Waddington Airshow
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Apa, apo ndi kulikonse!
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That Typhoon is sooo noisy!
I made a big mistake of taking the ATC vehicle to the runway edge for its display at Farnboro in 2002. 50m from a rotating one made me put the camera down!!
I made a big mistake of taking the ATC vehicle to the runway edge for its display at Farnboro in 2002. 50m from a rotating one made me put the camera down!!
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Qh!! Waddo and RIAT - all that lovely tucker in the hospitality tents whilst watching the display from a prime spot with Joe Public looking on - Halcyon days - Military jet noise, the sound of freedom! Roll on next year.
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Nottingham...
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Well I think the record for the most car alarms set off has to go to the.... Lightning!!
Sunday evening, two lightnings on a 'fast taxi' (is that a taxi?) along the runway at Bruntingthorpe, (the nearest of the two was the only one on reheat and that was only on the top engine), What an outstanding noise, smell and well the feeling of power and nostalgia in one package!
The comment someone made 'Jet noise, the sound of freedom' they weren't wrong!
I don't think there was a single car there with out the alarm sounding along with all of the proving grounds vehicles! Even my MG! (and it doesn't even have an alarm!)
Sunday evening, two lightnings on a 'fast taxi' (is that a taxi?) along the runway at Bruntingthorpe, (the nearest of the two was the only one on reheat and that was only on the top engine), What an outstanding noise, smell and well the feeling of power and nostalgia in one package!
The comment someone made 'Jet noise, the sound of freedom' they weren't wrong!
I don't think there was a single car there with out the alarm sounding along with all of the proving grounds vehicles! Even my MG! (and it doesn't even have an alarm!)
Last edited by Av18tor; 13th Jul 2004 at 17:27.
A good way to beat the traffic at Waddo, as I discovered, is to wait until people drive towards the taxiways to queue up for the gates. Then you drive through the empty spaces across the grass and go to the furthest exit from the tower. Saved us buckets of time - but keep it under your hat, eh? 
A rather smug Ginge
A rather smug Ginge
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Didnt have a problem geting out of Waddo either and was at home 35 miles away in about an hour!
Only problem was caused by the snowdrops trying to do traffic control and causing a problem by waving their arms at the cars leaving and creating a problem which was non existant to start with. Never mind only added about 15 mins to the journey!
(And there was airshow radio to listen to on the way out!
)
A friend of mine was a voulanteer at RIAT at both Cottesmore and Fairford for the past few years, until last year when he applied for the usual application form, they didnt send one, when called in to see if he could collect one, was told to write in, (which he did there and then handed the letter to a member of staff), again only to be ignored. Left several messages for staff to contact him but this didnt happen, even though it was explained that he needed to let his employer know a min of 2 months in advance that he would require leave . Despite many calls and letters he was completely ignored. What a wonderful way to treat some one who used their own vehicle for RIAT's benefit, (he refused to claim milage or use the 'free' petrol provided, would work 14 hrs most days for 9 days) would bend over backwards to be at the beck and call of the organisers and this was the way they treated him.
Can't post here what he thought of them. Needless to say he didn't offer his assistance this year!
RIAT have lost and will keep losing volunteers if they don't have the courtesy to say thanks for the offer of assistance but we are fully staffed this year or what ever the reason they couldnt use this guy was. They will then have to employ people to fill the volunteers posts at a cost and the obvious result will be less to charity.
Waddo beats RIAT completely in my mind anyhow, brilliant display, reasonable entry costs, not overly commercialised, good access and egress and its not 4.5 hours from home either!
Only problem was caused by the snowdrops trying to do traffic control and causing a problem by waving their arms at the cars leaving and creating a problem which was non existant to start with. Never mind only added about 15 mins to the journey!
(And there was airshow radio to listen to on the way out!
)A friend of mine was a voulanteer at RIAT at both Cottesmore and Fairford for the past few years, until last year when he applied for the usual application form, they didnt send one, when called in to see if he could collect one, was told to write in, (which he did there and then handed the letter to a member of staff), again only to be ignored. Left several messages for staff to contact him but this didnt happen, even though it was explained that he needed to let his employer know a min of 2 months in advance that he would require leave . Despite many calls and letters he was completely ignored. What a wonderful way to treat some one who used their own vehicle for RIAT's benefit, (he refused to claim milage or use the 'free' petrol provided, would work 14 hrs most days for 9 days) would bend over backwards to be at the beck and call of the organisers and this was the way they treated him.
