Spirit of Adventure
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"Air show gets a burst of flak" from the public, reports the Oxford Mail.
"The RAF has defended its inaugural Spirit of Adventure event following criticism from visitors. The air show - designed to promote the work of the RAF - was held at Abingdon Airfield on Saturday, but Sunday's show was cancelled due to heavy rain.
It was staged by event specialists Jervis Entertainment Media and promoted and managed by London-based 3a.
Crowds of up to 100,000 had been forecast, but the actual attendance was far lower.
In a series of postings on the Oxford Mail website, some visitors said the show was "overpriced and disappointing", while others called it a "shambles.""
"RAF Group Captain Andy Turner, who was involved with setting up the event, said organisers were happy with the way it had been run by Jervis, but were disappointed at the attendance."
"The RAF has defended its inaugural Spirit of Adventure event following criticism from visitors. The air show - designed to promote the work of the RAF - was held at Abingdon Airfield on Saturday, but Sunday's show was cancelled due to heavy rain.
It was staged by event specialists Jervis Entertainment Media and promoted and managed by London-based 3a.
Crowds of up to 100,000 had been forecast, but the actual attendance was far lower.
In a series of postings on the Oxford Mail website, some visitors said the show was "overpriced and disappointing", while others called it a "shambles.""
"RAF Group Captain Andy Turner, who was involved with setting up the event, said organisers were happy with the way it had been run by Jervis, but were disappointed at the attendance."
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Group Captain Turner said..
This is whats getting to the majority of people and me. Why wont he just put his hands up and say sorry, we f
ked up here?
Instead he signed out a shovel and started digging himself an even bigger hole. As far as the RAF losing credability, Group Captain Turner is in grave danger of losing his if he doesn't wake up and smell the coffee
"I was very pleased with the event organisation, how it was set up and rolled out.
organisers were happy with the way it had been run by Jervis
ked up here?Instead he signed out a shovel and started digging himself an even bigger hole. As far as the RAF losing credability, Group Captain Turner is in grave danger of losing his if he doesn't wake up and smell the coffee
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How unsurprising
It seems sadly that there is no honour left in these people. Spin, spin, spin in order to keep spending taxpayers money on worthless ideas and save their own careers.
Is this a facet of modern RAF public relations? It seems the quality and capability of the directorate has suffered some serious faliures, losses and wastes of money in recent years.
I doubt the truth will ever come out about the true extent of the lunacy. If only someone had some guts and integrity.
More to the point, I wonder how the front line feel about being represented by these cretins.
Internal review board anyone? FOI that!
Is this a facet of modern RAF public relations? It seems the quality and capability of the directorate has suffered some serious faliures, losses and wastes of money in recent years.
I doubt the truth will ever come out about the true extent of the lunacy. If only someone had some guts and integrity.
More to the point, I wonder how the front line feel about being represented by these cretins.
Internal review board anyone? FOI that!
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"RAF Group Captain Andy Turner, who was involved with setting up the event, said organisers were happy with the way it had been run by Jervis, but were disappointed at the attendance."
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One of the comments posted in response to the Oxford Mail article above:
"The event was never billed as an airshow like Fairford or Kemble. [said the Group Captain]"
In a way he's right - it was billed as being better: "The World's Most Spectacular AIRSHOW".
Read http://www.scsaracing.com/SOA.pdf - and weep....
"The event was never billed as an airshow like Fairford or Kemble. [said the Group Captain]"
In a way he's right - it was billed as being better: "The World's Most Spectacular AIRSHOW".
Read http://www.scsaracing.com/SOA.pdf - and weep....
"The Greatest Show on Planet Earth"
Greatest Sham on Planet Earth, more like!
"RAF Aircraft performing Aerobatic displays on each day:
Typhoon (Eurofighter)
Harrier
Hawk
Tutor
Tucano
Hercules
RAFAT (Red Arrows)
Battle of Britain memorial Flight
Falcons parachute display team"
Harrier
Hawk
Tutor
Tucano
Hercules
RAFAT (Red Arrows)
Battle of Britain memorial Flight
Falcons parachute display team"
Now that would have been worth watching.......
