Spirit of Adventure
LOTA, and anyone else I may have inadvertantly offended, my apologies. In my dotage I clearly misread the website's title. Perhaps I should have written from a website including the words 'RAF' and 'News'.
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Britalex - you only register on PPrune to mount a defence of the Abingdon debacle. You are presumably therefore neither military or aircrew but either an employee of Jervis or connected with them. To tell people on here, who regularly serve on operations, that they should get things in perspective about an event which made the RAF a laughing stock, is an insult to them and embarassing for you.
If the general view in MoD and Jervis is that it was only the weather that caused folks to stay away then I fear for the future. I dare say the RAF will now commit more assets to the Kinross event in an attempt to rescue it but the fact is the concept is wholly misconceived in the first place.
If the general view in MoD and Jervis is that it was only the weather that caused folks to stay away then I fear for the future. I dare say the RAF will now commit more assets to the Kinross event in an attempt to rescue it but the fact is the concept is wholly misconceived in the first place.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Factors included ticket price, advertising, attractions other than the service stalls etc. There were lessons to be learnt and ACAS has been assured that lessons learnt will be rigorously applied.
Red On, Green On
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It also has to be realised that SoA is what the business world would call a new franchise - it often takes time to a) refine the offer and content and b) build a reputation that draws in the crowds.
My guess is that Jervis over-sold his skills, and had to promise far more than was possible to get the contract. The problem now is recovering from that position fast enough.
My guess is that Jervis over-sold his skills, and had to promise far more than was possible to get the contract. The problem now is recovering from that position fast enough.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
A_A, very true. I would not be surprised if next year they moved north into the west midlands as well. Basically take the airshows to the target audience. If that was the aim this year, Kinross is possible a good venue but Abingdon would appear to have been more of a test site, a site with a known audience and track record, good access etc and therefore less risk.
While this is no doubt valid I think they must have totally overlooked the show the previous bank holiday weekend. Advertising two shows not just in the same area but at the same venue will inevitably cause confusion in the minds of the target audience.
They would have been 'aware' of the first show and the SoA adverts may simply have reinforced that awareness. I have not seen the advertising even though I have been in the area in April.
Is my supposition valid? Trial format, safe venue, wrong location and timing?
While this is no doubt valid I think they must have totally overlooked the show the previous bank holiday weekend. Advertising two shows not just in the same area but at the same venue will inevitably cause confusion in the minds of the target audience.
They would have been 'aware' of the first show and the SoA adverts may simply have reinforced that awareness. I have not seen the advertising even though I have been in the area in April.
Is my supposition valid? Trial format, safe venue, wrong location and timing?
Advertising? I saw one poster on a bus once. No surprise that numbers were low.
Something about the world's greatest airshow, or words to that effect.
Something about the world's greatest airshow, or words to that effect.
High Flying Bird
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Who chose the Bank Holiday weekend at the start of half term ... when many people are away/travelling?!
The advertising I saw was one banner on a website, one TV ad that looked like it was made in the 80s, and one ad in our local paper.
The advertising I saw was one banner on a website, one TV ad that looked like it was made in the 80s, and one ad in our local paper.
Red On, Green On
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We live 12 miles away - I saw/heard nothing about it in advance until I read the Oxford Mail piece/fluff the day before.
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I thought about going to this, but luckily my Wife was ill so we couldn't
By all accounts it seems that the Passing out displays at Shawbury we did in the late '80s had better 'role demos' (abseiling and roping rock apes, pickup and deployment of USLs, etc, etc) and a more populated flying display than this did, and this was just for the benefit of the course passee's families.
I was also involved in the '88 Finningley Airshow and remembered that it was run almost like, well, um, a Military Operation!
(I had 15 walking cones from Swinderby and a Car park all to myself...)
By all accounts it seems that the Passing out displays at Shawbury we did in the late '80s had better 'role demos' (abseiling and roping rock apes, pickup and deployment of USLs, etc, etc) and a more populated flying display than this did, and this was just for the benefit of the course passee's families.
I was also involved in the '88 Finningley Airshow and remembered that it was run almost like, well, um, a Military Operation!
(I had 15 walking cones from Swinderby and a Car park all to myself...)
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Supposition valid, its the show thats not!
Pontius,
I feel your supposition about the time and place of SoA is correct, but had little bearing on its failure.
My read of the crowd reaction was disappointment with the content, the feeling they had been at worst duped and at best misled. The lack of promised features and the parody of a movie left many confused and rather angry.
I think the ticket price was another factor, many were offended at paying for what, once they were inside, was little more than overpriced small recruitment fair with little of value for the average crowd.
The majority of people I spoke to there were convinced it was a major airshow from the advertising and the websites, and would be full of unusual and interesting features. Consequently they were rather disappointed with that aspect too.
Yes, its a new franchise, but a deeply flawed one, so deeply flawed I believe it would be better to completely re-think the show rather than continue.
I only have one question still, which is who on earth was it aimed at? I still cannot quantify that, not from the show itself, its location(s) nor its advertising!
More waste at this time of overstretch and undermanning simply cannot be justified. Front line first!
I feel your supposition about the time and place of SoA is correct, but had little bearing on its failure.
