Alan,
I hate to harp on old chap, but you really are missing the point. As Damian asks..where does all the money go?? that is all people like me want to know.
I have had the honour to be involved in Waddo's show, and Damian is quite correct - the prices are much less than half of RIATs and the attendance is probably less than a quarter of a 'good' RIAT. Therefore, we must ask the question....'why does RIAT give such a paltry amount to its 'own' RAFBF charity?'
The overheads are NO cheaper for Waddo (are you suggesting that RIAT pays the RAF/USAF for use of the base??!!)
The insurance is just the same. And let me tell you that the crews DO NOT get a great time! Believe me, whenever my Sqn was ordered to take a jet to RIAT, trying to find a crew was not easy - aircrew DID NOT WANT TO GO!! It was a great deal of nauseous hassle quite frankly.
Now, we can argue about T-shirts and baseball caps and other freebies all day long, and I will concede that in the overall scheme of things, it is NOT a lot of money. But that only adds further weight to my question of 'where does all the money go?'
As for your comment about putting at least 'some money in' well quite frankly thats an appalling statement. It's not what goes into the fund that is in question here....it's what DOES NOT go into the fund that needs addressing, and I don't see or hear anyone from RIAT coming forth to tell us, do you?
Enough said, I feel sad that RIAT has done so badly this year, but it is all of their own making. I only hope that the rot can be halted, and the whole event doesn't die.
Rant over
The Swinging Monkey
'Caruthers, a very large glass of the Famous amber fluid I think'