The RAF are stopping the RAF.
Somebody in the corridors of power is convinced that operational overstretch and support of public events are the nemesis of one another, and that actually promoting such an event sends the wrong message to Govt. I understand the theory, but disagree that it is an accurate or even appropriate reflection of the state of the RAF these days. For sure once air shows / open days are gone, you will never get them back.
Its all very well putting all the RAF eggs into the RIAT basket, but I do wonder if that is the best way to put the RAF on the map due to the RAF being lost in a sea of competition. A modest input from NATO and the US in both air and static displays and the RAF may as well not be there at all. The RAF village concept (keeping all associated stands together) has its merits, but the flip side is that it is also very easy to completely miss the whole lot, as happened to many at Earls Court last year.