Last week I had the chance to spend three amazing days volunteering with The Air League at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) in RAF Fairford, and it was honestly such a memorable experience.
TechnoZone
We were part of the Techno Zone, alongside over 40 other exhibitors, all running hands-on activities to inspire young people about aviation, engineering, and STEM. It was buzzing with energy the whole time. We met hundreds — maybe even thousands — of future aviators. Some were so young, just two years old, but already keen to get involved with our name tag-making activity! It was brilliant to see their excitement and curiosity, and how they just dived straight in.
The hands-on activities really highlighted how much learning happens through doing. Watching students test the forces of flight, experiment with lift, or figure out how things work in a practical way reminded me how important it is to make STEM accessible and fun. I was impressed by how quickly some students grasped concepts like Bernoulli’s principle or lift — and some even came up with their own ideas on how to improve experiments. It’s moments like that that make volunteering so rewarding.
Exploring the air show!
Aside from the stand, I got to explore some incredible parts of the airshow. I took a tour of the C-130 Hercules cockpit, which was a dream come true, and watched the Red Arrows perform up close — the precision, teamwork, and skill on display were just incredible. I also had the chance to meet Rachel Riley from Countdown, who kindly popped by to say hello.
The biggest lesson I took away was how inspiring real engagement can be. Giving students something hands-on, seeing them problem-solve, ask questions, and get excited about aviation, really drives home the importance of inspiring the next generation. It also reminded me how much teamwork and communication matter — whether it’s in a cockpit, on a stand, or running a huge event like RIAT.
Overall, three days at RIAT weren’t just fun — they were energising, inspiring, and a reminder of why I love helping young people discover aviation. It’s incredible to see curiosity spark into passion, and to think some of these kids might one day be flying the planes we admire in the sky.
