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Post by dave on Jun 29, 2023 9:35:16 GMT
hi,
just had a update, but only about security, all bags will be searched, with a airport style lanes ie no bags, large bags etc... so get ready for long queues. Hope there's a a/c update later only 2weeks now.
regards,
dave...
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Post by Jeff on Jun 29, 2023 14:27:16 GMT
Will probably be looking for orange powder 🙄
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Post by dave on Jun 29, 2023 15:50:41 GMT
hi jeff,
that was my first thought... hoping we haven't any on here, but a sit in on the entrance gates, well......they've done Wimbledon, Lords, Wembley, its about time the plod got their priorities right. I couldn't believe that one recently where they were bloking a road and 2 pc's were standing talking, and a man dragged a protester off the road, they jumped into action and arrested the man, un-bloo**-beleivable.So its fingers crossed for the weather, and these idiots can't get their cars to start...
regards,
dave...
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Post by rugbyref on Jul 7, 2023 13:56:24 GMT
Anyone else going Friday?
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Post by Jeff on Jul 7, 2023 15:19:48 GMT
Anyone else going Friday? Yes I will be there 😊 |
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Post by rugbyref on Jul 7, 2023 15:53:47 GMT
Is there an obvious location for an AFA meet up?
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Post by Jeff on Jul 7, 2023 18:00:02 GMT
We tend to aim for the far left end on the display line first thing then do static after the flying
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Post by dave on Jul 9, 2023 10:05:44 GMT
hi,
i'm there friday (i hope), but on a tight schedule, down Cornwall on jollies so will be doing a 5hr train run each way(if they run on time or even if they do run), last year the same but my train up failed so i lost a hour, anyway i will try so jeff do you mean where its fenced off for late arrivals, or the first static a/c for the trek back?
but if i don't show, all have a great show, and safe trip home...
regards,
dave...
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Post by Jeff on Jul 9, 2023 18:47:05 GMT
hi, i'm there friday (i hope), but on a tight schedule, down Cornwall on jollies so will be doing a 5hr train run each way(if they run on time or even if they do run), last year the same but my train up failed so i lost a hour, anyway i will try so jeff do you mean where its fenced off for late arrivals, or the first static a/c for the trek back? but if i don't show, all have a great show, and safe trip home... regards, dave... We aim for the green car park, then it's first crowd line point you can get to from there |
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Post by rugbyref on Jul 12, 2023 7:06:39 GMT
I will be wearing a USS John Stennis baseball cap, and will aim for that first crowd line point.
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Post by rugbyref on Jul 13, 2023 7:49:22 GMT
Given the weather forecast, I suspect it will be a trawl of the static on arrival then hunker down under poncho in case we get any interesting flying.
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Post by Jeff on Jul 13, 2023 8:48:44 GMT
Given the weather forecast, I suspect it will be a trawl of the static on arrival then hunker down under poncho in case we get any interesting flying. It is looking a bit grim isn't it |
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Post by rugbyref on Jul 14, 2023 16:15:05 GMT
..and it was grim!
Interesting that at blue gates nobody checked tickets.
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Post by keefyboy on Jul 14, 2023 17:36:14 GMT
I left home at 0615 following the brown/green route and was parked on the concrete at 0700 for breakfast. The brown route from Junction 17 of the M4 is by far the best route - even if you are coming from London!!! Anyhow - all credit to the Saudi Hawks for starting the show and doing a great job in the conditions. My thanks to all the pilots that put in a display in such atrocious conditions. I lost the will to live by 1030 and sought cover - the bar finally opened at 1045 so I grabbed a swift pint with another quick walk around to justify my expenses - then it was off back to the car at 1330 and home!
RIAT is really hit and miss weather wise. I well remember in 2008 when the Queen was there on a Friday - she reviewed the troops and as soon as she left the heavens opened up - those of us in suits took cover in the back of a Chinook that was on the parade ground for the best part of an hour. After her lunch, the Queen popped out to watch a flypast in her honour. She watched it - then it staarted raining again.
I was lucky because if you take the green/brown route and if you get there early enough you will park on concrete - I'm thinking the damage may have been done today which may make some of the field car parks no go areas!!
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Post by rugbyref on Jul 14, 2023 18:21:57 GMT
I left home at 04.25 to be parked up in blue by 07.05. Walked the static at the Eastern end, then did the bus up to green. Sat in the rain until 12.50 then gave up and returned to the car before the field cut up really badly, and took 3 hours to get home, with only the final 10 minutes without rain.
I agree the Saudis did a good job, and the C135FR departure seemed mightly low.
