Missed seeing you Rob. Flew in this morning, 2000 ft most of the way so no problem. It looked far worse than it was.
I suspect the AIC had the same problem. 20 pages IIRC containing such gems as avoid flying over villages and there's no need to call for a transit of the Fairford MATZ (which didn't exist as it wasn't activated by NOTAM, and even if it had been would not have been CAS in any case). Anyone who hadn't been there before would have been frightened out of their wits by the sheer volume of paper. Put it on a diet please!
Despite the rebranding it was difficult to see much difference. Failed to notice any great presence on the part of the BMAA, the hang gliders or the paramotors, or indeed much of a presence from the flying clubs, training organisations, AOPA or the non-PFA fraternity. No more spamcans than normal (all scared witless by the AIC no doubt). Good to see some stuff to amuse the kids though it wasn't really the weather for a family day out. After previous events Ultimate High seemed to have shut up shop for the weekend and didn't even have an aircraft on show.
Flying home was interesting, 1200 to 2000 ft most of the way, though I gather those heading north were finding things a lot worse.
The closure of the airfield for two hours for displays was OTT IMHO.
Marshalling was excellent as were the procedures and it was gratifying not to see the large fleet of expensively hired-in 4x4's that have (dis)graced previous rallies.
Mike