Budget difficulties in the States resulted in a complete lack of USAF participation at RIAT 2013, but that didn’t stop the sell-out crowds enjoying another air tattoo spectacular. Highlight for many on the Saturday was the flypast of the Red Arrows with the first Airbus A380 in the British Airways fleet. A formation flypast by Typhoons and the Italian Air Force KC767 also proved popular, as was the display from crowd favourite, Vulcan XH558.

In 1943, daring raids were carried out against the dams of the Ruhr valley by Lancaster bombers of 617 Squadron. To commemorate the 70th anniversary of Operation Chastise, a specially painted 617 Squadron Tornado GR4 flew in formation with the BBMF's Lancaster, whilst another could be viewed in the static park.