RIAT....a good show or Airships' junket?

[Trumpet_trousers]

Well, it's that time of year again and traffic chaos is bound to ensue in the environs of a certain Gloucs. airbase.
The question is, is RIAT still good value for your 'average' punter, or has it just become an excuse for a load of retired (and semi-retired) Airships and others to freeload and exchange their latest golfing/shooting/fishing stories?
Yes, I understand that some hosting etc. is needed, but can it surely justify it's continued existence in these PC days of accountability?

As an aside, just how many F-16's do you need in a flying display?
Personally, I prefer the smaller scale venues where the emphasis appears to be on originality and informality (Old Warden is but one example.) I would wager that your average Joe (Public) would be hard-pressed to tell one end of an F-16 from another, let alone tell which country it came from.....

....BTW, to the Spotting fraternity.......when you were individually/collectively told you needed to 'get out a bit more' that's not really what they had in mind...


(Donning helmet and flak jacket now!)

[smartman]

Oh dear - I'm going there, by second-hand invitation to a 'chalet', and will enjoy it. Been there over many working years, both as a displayer and a lobster-muncher - and equally enjoyed both ends of the stick. I'm FAR from being PC, but I don't ever want to live in a land that would have us all eating out of the same trough purely through out-of-place bigotry or envy. Spent several years in Oz where, refreshingly, there was little attitude of them and us - even though there were plenty of chalets!

If you so despise the blazer brigade, go throw pies at them (and me on this occasion). But seriously - get a life - enjoy the day whatever the patch you tread. I did/do - I'm v fortunate to be 'chaletted' this time round - but next year, I'll equally revel in the mud - without a touch of envy.

[Trumpet_trousers]

If you so despise the blazer brigade, go throw pies at them (and me on this occasion). But seriously - get a life - enjoy the day whatever the patch you tread. I did/do - I'm v fortunate to be 'chaletted' this time round - but next year, I'll equally revel in the mud - without a touch of envy.


...Afraid you've got the wrong end of the stick, old boy......not envious at all, just curious as to whether people think that the show is still worth going to, or has become too big and unruly.


Enjoy the show...

[BEagle]

I stopped bothering to sort myself out a chalet invite after they invented 'loser's Friday' corporate invites. That was a way of trying to extract information out of those who might have some in exchange for a spot of lunch....but the show was total doggy-doo with just a few arrivals and the odd practice. Presumably the SIPs came on Sat/Sun? Whatever - it made people think twice about those who invited them viewing them in such a light.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if this year's RIAT is the last. Wx forecast is poor, traffic chaos and queues seem inevitable.......

Really hope I'm wrong on this though.

[mary_hinge]

View from some one who will attend in a corporate hospitality role on the Friday, from a large UK Aerospace maintenance company: Friday is a thank you to our supporters throughout the year! Saturday and Sunday for senior people (high rankers, C.E.O.s etc)

Look forward to the good, try and ignore bad. Any contribution to the fund should be gratefully received.

Try and enjoy it...................

[BEagle]

Yup - as I said, Friday is for the "Thank you, but you're not good enough for the proper show" corporate hostility - and Sat/Sun is for the serious corporate bottom kissing.

"Losers' Friday" it surely is.... But I don't care - I shall be busy elsewhere all weekend.

Hope it doesn't rain too hard

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

No queues for us as four Alberts steam thru on Saturday TOT morning ish............as K's are leading:E

Same again Sunday, thank the Lord tasking is light at the moment :rolleyes:

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[smartman]

Tempted to respond - but I won't. Instead I'll enjoy the hospitality -----

[Hoots]

Afraid no Nimrod flying at RIAT this year, how many fast jets does there have to be this year.

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

Hoots,

One of those noisy beggars just flew over Mrs L and I here in dreary Chipper's..............no idea where it's bound for now tho':ok:

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[smartman]

Beagle

Must take issue with you over what you refer to as 'losers friday'.
Along with an old ex- Vulcan pal I used to organise that event, and we were given a budget for inviting, in the main, serving guys from all walks of the air force, including display participants. They were fun days, devoid of the greater formality attached to Saturday and Sunday. Your line about 'extracting information' is way off the mark; the day was all about a whole bunch of mates getting away from hangars, desks and cockpits, being well-fed, and having a good p**s-up on the Company.

Far from being 'not good enough for the proper show', there was always a heap of people hanckering after an invite. And it was often the case that those invited to Saturday or Sunday would quietly ask if they could attend the Friday bash instead.

