It has been announced the replica first generation jet will grace UK skies…

On April 20 2023, the organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) announced that the Manching, Germany-based Flugmuseum Messerschmitt (Messerschmitt Flight Museum) plans to display its replica Messerschmitt Me-262A-1C Schwalbe (Swallow) at this year’s show across July 14-16 at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.

Announcing D-IMTT’s planned attendance via its now traditional ‘Thursday Update’, the RIAT’s organisers said: “We're excited to announce that, thanks to Airbus, we will see the UK flying display debut of a Messerschmitt Me 262 (the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft) at RIAT 2023! This classic ]World War Two] jet will be performing in the flying display on Saturday and Sunday, and it will likely be one of the unique highlights of this summer's Air Tattoo. We aim to park this aircraft in one of our southside operational areas, so visitors can get a closer look at the aircraft while on the ground too!”

One of five reproduction examples built in the United States using original drawings and exclusive access to a the two seat Me 262 on display in the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida during the 1990s, D-IMTT boasts modern General Electric CJ610 engines in place of the type's original troublesome Junkers Jumo 004Bs. Undertaking its first flight in the US on on August 15, 2005, the jet arrived at its Manching home early the following year. After reassembly and ground testing, ‘she’ took to the skies of Germany for the first time on April 25, 2006.