Picking the “best” airshow in the world has gotten complicated with all the opinions flying around online. As someone who’s dragged camera gear through maybe thirty airshows across four countries over twenty years, I learned everything there is to know about what separates the legendary events from the ones you forget by the time you’re back to your car. Today, I will share it all with you.
RIAT (Royal International Air Tattoo) – UK
If you could only go to one airshow in your life, RAF Fairford in July should be the one. Probably should have led with this section, honestly. The Royal International Air Tattoo brings together military aircraft from around the world in a concentration you won’t see anywhere else. You might see aircraft from thirty or forty nations on the flight line—and yes, I’ve counted.
The sheer variety makes RIAT special. Where else can you watch a French Rafale, an American F-22, and a Polish MiG-29 all in the same afternoon? The organization runs like clockwork, which British events tend to do, and the trade stands don’t gouge you quite as badly as American shows.
EAA AirVenture – Oshkosh, Wisconsin
That’s what makes Oshkosh endearing to us aviation nerds—it’s less military precision, more grassroots enthusiasm. Tens of thousands of aircraft fly in, camping under wings becomes normal, and the culture is uniquely welcoming in a way that bigger shows can’t match.
Homebuilders set up next to their experimental aircraft and answer questions all day. You’ll hear about someone’s fifteen-year project, see fabric-covered taildraggers parked next to composite speed machines, and probably buy at least one thing from the fly market you don’t need. If you love the flying community rather than just watching things go fast, Oshkosh is where you belong.
Paris Air Show – Le Bourget, France
Paris is the trade show—industry professionals, government delegations, people in suits who probably couldn’t identify a pitot tube. But the flying display is world-class, and you’ll see prototypes and pre-production aircraft that won’t appear at more casual shows for years.
The downside? It feels corporate. Everything costs too much. The crowds are brutal on public days. But if you want to see what’s actually coming next in aviation, Le Bourget delivers.
Reno Air Races – Nevada
There’s nothing else like Reno. Not demonstrations, not aerobatics—actual racing. Pylons on the desert floor, modified warbirds screaming around a course at 500+ mph, and the intensity is visceral in a way that demonstration flying simply can’t match.
You haven’t experienced airshow adrenaline until you’ve watched an Unlimited class heat from the grandstands. The sound alone is worth the trip to Nevada.
The Real Answer
The best airshow is the one you can actually get to and attend. Your local regional show might lack international aircraft and foreign demonstration teams, but it delivers the experience without the logistical burden of international travel and hotel booking nightmares.
The magic is in being there, feeling the noise in your chest, smelling the jet fuel, watching a kid’s face the first time an afterburner lights up. That happens at every show, whether it’s RIAT or your town’s municipal airport.
