Farnborough Ripoff?

[Grimweasel]

Just back from Farnborough today (Sunday). Now, although the Vulcan was memorable I fail to see how they can charge the public £28 per person for such a small static and flying display? Considering that Joe Public is just riding on the back of the larger corporate events of the week, I find the price of the ticket far too high for what was on offer?

Most of the trade stands were closed to the public and what ones were open seemed to be full of disinterested staff, jaded after a week of work. Considering the amount of deals signed in the week, and the level of corporate tents etc then why was the static and flying display so tired and dull.
At least they had the transport into/out of the event sorted; no boggy carparks here.
I think I may write to the organisers and complain...

[Sean Dell]

I watched the display from a car park in the centre of Farnborough and was glad I hadn't paid the entry fee! Appalling end to the Airshow week (apart from the Reds of course). Would have been better to have the fast jet a/c displays dotted around throughout the day rather than in a glut at the beginning.

You would have thought that after the cancellation of Fairford the organisers of F'boro would have been keen to put on a good display!

Very poor.

And please don't blame the weather.....

[Roger the cabin boy]

Personally, I thought it was really good, except for the nightmare that was getting out of the parking lot. The displays were good (Never heard of "The Blades", but v. impressive) - Vulcan was just awesome and the A380, that was excellent. And, (it pains me to say('cos I'm jealous)) the Reds were nice, friendly blokes who gave a good display to round it off.

Lots of gizzits for the kids, things to participate in, interactive - all in all, better than RIAT (this year) and, for a trade show with a public bent, I liked it. (Free tickets helped).

[green granite]

The best day used to be the Friday, open to the public all the trade stands still open and the full flying display.

[whowhenwhy]

As the man said, a trade show with a public bent. The FBO guys could not have changed the programme at the last minute to include extra stuff just because Fairford cancelled - planning for these things doesn't work doesn't work like that. Yes they could have spaced out the 3 fast-jet displays, but then people would have moaned that they were dotted throughout the day. It was great to see the Vulcan again after all these years, the A380 was awesome, Blades good, Typhoon very good but I take my hat off to the Hornet driver. What he was making the jet do was very impressive, especially the slow speed nose pointing piece if you end up in a turning fight:ok:. Mrs WWW and I were especially impressed with all of the rug rat distraction devices that were available free of charge - well done Farnborough! Of course I did get trade tickets....:E

[OpsSix]

I've now been to Farnborough 5 times with the first 4 visits being on trade days. As the trade display (flying) seemed to be more or less the same as 2 years ago I decided to hold off and go on the Saturday instead.
I must say I was quite disappointed as were 4 of my colleagues I was with that day.

The Vulcan was great as expected but a little unexpected was the Vimy having a little jaunt accross the grass then back onto the runway then accross the grass again! :ok:

[vulcanpilot]

Not done Farnborough for many years, but as we got bounced by RIAT I bought a pair of tickets for me and Mrs Vulcanpilot (and tickets to the Diamond Enclosure, which was nice away from most of the crowds).

Good to see the old girl back in the air again even if the display was a bit less sporting than when she was owned by HMG.

But tend to agree that for the money it was pretty lame.

Vulcan ...:ok:
Typhoon ... :ok:
A380 ... :ok:

but I have to say the MOST disappointing display for me was the Bone - thought it had cancelled and then did a late-in-the-display two-pass flypast. Previous shows I always remember the thing 'arriving' low, loud and VERY fast. All we got was a slow wings extended pass, then it came back round with a faster wings swept pass and then ambled off....

All in all, not a patch on the Farnborough shows of the past couple of decades :(

[Seloco]

I went on the Friday to miss the crowds and see the stands manned. Weather wasn't great but the display seemed to be pretty close to that advertised for Sat/Sun and anyway I really only went to see the mighty VULCAN! She did not disappoint as we had ringside spot at the run-up point so we could not just hear the induction howl but also feel the roar....

Like others I thought the A380 was impressively displayed, Reds still hugely enjoyable, Bone was disappointing (but had he blotted his copybook earlier in the week and was therefore playing safe?), BA609 different, WW1 bi- and triplanes beautifully choreographed.

Trouble is, some of us can remember what it was like in the 60s. Like certain other things in life, once you have seen a whole squadron of Vulcans scramble, nothing else quite compares, does it?!

