RIAT....a good show or Airships' junket?
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RIAT....a good show or Airships' junket?
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!)
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!)
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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.
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.
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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...
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.
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.
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Good show or ..............
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...................
Look forward to the good, try and ignore bad. Any contribution to the fund should be gratefully received.
Try and enjoy it...................
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
"Losers' Friday" it surely is.... But I don't care - I shall be busy elsewhere all weekend.
Hope it doesn't rain too hard
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No queues for us as four Alberts steam thru on Saturday TOT morning ish............as K's are leading
Same again Sunday, thank the Lord tasking is light at the moment
all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
Same again Sunday, thank the Lord tasking is light at the moment
all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
Last edited by Always_broken_in_wilts; 16th Jul 2004 at 11:43.
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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'
all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
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'
all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
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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?
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?
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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
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
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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!
) 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!
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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
"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
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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?
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?
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!
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!
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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
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
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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.
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.