Special painted tail for the Swiss "Tiger" Fighter Squadron 11 (Fliegerstaffel 11) and of the squadrons of the worldwide "NATO Tiger" alliance.
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet is a twin-engined, supersonic multi-role combat jet that is designed to carry out air-to-air missions and attack ground targets (the F/A designation stands for Fighter/Attack). The aircraft, which entered service with the Swiss Air Force in 1997, has proved itself well suited to operations in Switzerland's mountainous regions and narrow valleys as well as from the relatively short runways of its military airfields. It is currently flown by three Swiss squadrons, which operate out of Meiringen and Payerne. They use the F/A-18C - which has been given significant upgrades to its capabilities since coming into use with the air arm - for the air policing role as their primary function.
The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is the world's largest military air show, held annually over the third weekend in July,
usually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.
The show typically attracts a total of 150.000 to 160.000 spectators over the weekend.