Back after last year's total cancellation, fast jet displays dominated RIAT 2009 with the French Air Force's Rafale up against the Gripens of Sweden and Hungary, the F-18 Hornets of Spain, Finland and Switzerland, the RAF's Typhoon and the F-16 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Throw in the Avro Vulcan, heavy metal in the form of the B-52, Nimrod and Tristar, several national display teams and a mass flypast by aircraft of the Royal Navy clebrating 100 years of naval aviation and you have the spectacular that is the Royal International Air Tattoo.