Somebody upset you?

[mary_hinge]

Guests loved Friday, hosts loved Friday, support staff loved Friday ….Who thought they were a loser?

BEags: why sort your self out a ticket………No Invite?

Smartman:
__________________________________________________
Far from being 'not good enough for the proper show', there was always a heap of people hankering after an invite. And it was often the case that those invited to Saturday or Sunday would quietly ask if they could attend the Friday bash instead.
__________________________________________________
Agree in total.

Mary H: Out

[Toddington Ted]

I must admit that I prefer the Flying Legends Display at Duxford to RIAT these days. The aircraft at Duxford are perhaps more suited to my increasing love of nostalgia and my decreasing love of modern military aviation with its emphasis on so-called super technology (heck, I even have trouble with this computer!:} ) During a previous tour of duty, we were all required to undertake some flight safety filming duties and some other filming work for RIAT. As a result of the Quality Audit system used by our RAF unit (and it was OK really - honest) we were required to log all time spent on a particular task - this little one for RIAT actually took about 75 man (person?) days and our Gp Capt was not impressed, "but that's what it took Sir, honest!". However, I did get to see the show twice, from the Tower!:ok:

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

Smartman,

"the day was all about a whole bunch of mates getting away from hangars, desks and cockpits, being well-fed, and having a good p**s-up on the Company."

And there was foolish old me thinking all the money raised was for our service charity..............:}

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[Grimweasel]

pls see loadies vs movers thread for post show synopsis...(from me)

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

Good effort this morning with three of us in perfect formation......shame about Albert 4 tho' :rolleyes:

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[PhoenixDaCat]

Well I was there on Friday, on a free tickets as a member of the Air Cadet Organisation. Even the coach down there from manchester was paid for by the RAF!

Shame about the weather, as we only got a 2 hours flying display, and that consisted of different jets doing the same flat display.

One thing that we all noticed was that all american aircraft on ground display, and only the american ones, were guarded by armed british police officers, or as the crew of a globemaster called them "security". "security" wouldn't let the american crews show cadets around their own aircraft, which I thought was well out of order. The crews were more than happy to show air minded cadets around their aircraft and some jumped up copper tells them that they can't. What has become of this country?

[BEagle]

More than my job's worth, sorry.

Perhaps these were MoD Plod under direct orders; hardly likely to be village bobbies from rural Wilthire or Gloucestershire.

Hope you enjoyed the display despite the wonderful seasonal weather!

[williamp]

Speaking from a member of the public, who likes aircraft but doesnt know an awful lot baouyt them, I loved the airshow.

I went on Saturdya, and my friends and I had a great time enjoying the atmosephere and friendliness.

I normally go to a lot of motorsport events, where the event secutiry are stupid and officious, but at fairford they wree helpful and friendly

I would go again

[tornstorm]

The whole security thing was just a general presence. Some aircraft (ie F-117, B-52 etc) had their own personal guards (even the F-117 during the Gala dinner still had a plod stood next to it) but I saw a copper stood next to a C130.
With the exception of all the money thrown at RIAT by the MoD for staffing etc, the lunches are either put on by RAFBF enterprises or the host company (Marshall, Rolls Royce, EADS etc) they are invited by those specific companies to go and watch the airshow and hob-nob their day away, except when the Harrier is doing his display as any sort of conversation is impossible during that.:D

[Neil Porter]

Always_broken_in_wilts

Was at home Sat (live on doorstep of Abingdon airfield) & nice to see the 4 ship go around a few prior to your run in..

Next question: Any chance to rehash the 4 ship or even a two ship of Herkys at my Abingdon Fayre 'Air & Country show' on 1st May 2005 at Abingdon - maybe incorporate it as part of a training flight or something!! Tried to get a Herk in for static this year but no joy so maybe a flythru in 05 is a good option!! Keep me & the show in mind!!

[Wycombe]

....so bring back the Green Barrows

Sorry, back to reality, fat chance of that in these penny-pinching times.

Well done to Albert formation though, looked splendid on Sunday at FFD.

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

Saturday was the "Green Barrow's" who are being used sparingly:ok:

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[The Nr Fairy]

And was the Brazilians' after-show shindig on Sunday as good as it sounded ?

[SVK]

The Nr Fairy

Certainly was mate! The Brazilians put on a great party - when I left them they were re-enacting a world cup match with the dutch and germans............The Brazilian Beer didn't settle very well but hey! it was free and plentiful.

