Of course we could cancel all airshows at military airfields for security reasons, as suggested. While we're at it let's cancel all other events where the public comes onto the site as well; the regular Northolt photo-shoots, Antiques Roadshow recordings, etc, and close down attractions such as the FAA Museum and the Museum of Army Flying as they're on military establishments. In fact, put up HESCO barriers all the way round with watchtowers at regular intervals. Just like Bastion but not as warm and with nobody actually trying to kill you.
Now that my tongue has been removed from my cheek, let's be a bit more sensible.
Let's be honest, the RAF needs publicity and
PR, and there are rapidly diminishing opportunities for it. No SAR helicopters, the virtual disappearance of the Town Show, etc, even the widespread adoption of DPM uniform rather than blue for everyday use. There is a big proportion of the public who rarely, if ever, see a military aircraft from one end of the year to the next, and probably have no concept of what the RAF actually does and that it is even a separate organisation from the Army.
Perhaps an answer is to move the event around each year as they do in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, or use personnel from other airfields around the UK to ease the load on Waddington's people. Alternatively, why not do what the Israelis do every year throughout their anniversary week, and open three or four bases to the public -one a day- with a good representative static line-up of aircraft, exhibitions and a couple of flying demos. The idea is to show what the air force does, and what it uses taxpayers' money for, much like the traditional 'At Home' events. And they're happy to let the public onto their airfields, even with their security situation being much worse than ours is
.
Can we also please get away from the idea that only spotters go to airshows? RIAT estimate that only about 10% of their visitors are enthusiasts, so there is a big interest out there, and at the very least I think that, just as in Israel, taxpayers should be able to see just what some of the government buys on their behalf.
By the way, Flightline UK, which is a much more more reliable source of airshow news, lists nine events between now and the end of next month, only three or four of them traditional airshows as opposed to events with a couple of flying displays added in. RAF participation is limited to BBMF and the Reds at one of those shows, and BBMF at two others. Chances to meet 'your RAF' are getting fewer and fewer.