"RAF Aircraft performing role demonstrations in conjunction with the RAF movie:
Typhoons (Eurofighters)
Tornados (Fighter)
Harriers (Fighter)
Sentry (Early warning Surveillance Aircraft)
Hercules (Transport Aircraft)
Globemaster (Transport Aircraft)
VC10 Tanker (In Flight Refuelling)
Chinook Helicopters
Merlin Helicopters
Hawks (Jet Trainers)
Sea King Helicopter (Air Sea Rescue)"
Tornados (Fighter)
Harriers (Fighter)
Sentry (Early warning Surveillance Aircraft)
Hercules (Transport Aircraft)
Globemaster (Transport Aircraft)
VC10 Tanker (In Flight Refuelling)
Chinook Helicopters
Merlin Helicopters
Hawks (Jet Trainers)
Sea King Helicopter (Air Sea Rescue)"
A few no-shows from amongst that line up.......
Air apathy
Editorial comment in todays' Oxford Mail:
Air apathy
It is clear that organisers grossly
overestimated the level of public
interest in the RAF's Spirit of
Adventure event at Abingdon.
A crowd of 100,000 was predicted
to watch what was billed as the
"most spectacular air show ever",
but only a fraction of that figure
turned out to witness what many
described as a damp squib.
The atrocious Bank Holiday
weather no doubt was partly to
blame. High entrance charges may
also have been a factor.
The organisers, meanwhile, have
gone strangely quiet.
We hope they're busy holding a
full post mortem, ready to report
back to the scores of complainants
who have come forward since the
weekend.
There is also a full page spread on page 3 (the lady in the photograph doesn't look very happy!) and an invitation to 'Have Your Say Online Now' at www.oxfordmail.net .
Air apathy
It is clear that organisers grossly
overestimated the level of public
interest in the RAF's Spirit of
Adventure event at Abingdon.
A crowd of 100,000 was predicted
to watch what was billed as the
"most spectacular air show ever",
but only a fraction of that figure
turned out to witness what many
described as a damp squib.
The atrocious Bank Holiday
weather no doubt was partly to
blame. High entrance charges may
also have been a factor.
The organisers, meanwhile, have
gone strangely quiet.
We hope they're busy holding a
full post mortem, ready to report
back to the scores of complainants
who have come forward since the
weekend.
There is also a full page spread on page 3 (the lady in the photograph doesn't look very happy!) and an invitation to 'Have Your Say Online Now' at www.oxfordmail.net .
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More from Andy T reported by the Oxford Mail:
Next time?!!! 
We hunt non-existant aliens do we?
And whoever was asking about Jaundiced Entertainment Meeja contract with MOD, it runs til Oct 08.
He said he had received a number of favourable comments, but admitted there was a 'long list' of things they would do differently next time.
"What we set out to do was to explain what the RAF does, rather than what the aircraft can do, and I think we succeeded in doing that, to those who attended.
And whoever was asking about Jaundiced Entertainment Meeja contract with MOD, it runs til Oct 08.
Just noticed a quote on the RAF News website.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/index.cfm...8BD508E70E4CFC
So that's where they all went.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/index.cfm...8BD508E70E4CFC
Said RAF PR Director Group Captain Andy Turner: “The crowds were absorbed into the action playing out both on the ground and in the air above...........
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the feature film on huge screens in front of them
Huge? That tiddly ickle screen? SoA cleary have some kind of scaling problem.
1200 people = "thousands" and that, ladies and gentlemen is a "huge" screen.
Go on, tell me it's a long way away.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
What we set out to do was to explain what the RAF does
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..and annuvver fing....
On that "huge" screen, why is it showing a 1/5th scale version of the live action which can be seen for real directly behind said screen?
"I shall call him........Mini-Spirit of Adventure!"
News just in. Jervis win the contract to run the next Army v Navy game....