I haven’t got onto Planebase yet, but I am hoping to have made 100+.
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Post by keefyboy on Jul 14, 2023 18:23:10 GMT
If you are coming from London and turn off at Junction 15 then you will head into a traffic jam tomorrow. You could try Junction 16 with a good satnav but my recommendation is to go for Junction 17 for Malmesbury and double back on yourself - the brown route is well signposted - it merges with the green route but it's the easiest way into Fairford and, if your early enough - you will probably park on concrete!
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Post by keefyboy on Jul 14, 2023 18:38:18 GMT
My so called weatherproof clothing could just not cope today! I was so relieved to get back to the dryness of my car and I had the heating on full belt to dry out - it was only when I got home I realised how soaked i was!!! As soon as I walked through the door - everything had to come off!! Fresh clothes but I'm buggered if I will ever pay to watch planes on telly!!!
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Post by rugbyref on Jul 14, 2023 19:59:34 GMT
106 frames + 5 scrapes.
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Post by Jeff on Jul 15, 2023 7:19:04 GMT
Ended up parked on base at about 06.15 and decided to travel light and just take notepad at phone and do static after whi h we returned to car to decide if we would take everything to crowd line. The Saudi Hawks went up to our surprise just as we were getting on bus to return to car. The weather then changed for the worse so we decided to sit in car which was luckily on base at the 09 end. We stayed there with a good view of 09 arrival till the AMX duo arrived finally getting home just after 19.00.
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Post by keefyboy on Jul 15, 2023 8:22:22 GMT
I've just noticed that Macc Aviation is doing a FREE livestream from 0930 this morning (Saturday).
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Post by dave on Jul 15, 2023 9:07:29 GMT
hi,
i'm sorry lads i failed, in the caravan down at Pentewan, went bed thurs night and at 2300 it started, at 0100 it woke me up, it was like a hose pipe at the awning and caravan, at 0300 i told the family "thats it i'm giving it a miss". Then spent most of friday emptying the awning lifting the ground sheet so the 2" of water could be brushed out. for the ground to dry.
I've only missed 3 shows now since 1977 GREENHAM cOMMON, one was when i was down here and could not get, but i saw a Dutch Neptune leaving, the one cancelled due to the weather, and this one. 2008 show's rain i also remember most for sitting in soaked trousers on a 5hr train home.
So if i had got there, now i would be pouring over photos and trying to sort the farside a/c out, waiting for the old mk.1 storage device dry out in the micro-wave, oh well next year...God willing, also not all was lost i saw the poorly CP140 140108 going into Newquay. Got to go now its raining again!
ANYWAY ANY GOING SAT/SUN HAVE A GOOD DAY AND A SAFE JOURNEY...
regards,
dave...
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Post by graham on Jul 15, 2023 9:15:05 GMT
Looking at the photos and livestream from RIAT Dave, I think Cornwall would have been my choice too. Always had family holidays at Pentewan, right back to the 60s when it was just a static caravan park, no tourers, no chalets, no shop, no clubhouse, if we wanted anything, we had to drive into St Austell but they were great times. There used to be a potters workshop on the little bridge as you drove into the actual village and I'll never forget that if you looked up after you'd gone around that corner, there's was a ship's figurehead up in one of the gardens on the left.
