LAA National rally 2024...

[dave]

hi,
    on the Royal Aero Club calendar website the above is listed as Leicester, on Aug 30th-1st Sept.

at least a driver able one if the train strikes are still with us...
regards,  
                 dave...

[chrisj]

Yes Dave , but always subject to discussion ! Depends on where one lives . I live in North Devon , near Chivenor and can get to / from Kemble easily and in the past have made day trips to Sywell but beyond that is a no goer for me . So once again another year of no LAA gathering . I can fully understand each wanting the event near by hence the central location which is great if you have a good transport infrastructure but down here that is not the case so I would hope the event could move each year to a location such as Kemble for those in the southern part of the country and then back up north returning south the next year and so on . I do know the event is not just for enthusiasts such as ourselves but we do put a lot of coppers into their funds . Just my thoughts . Chrisj

[dave]

hi,
i agree with you about positioning, i'm the opposite to you getting down south for events, but i've noticed on the LAA website there's discussing that it should be more central for flying into. For me as long as the trains are ok i will go north or south, but the way things are at the moment, i just don't go. I missed the last 3 Popham shows, have'nt been Luton, F'boro, Biggin, even Heathrow which i've got a w/end booked for 2yrs come March, when i've got to use it by...
regards,
dave...

[chrisj]

I see that you have similar problems to me . My last LHR trip was May last year when I continued from Popham Micro light Fare . I was privileged in that I had a National Express coach from almost outside my door . It would depart just after five AM and by way of much of the SW , get me to LHR just after ten . I could get a good day spotting in before departing at 1930 and arriving home not long after midnight . A long day but not expensive at thirty pounds or less . Following a couple of operator company changes we ended up with Edwards of South Wales . There were a few extra stops to pick up/drop drivers but that was not a problem . They started changing times which is a problem . Now my earliest coach gets me about an hour or so before I have to depart for home ! So now it would be an overnight stay which gives a price around hundred plus pounds and not sustainable , so now no trip . Train is just not possible even if they happen to attend work that day . So it is a case of dot spotting for now . Local ( 60 miles away ) is Exeter and there is no where to view because there is no place to park . A pity because I am sure the carpark by the Walker Hangar could be made available on a reasonable hour by hour rate . Oh well , we shall just find away around these obstacles as we tend to . Bye for now . Chrisj

[dave]

hi,
as you say live on flyovers, 90 for Jan, and 14 so far for Feb.
regards,
dave...