[Wycombe]

I was there yesterday (Sun), and agree with some of what has been said above:

1. Flying display content - great to see the 'phoon being thrown around (what energy that thing has), the F18 with it's mid-air "stops" etc, the Vulcan....enough said. The 380....enough said (it will never do these things climbing out from 27L!). I also enjoyed a spirited display from the DC-6.Had never seen The Blades display before - they are good and great entertainment (although the formations and breaks etc. remind you a little too much of where they all used to work IMHO!)

The B1 fly-by's (at at least 2000' I should think) were a waste of time.

Lastly, Guy Westgate's glider display :ok:

I left before RAFAT displayed, as I hope to catch them in a much more scenic environment in Cornwall next month.

2. Statics - very disappointing - a lot of it had left at the end of the business week. US Mil stuff all parked too close together.

......however, like it or not they apparently broke all one day attendance records yesterday, so if that's all that's needed to pull in 80,000 people, I guess that's what we'll get.

[trident3A]

I went on Sunday and enjoyed it by and large but I thought the flying display was a bit front loaded, A380, typhoon, F-16, F1-18 all one after another..the Vulcan was amazing and the red arrows good as ever. But oh the queues.. to get in to the car park, to get on the buses, to get through security, to get a burger, to get to our £35 for 6mins helicopter ride, to get out of the car park..maddening and enough to put anyone off. I don't remember it being anything like as bad last time.

[Strelnikov]

The Vulcan was worth £28 (annual opco £1m.....hmmm.....do the maths)

Everything else a bonus.

Nobody forced you in there. The prices were published weeks beforehand as was the flying programme.

Tight fisted whinging skinflints. Do something else next time, there will be more space for the rest of us.

With a bit of luck the skinflints are also the ones who block the crowd line with their windbreaks. Please don't come back.

[CrazyMonkey]

The displays were good considering the anal rules that were forced upon the pilots. Lumping similar aircraft together was a mistake but the event was busy and there were no real gaps.

As for the price, for a London air show I thought £28 was a bargain. This is especially so when you consider the costs of hosting an air display of this size. Great value for money I reckon.

[Speed bird 002]

Out of interest....how would one become a display pilot after becoming an airline pilot?....i'm seriously considering becoming a display pilot once im in the airlines.

[Northern Hero]

I took Mrs. NH and our three year old daughter on Sunday. Parked what seemed miles away then endured the rugby scrum through security. The security guards just gave up in the end and switched the scanners and arches off.
The static display was very disappointing, not much to see in the halls and agree with all other comments about the flying display.

Value for money at £28 each ? No, although my daughter took advantage of the free bouncy castle and rides and the traffic marshalling by the local Constabulary was superb. :D

I'd suggest a photographers area rather than trampling over numerous picnics to get decent photos. (and I apologise if I stood on someones scotch egg during the 'Vulcan photo rush').

As usual, the Reds were superb. Anyone know who's AN24 was parked behind the trees at the AAIB ? I could just see the tail from the Kingfisher ATR72.

[Wycombe]

The Antonov over on the northside Sunday was from the Slovak AF - presumably support for the 2 Mig29's in static (one with a rather natty pixelated colourscheme).

[rsdavies]

I thought the combination of the exhibitions, static display and flying display makes Farnborough unique. I thought it was pretty good this year, with the A380 and the Reds/Blades being the most memorable bit. Even some of the food was edible this time! And we found quite a few exhibition stands still open on Saturday, with some very helpful staff to explain the machine tools, the components, the engines and, of course, the simulators. Not something I'd do every time, but every four years or so seems about right to me. If you do go next year, please try the bus connections. The car parks and roads around Farnborough, as you saw on Saturday, simply cannot cope any other way!

[BYALPHAINDIA]

I was looking forward to the 'Great Yorkshire Show'

But sadly there will be no Aircraft noise at Elvington this year.

Airshows don't seem to happen much North of watford!:=

What a Carry on.....:ugh::*

[A and C]

I was happy that the entry fee reflected the quality of the show, it is the first time that I have been on a public day for about thirty years and the size of the crowd surprized me.

The trade show was almost dead and this for me was not a surprize but I did get to talk to one or two people and if one of these new trade contacts delivers the service that he speaks of then I will recover my four times my entry fee in in one transaction.

It was unfortnate that this year I could not get to the trade days due to other business comitments so on reflection it was a good day out but a little short on the business front and Mrs A and C had a good time watching the flying (and trying to buy a Cirrus!).