On that "huge" screen, why is it showing a 1/5th scale version of the live action which can be seen for real directly behind said screen?
"I shall call him........Mini-Spirit of Adventure!"
News just in. Jervis win the contract to run the next Army v Navy game....
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the RAF has the assets, people, technology and reach to protect Britain against sudden, powerful aggression
Join the RAF "Their country needs you"
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Just noticed a quote on the RAF News website.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/index.cfm...8BD508E70E4CFC
http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/index.cfm...8BD508E70E4CFC
.....but the evil Admiral Malbon had not counted on the RAF....
http://www.thisisguernsey.com/code/s...ticleID=000269
And are the DPR(RAF) now guilty of defamation of character as well as being c**p at putting on shows. I sense 2 things happening:
A libel case via Max Clifford.
Resignation of a certain Group Captain - better still send him to Odiham as OC.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Bismark, he was, not sure if he still is. If he is he is retiring in the summer and a new Governor will be appointed by October. Very hospitable man.
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As many of you know, Yeovilton have been doing the highly successful and very impressive "Junglie Assault" (now called the "Finale") as the conclusion to their Air Day for donkeys years.
Where the Navy have got this right is to have it as part of the air show, rather than it be the air show in the case of SoA.
Where the Navy have got this right is to have it as part of the air show, rather than it be the air show in the case of SoA.
Yeovilton Air Shows have always been excellent.
The first one I can remember had the Avro 707C!
I remember the one when the coming-to-an-FAA-near-you-soon Scimitar and Sea Vixen were introduced to the genpub. The Scimitar made me jump out of my skin as a lad in short pants!
Years later they did a 'simulated nuclear toss' from a 'Vixen.
Simon's Circus was another favourite.
Then there was a flypast carefully timed so that the 4 x F-4s at the back overtook the Sea Vampire at the front in full a/b just as the formation got to the display line!
A pity that there is no more front line FAA fixed wing, but I'm sure that the RW displays will be just as excellent. Dobtless the FRADU Hawk/Falcon display will be as good as it was at RIAT last year?
Somehow I feel it will be a whole lot more successful than the Spirit of Adventure bolleaux!
The first one I can remember had the Avro 707C!
I remember the one when the coming-to-an-FAA-near-you-soon Scimitar and Sea Vixen were introduced to the genpub. The Scimitar made me jump out of my skin as a lad in short pants!
Years later they did a 'simulated nuclear toss' from a 'Vixen.
Simon's Circus was another favourite.
Then there was a flypast carefully timed so that the 4 x F-4s at the back overtook the Sea Vampire at the front in full a/b just as the formation got to the display line!
A pity that there is no more front line FAA fixed wing, but I'm sure that the RW displays will be just as excellent. Dobtless the FRADU Hawk/Falcon display will be as good as it was at RIAT last year?
Somehow I feel it will be a whole lot more successful than the Spirit of Adventure bolleaux!
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- The event is managed and promoted by commercial partners, who also carry financial risk. the commercial provider arranging all other aspects of ground administration (car parking, marshalling, letter collection etc). This further limits RAF liability, although as the event carries the RAF brand, there is a risk to our reputation.
Attendance on the Saturday was disappointing (circa 10,000?), perhaps partly due to the cool weather and/or ticket price (£25 ea or £60 for families – set by the promoter
Leuchars ‘At Home Day’ will not take place this year due to airfield pavement re-surfacing. Kinross was chosen to fill that void and pick up on the almost 40,000 people that attend Leuchars annually. Kinross is an excellent event site, located as it is close to the major conurbations of Glasgow and Edinburgh
Attendance on the Saturday was disappointing (circa 10,000?), perhaps partly due to the cool weather and/or ticket price (£25 ea or £60 for families – set by the promoter
Leuchars ‘At Home Day’ will not take place this year due to airfield pavement re-surfacing. Kinross was chosen to fill that void and pick up on the almost 40,000 people that attend Leuchars annually. Kinross is an excellent event site, located as it is close to the major conurbations of Glasgow and Edinburgh