Can't post here what he thought of them. Needless to say he didn't offer his assistance this year!
RIAT have lost and will keep losing volunteers if they don't have the courtesy to say thanks for the offer of assistance but we are fully staffed this year or what ever the reason they couldnt use this guy was. They will then have to employ people to fill the volunteers posts at a cost and the obvious result will be less to charity.
Waddo beats RIAT completely in my mind anyhow, brilliant display, reasonable entry costs, not overly commercialised, good access and egress and its not 4.5 hours from home either!
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Down the field!
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Bay et al and all those that continue to defend RIAT's p1ss poor performance on donations... Just how much was given at the end of last years show?... Er they gave JACK!... Absolutly nothing. RIAT is a fantastic display... never seen another show like it, but don’t sit there telling me that they do a wonderful job for the RAFBFE... Coz they dammed well don’t!
Last edited by Grob Driver; 15th Jul 2004 at 23:10.
Join Date: Apr 2004
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riat and waddington
waddington is normally a very good show but weather on sat was a factor for a poor display , and as for the riat well its just to big and there for attracts the rip off sharks why it could not be left at raf cottesmore as a smaller show with the A1 road for moving traffic fast away from the base is beyond me . a few less tornado s and herks wont be missed by anyone so bring it back to the middle of the country so every one as fair access to the show , as fairford is and always been a nightmare to get off after the show
One point made by a corporate host was that Cottesmore was too far from London for many of their guests, plus road access (for 'VIP's) was very poor - everyone had to go through the same narrow roads to get to the entrance.
Glad to hear that Paul is still doing an excellent job at Waddo!
The RIAT/SBAC debate is interesting. With more restrictions on airspace near F'boro than Fairford, it is hardly surprising that RIAT puts on a bigger display - whereas there's hardly anything flying at F'boro these days. But the trade pavilions are very extensive at F'boro, whereas at RIAT it's the usual airshow stuff in the main.
And it's all getting rather expensive nowadays!
Glad to hear that Paul is still doing an excellent job at Waddo!
The RIAT/SBAC debate is interesting. With more restrictions on airspace near F'boro than Fairford, it is hardly surprising that RIAT puts on a bigger display - whereas there's hardly anything flying at F'boro these days. But the trade pavilions are very extensive at F'boro, whereas at RIAT it's the usual airshow stuff in the main.
And it's all getting rather expensive nowadays!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Nottingham...
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Beags,
I have worked at Cottesmore and Faiford and thought that the flow of the traffic was better out of Cottesmore.
As for the Corporate hosts feeling that Cottesmore was too far from London, the actual difference from Hyde Park is, its 8 miles further to Cottesmore, would not have thought that a further 8 miles would even be noticed, it's not like its 45 miles or another hours drive.
If the Vip access by road was considered a problem, why couldnt they allow the VIP's to travel by road to Wittering, park there then have a Helecopter transfer to Cottesmore! Much more style and VIP like arrival!
Would take minutes and maybe, if the RAF wanted to supply the chopper, they could make a few extra beans on the side to keep the counters happy! And no doubt a nice bit of publicity to!
But have to agree, Waddo does seem to be the best value, very well organised and run and its only 45 mins home!
I have worked at Cottesmore and Faiford and thought that the flow of the traffic was better out of Cottesmore.
As for the Corporate hosts feeling that Cottesmore was too far from London, the actual difference from Hyde Park is, its 8 miles further to Cottesmore, would not have thought that a further 8 miles would even be noticed, it's not like its 45 miles or another hours drive.
If the Vip access by road was considered a problem, why couldnt they allow the VIP's to travel by road to Wittering, park there then have a Helecopter transfer to Cottesmore! Much more style and VIP like arrival!
Would take minutes and maybe, if the RAF wanted to supply the chopper, they could make a few extra beans on the side to keep the counters happy! And no doubt a nice bit of publicity to!
But have to agree, Waddo does seem to be the best value, very well organised and run and its only 45 mins home!
Certainly traffic flow out of Cottesmore was fairly easy - but getting there wasn't!
Re. VIPs in helicopter transfers from Wittering - I would have loved to have seen Barsteward Bill being strapped into the back of a Chinny!
Re. VIPs in helicopter transfers from Wittering - I would have loved to have seen Barsteward Bill being strapped into the back of a Chinny!