The only down side that I could see was the traffic getting in and out, I simlpy can,t do traffic jam's but would like to thank the Police for being very helpfull to those of us on motorbikes to make the transit of the car gridlock even faster.

[oversteer]

Isn't it a bit unfair to expect the exhibitors to deal with the public on the non-trade days - they are there to do business and I bet they get very little leads on the weekends. Not only that but they've been there for 5 days already and probably away from home too.

Some might enjoy being there and be interested in aviation, but I bet a lot wouldn't and just want to be home ! :)

[candoo]

Having worked Farnborough for the 6th time in succesion as a trade exhibitor it is hard work and yes by the weekend most want to disappear into the sunset.

That being said we have considered getting staff who are not involved in the day to day business but have a good knowledge of the industry to work the weekend. It would work well all round as a freebie for the staff and families plus a presence on the stand.

I still believe the infrastructure to be an issue at Farnborough, I stayed in Reading :eek: and it took me nigh on two hours each way every day, it does wear you out particularly with all the Corporate hospitality and so on :p

I much prefer Paris but probably more so because it is out of the UK and a breath of fresh air.

As for the displays I thought them excellent and will not be swayed!

[CYMT14]

Having worked for the Air Show this week, I did experience first hand the flying displays and perhaps they could have been a bit more impressive but they were still very very good. With regards to the queues for buses and car parks - we were dealing with world cup final numbers so we were told. To get people on these buses safely it did take longer. The same with security - we had to do the job effectively. People did complain at the queues, which is fair enough. However if we didn't do the job as we were supposed to and heaven forbid someone did get through with a forbidden object, the same people would waste no time in compaining again.
The price of the ticket is a bit steep, but considering all that was on offer, I think it was fair.

All in all Farnborough was and is a great event and long may it continue!!!

[Yorkie37]

Having visited farnborough for the first time in more than ten years, I thought the show was very dull compared to what it used to be. In the past most of the exhibits used to fly but on saturday it was just a run of the mill airshow with the addition of the A380(excellent display).
Entry cost was fair
1.5 hours in a Q from the M3(not good)
Arrived at the rushmoor car park, huge Q for the shuttle bus and no buses, 20 min walk instead(which was probably quicker than waiting for the bus!!!)
On the whole disappointed

[CYMT14]

Just out of interest, what did you think of the Gate F staff??!!!

[LysanderV8]

My wife and I went on Friday. Parked in car park I and the shuttle bus to Gate F was right by the car. Very impressed with that. Entry at Gate F through security was not too difficult, and the staff were pretty good-natured as far as I could see.

The flying display was OK. The Vulcan was worth the money on its own - that wonderful roar. By comparison, one could hardly hear the A380 except when it landed and used reverse thrust. Impressed with the A380 doing a fly by at 92kts, only just above my usual approach speed in my spamcan. The reds were gave their usual professional performance, despite a low cloudbase, but I think the Blades are actually more impressive. Maybe I have got a bit jaundiced about the Reds after seeing them so many times.

We had seats in the grandstand which was well worth the money, as it was sited at display centre.

Getting out on Friday after the display ended was not diificult, having used the shuttle bus once again.

All in all, a good show and good value to boot.

My only disappointment was the tech problem on the DC-6 that prevented it flying. Oh yes, I echo the previous comments about the Bone. Very boring indeed.

I'll certainly go back in 2010.

Lysander

[Bumpy up here]

To those complaining about the B1 - I think you will find that the rest of the week was tainted by a rather 'enthusiastic' flypast on the Tuesday.

I was at the end of the runway (on the hill above Eelmore) and I was still shaking 5 minutes later - I have never heard a noise like it - and it was between the crowdline and runway (rather than the display line).

Overall, the show was better than it has been in recent years, although it would have been even better if the F22 had stayed past Monday.

Why did the Slovak Mig-29's turn up and stay in the static ? Seemed a wasted opportunity, especially as the Mig OVT was not there, this time.

I was in on the Friday and experienced the Vulcan - well done to all concerned.

So, roll on Farnborough 2010 and thanks for this year's effort. :ok:

Paul.

[nacluv]

I went on Saturday and thought it was all fine. I went solely because of the Vulcan, but apart from that plenty of other stuff impressed. Namely the A380 (great display, particularly the high-alpha slow pass. Only the F18 did that manoeuvre better); the F18; Blades; Reds; etc.