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Post by Jeff on Jul 15, 2023 9:23:35 GMT
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Post by Jeff on Jul 15, 2023 10:23:08 GMT
Actually, that one has just been shut down as he didn't have a license to broadcast from the show site 🙄 |
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Post by chrisj on Jul 18, 2023 13:26:01 GMT
I attended on Sunday mainly because the Monday tickets were 'sold out' early (?) . I saw the views from Friday and Saturday as well as facebook posts for Saturday . It all sounded very horrendous and I was not looking forward to hours of hanging about ! I departed not so sunny North Devon at 0515 and via a quick refreshment stop at the M4 services and quick view at Kemble I parked at FFD at 0825 . By some luck on the hard standing rather than the field . I saw the long Q from the field to the pedestrian entrance and got ready for a long wait . Not so . I had parked yards from the entrance by the disable parking and a short walk to the entrance . The person in front of me was ushered to a very short que as was I and several others . The security check was thorough but quick and from car to IN was less than ten minutes ! The long walk began ! Weather was dry but windy and cloudy . At times we had slight rain drops but nothing to bother with . Made it to the 'Far End ' . Sit and watch the show and refreshments at hand . On my way back around 1500 the heavens opened and we all got a bit damp ! Soon dried out in the wind . It wasn't until I got home that I found that with changing lens I had got some dust onto the sensor of the camera but this is sortable . Departure was oK but I was sent on a slightly longer route to get back to Kemble but not a problem . What I did notice was on coming up to Fairford two routes join and feed to the gate . the two women who should of been sorting the traffic were having a good chat ! So the two routes fed into one lane of cars although several signs said to form two lanes ! Some quickly got the idea as I and following cars , passed them . This sort of lack of control caused delays every year and probably will always do . Several other things negative noted were - No check lists sales other than ( as I found out too late ) in the official RIAT merchandise output ! Toilets were disgusting . The white ones too small to get into with any form of bag and most had doors torn off . Most were subserviced so 'full' . Finally (?) The crowd line ! what crowd line ? By far too many private or costly enclosures leaving very little at either end for 'Joe Public' . This was the problem years ago at Middle Wallop which caused the the IAT team to move away from 'Wallop ! Personally I thought that attending Air Arms was down on previous years but World wide problems probably had an effect . Parking of aircraft always a problem and one we brought up with the directors back in the nineties . The never listen because this event is a 'Cash Cow' . Did you try to photograph the USAF bunch of B52 , C130 and VC22 ? Next Year  ? Chrisj |
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Post by zz on Jul 18, 2023 20:05:15 GMT
The crowd line has been as you describe for many years. There are only a couple of places (both ends) that we (as general public with a regular ticket) can get to the front. But if those people buying expensive packages, or sponsors of the show have a better view, well it’s probably fair. The show may only exist because of their money.
Aircraft parking was very good on the whole. You were able to get close enough to have a good look yet still take photos of nearly all of the aircraft. I got a shot of the B-52 that you mention. The C-130 and CV-22 are always tricky to photograph as they are parked together and have crowds looking in and around them. Personally I don’t think we can complain about this- the show isn’t just for spotters/photographers and so if crew want to open up the aircraft for families then that has to be a good thing. Most parking seemed well thought out and fairly logical.
There were air arms from less countries compared to last year. But I think 2022 was a record year in that respect. World events probably do have a major effect, but I’m guessing that the theme does too. Possibly it’s easier for countries to spare a training aircraft in 2022 for example, than a tanker in 2023.
Describing the show as a cash cow is probably a little unfair. It has raised millions for charities and grants over the years!
Just my thoughts- I felt the show was excellent as always. I think the organisers, pilots and volunteers did a great job. Sure, I could grumble a little about the parking/queuing issue I encountered- but did it detract from the day? No- it was still brilliant!
I thought that the Saturday might be a write off due to the wind, but still the majority of the displays went ahead. Just one heavy rain shower encountered- so the day was very much a success for me!
Next year? Definitely!!!! Where else do you get that sort of line up?!
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Post by michael on Jul 18, 2023 21:07:30 GMT
And 2024 is the 70th year of the C-130 ..... ahh we haven't go any ..oh well
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Post by zz on Jul 18, 2023 21:10:39 GMT
Also 50 years of the F-16 - shame some of the more likely candidates have retired/ will retire theirs.
Will have to hope for a couple of exotic examples!
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Post by Jeff on Jul 19, 2023 7:37:33 GMT
Early early bird tickets have been released for 2024
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Post by chrisj on Jul 19, 2023 13:21:38 GMT
Just my personal thoughts but I felt the line of enclosures had grown somewhat because of the lack of Joe Public space at either end . It was a lot less than last year . Near the east end village set up there was a very large enclosure which contained only a scattering of chairs - NO people . one year I had entry to the BAE excellent enclosure which was set back from the crowd line and still gave a very good view even when sitting . For a number of years I and other BARG members worked at IAT ( as was ) . The director was asked face to face about entrance costs and how they were set . Reply was 'Based on a family Theme park entry' . I do know that the line up is not just for enthusiasts - that is why we requested enthusiast days and result was Arrival and Departure days as now . I know the earlybird tickets are available but not everyone can commit at this moment and tactics such as closing Departure day tickets to force sale of more expensive tickets is not good PR . This year Monday tickets closed about February but plenty were available at the door on Monday ! The display will always be subject to weather but at times Sunday's was a lot like the old RAFA displays of years ago - big waits . I also know the funds go to the likes of the RAFBF - a fund I paid into for twenty six years ! And yes , the weather was very kind to those who attended on Sunday , it could of been a lot worse judging by the large black clouds which just passed by . Of course we shall attend the next one but it is a pity that the organisers do not recognise 'Veterans and Pensioners' with their entry pricing as other aviation displays do . Oh well , lets put it to bed for this year ... Chrisj
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? Chrisj 