Also, the Green Barrows looked fantastic from the roof of our Herc K. Its just a pity that the Discovery Wings Camera man dropped his camera off the edge!!!

[Trumpet_trousers]

looked fantastic from the roof of our Herc K

....I thought the Fun Detectors (aka the Fat Controller) put paid to that practice a few years back - not professional, or something equally as feeble as that, was the reason.....

[smartman]

ABIW

Absolutely correct - the Fund did, and does, benefit from the Company's Friday event.

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

And if you decided to forgoe said "company funded pi@@ up" next year, maybe even pay for it yourselves, would the fund benifit even more?

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[rej]

SVK

I bet the Green Barrows looked even better from my house (on the Patch) on Sunday. Nuff Said

Rej

[smartman]

ABIW

Doh! You just don't get it, do you.

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

Obviously not..............perhaps you would care to enlighten me:confused:

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[BLW Skylark 4]

Having just returned to reality today from ten days working at RIAT can I say that the impression I had from most visitors was that they had a good day. All American aircraft did have a security presence from arrival thru to departure, armed MPs during the non public days, MOD Plod on the others.

Contrary to a previous posting though I would say that the MOD plod were keen to help accommodate the ATC where they could, especially on the C5 & C141. Whilst wandering around fulfilling my duties near these aircraft I was approached by a Policeman to enquire if it was possible to get the green cones and ropes moved such that punters could do walk throughs on the aircraft. The problem being that they were under instructions that all USAF aircraft were considered to be a secure area and once they let people under the ropes they tend to go a wandering. I cant claim all the credit but after a chat with an Eng friend who in turn spoke to a Ranger - low the next time I was on Apron White there were blue cone roads up to the ramps of the C5.

Has anyone got pics of the Aircrew Enclosure golf buggy being driven through the C5 or similarly the same buggy with 15 + Dutch aircrew on board? If so, a PM would be appreciated.

Not to sure about the bouncers at the Hanger Party though - personally I felt their presence and behaviour a bit OTT, especially regarding a certain incident! If anyone has any pics of that (and I dont mean the Brazilian Herc Captains stage appearance) please PM me.

As far as numbers through the doors are concerned, I understand 20% up circa 150K. Roll on 2005 hopefully!

Finally, just in case Beags or TSW are reading this - we didnt get any freebie hats this year!

'BLW'

[tornstorm]

The Hanger party bouncers were under strict instructions to stop all fun I fear especially as they were so efficient in chucking us all out dead on time.
I agree that they were a little heavy handed concerning the incident. I saw an Italian C130 pilot desperately talking to the largest chap trying to calm the situation down and get off with just a b@ll@cking but to no avail :oh: (On the plus side, succeeded in zapping the two bouncers who escorted her out:D)

[thejazzman]

I was working in the aircrew enclosure and the C5 crew wouldn't let the golf buggy just drop people off outside, they insisted that it drive up the ramp... once it was inside they said that we may-as-well just drive all the way through, very amsusing... not sure what the MOD plod made of it though!!!

With regards to the hanger party and the afore mentioned incident my mate does have pictures, but only on his phone and they aren't great quality!!! But did meet the "offenders" outside and they had been told that this was the norm for the hanger party by some Herk crew!!! Think they were totally stiched basically!! :D

[BLW Skylark 4]

Jazzman,

If you're who I think you are we may well know each other and have consumed the odd beverage or two over the week! Drop me a PM if you think you know me - I'll give you a clue, photos are of particular interest!

Tornstorm,

Those werent the 'bouncers' in question I wanted the photos of...!!!!

'BLW'

[tornstorm]

BLW
Jazzman
I have photos of the appropriate bouncers on MY phone ;) (Can't help but think I may be the mate in question)

[Morrissey]

Were a certain Middle-Eastern Herky crew loading via the back ramp on Sunday evening?

They had co-opted a fork-lift to load several pallets of gear on - he was really struggling as the back of the aircraft was right next to a tent they appeared to be in danger of demolishing.

Why fly an 8 foot pot plant (!!) all the way over here? Or was it a present for the wife after a long week away from home?

[Trumpet_trousers]

Morrissey....

can only assume (I wasn't there..) that it was the Jordanians......well-known for having the show revolve around them in previous years re: setting up 'temples' and the like...

[smartman]

ABIW

(Sorry to bore you chaps)

I assume then, that when you receive next year's invite (which I'm arranging), you'll both decline and send a cheque for your forfeited day's worth of hospitality to the Fund?