I saw stuff I have never seen (with my own eyes) fly before - PBY, Bone, A380 for example.

No BBMF? I thought they were on the playlist or did they go tech?

Maybe the playlist was the wrong way round - should have built up (literally) to a crescendo, rather than putting the fast/loud stuff all up front.

558 was very tame (even in comparison with Waddo a couple of weeks ago) but I heard that they got a good bollocking from the CAA on Friday (wish I had seen that one!) and had to back off... := :* Still, it's a miracle she's up there at all, so we should be V. grateful for that.

I thought the WW1 dogfight re-enactment was actually quite interesting - well done to all involved. Never seen that before.

There was plenty of stuff for the kids, which was a real deal-maker in my case.

About 3hrs from Nottingham-ish to the door. Not bad. Less on the way back.

Yes, I'd go again.

[SilentHandover]

It was too windy for the BBMF.

[CYMT14]

Thanks! Nice to know someone had good things to say about us instead of complaining!!!!

[Gulf4uk]

hi

There has and always will be moans about the Show and any Show
for that matter but given the Weather Mid week and the winds at
weekend they show went very Well. Saturday BBMF cancelled due
to wind problems . The Prices for refreshments were always high
but those who Attend these events know to bring there own.
BUSES this show FREE from Stations big Saving for Some I used
them to see what they were like and a good service but for
getting there in morning through the traffic and at Security.Again
very Friendly and no real problems. As for display very good given
the amount of new types that were there only gripe was the B1
What really was that there for .
For locals we had the usual traffic diversions and delays but all
in all traffic was no worse than Usual try this week Road works
all over the town real Chaos . So well done to ALL And roll on
2010 and the next show

TONY
FARNBOROUGH RESIDENT And aviation Enthusiast

[Mycroft]

Airshows don't seem to happen much North of watford!

Duxford (IWM) is north of Watford. Admittedly their displays are of a more historic nature - nothing 21st century and even the Vulcan is a bit modern

[Leezyjet]

I went on the first day, first time on a trade day, thankfully on a free ticket. It was nice not having to endure the masses that are there on the public days although the flying display wasn't that great, except for the F-22.

I wanted to see the Vulcan, so went back on the Sunday afternoon but rather than pay £28, we sat outside in the car park at the BMW dealership and watched from there.

Farnborough has always been a bit of a strange show. As it is predominantly a trade show, the trade are not to bothered about the flying displays as they know what the a/c can do so the flying display during the week is pretty lame. They then just seem to open it to the public for the last weekend, but by that time most of the trade have gone home, and taken their toys with them, so the public too end up with a fairly lame airshow tagged on at the end.

IMHO, if you want to go see and AIRshow, then FNB is not the one to visit, thats what the likes of Waddington and Fairford (granted this years was canx for exceptional reasons) are geared towards, the actual flying and static displays for the public. FNB is about wooing the trade with drinks and canape's in chalets, who know what an aircraft looks like so don't really need to see them on display or flying.

I think the £28 is a bit steep really, but that seems about the normal price these days for an airshow.

:)

[TroyEade]

Why not goto to the Lowestoft (Most eastern point of Britain without getting your feet wet, lol) airshow? 2 days (Thursday and Friday) on the seafront and it's free, however donations are gratefully received, even if it's £1 per person. Had the Vulcan there as well this year. The council offer a park and ride scheme (think its about £5'ish) or come by train and get dropped off 5 minutes walk to the seafront. Maybe make a long weekend of it and watch the Honda world speedboat championship, plus other attractions (e.g. 1000 motorbike calcavade on the sunday). Yep, Red arrows are also at the show doing there displays, plus Battle of Britain memorials, meet the pilots, etc... Not sure what the website address is, but googles' your friend ;-)

Cheers

[Gulf4uk]

hi

We here the same Story every show but then the attendance still broke all
previous records . Yes prices are bad for food and drinks but any show
has those problems .Show regulars will take there own and do . Getting
to the show and most Shows including RIAT Can be a nightmare but again
people choose to come by car even when they know its chaos .
Farnborough 2008 was not a classic those days are long gone but the
crowds and people will be there in July 2010 So will the moaners
and groaners they Will be there and at RIAT as well
Good luck to RIAT They need it Next Show .
And yes I live in Farnborough and get around just as well at show time
because we leave more time to do things we have our own little moans
with the visitors just to keep em happy having something to moan about

Tony
farnborough local