My read of the crowd reaction was disappointment with the content, the feeling they had been at worst duped and at best misled. The lack of promised features and the parody of a movie left many confused and rather angry.
I think the ticket price was another factor, many were offended at paying for what, once they were inside, was little more than overpriced small recruitment fair with little of value for the average crowd.
The majority of people I spoke to there were convinced it was a major airshow from the advertising and the websites, and would be full of unusual and interesting features. Consequently they were rather disappointed with that aspect too.
Yes, its a new franchise, but a deeply flawed one, so deeply flawed I believe it would be better to completely re-think the show rather than continue.
I only have one question still, which is who on earth was it aimed at? I still cannot quantify that, not from the show itself, its location(s) nor its advertising!
More waste at this time of overstretch and undermanning simply cannot be justified. Front line first!
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Be interesting to see how many turn up for this on Sunday
Notice the charge for tickets and parking - FREE
Notice the charge for tickets and parking - FREE
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Ha! I'd like to see Jervis et al spin out of this! A FREE military show locked onto your 6. B-0ll0x-alado had better be free too, or you will see 3/5 of 5/8 of the square root of F-all. Slap bang in the middle of town, the punters can walk, get the bus, whatever. The footfall for Dundee and B-0ll0x-alado will make an interesting comparison .....
Fly-Friendly
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Chaps, ladies
surely you all must really that it all comes down to Andy Turner not being able to charm/blag his way out of this one. He always broke/bent the rules as OC 28 relying on his charm and being a good lad to get away with it. Unfortunatley it has not worked this time and his talent has not lived up to the expectation required
!!
surely you all must really that it all comes down to Andy Turner not being able to charm/blag his way out of this one. He always broke/bent the rules as OC 28 relying on his charm and being a good lad to get away with it. Unfortunatley it has not worked this time and his talent has not lived up to the expectation required
!!
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It is only a military/RAF thread which would seek to defame one of its own in print. What a great organisation we are - no wonder no one wanted to come and see us at the show.
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This is the way forward - free shows and all forces taking part.
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2...y9807173t0.asp
Let the excuses fly from Jervis
How much for
the weather was better in Dundee
The local council are behind it all the way.
Its a 'Purple' show
Oh and Jervis Note what the Lord Provost said
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2...y9807173t0.asp
Let the excuses fly from Jervis
How much for
the weather was better in Dundee
The local council are behind it all the way.
Its a 'Purple' show
Oh and Jervis Note what the Lord Provost said
Dundee’s lord provost John Letford officially opened the show.
He said, “This is the seventh Dundee Military Show and it’s great to see the amount of people who come and support the show and the armed forces.
“The military really get the support they deserve from the people of Dundee and Tayside. The people come out and appreciate the armed forces and at the same time enjoy a really good family day out.”
He said, “This is the seventh Dundee Military Show and it’s great to see the amount of people who come and support the show and the armed forces.
“The military really get the support they deserve from the people of Dundee and Tayside. The people come out and appreciate the armed forces and at the same time enjoy a really good family day out.”
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A lot of hard work and planning went in to the Abingdon Show, I am told. I am also told that the Kinross one will incorporate lessons learnt. So . . .
[we hope] to secure participation for the next Spirit of Adventure event which will take place over the weekend 25/26 Aug 07 at Kinross (not Kinloss) in Southern Scotland. . . . Kinross was chosen to . . . 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.
We will be rigorously addressing all the lessons learned from Abingdon in order to set ourselves up for success in Kinross. The event promoter has already agreed to reduce and simplify event ticket pricing which some saw as a barrier to entry at Abingdon.
all we require is for the attached simplified participation form . . . to identify those sqns and sections that may have exhibits, demos etc that would enhance the show. >>
So we REALLY plan ahead
[we hope] to secure participation for the next Spirit of Adventure event which will take place over the weekend 25/26 Aug 07 at Kinross (not Kinloss) in Southern Scotland. . . . Kinross was chosen to . . . 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.
We will be rigorously addressing all the lessons learned from Abingdon in order to set ourselves up for success in Kinross. The event promoter has already agreed to reduce and simplify event ticket pricing which some saw as a barrier to entry at Abingdon.
all we require is for the attached simplified participation form . . . to identify those sqns and sections that may have exhibits, demos etc that would enhance the show. >>
So we REALLY plan ahead
Red On, Green On
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take place over the weekend 25/26 Aug 07
identify those sqns and sections that may have exhibits, demos etc that would enhance the show
"We know that the last one was a bit crap, so we'd like to find out what you've got that would make it less crappy. It's on the August BH w/e, btw, in Jockistan, so don't tell the wife and kids you'll be away just yet"
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I hadn't thought of that. Guess they were hoping for the same support as the Leuchars Open Day. http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...how/index.html
I wonder why we never thought to hold our open days over a bank holiday? That way we would have 3 days work out of the guys rather than just 2. Also all the audience will be tuned in to a great holiday weekend rather than have their ordinary B&Q weekend interrupted.
Still, moving it away from the old, stale Battle of Britain based theme, well much better.
Why not got for April 1st or 2nd and combine the date all the RAF changes take place with the 26th Anniversary of the Falklands?