How was the RAF Waddington Airshow?
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: firmly on dry land
Age: 81
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I remember well a 'real' airshow at Cottesmore, either '65 or '66 when Finningley was closed. It was a 'real' airshow becasue we did not have a modern carnival. We had picket posts and rope along the crowd line, no barriers, and several standard brown marquee tents just behind that.
It rained. It blew, It was dog s
t.
At 0700 on show day OC Admin decided on a master stroke. The station sirens sounded and we all turned to for an operational generation with no thoughts of an air show.
After 45 minutes or so of absolute confusion we discovered it had been his bright idea to get the station up and doing. We were then milling about on the crowd line, in number 2s and flying boots and raincoats, wondering what to do.
The main job seemed to be re-erecting the tents. At one point we group of flt lt, led by a captain naturally, were hammering in the stakes. Along can an engineer sqn ldr who took over the sledge hammer (we only had one hammer between 10), and the flt lt took shelter in the marquee.
Then along came wg cdr A. He took over the sledge hammer, as he was senior, and the engineer held the stakes. The other flt lt took shelter in the marquee.
Later I guess hot tea and butties were brought around and the air show got under way sometime but most likely not at 1000.
The highlight was the BAF F104 doing high-speed rolls and 20 feet or touch and go rolls at 50 feet with 2 or more touches per pass.
It rained. It blew, It was dog s
t.At 0700 on show day OC Admin decided on a master stroke. The station sirens sounded and we all turned to for an operational generation with no thoughts of an air show.
After 45 minutes or so of absolute confusion we discovered it had been his bright idea to get the station up and doing. We were then milling about on the crowd line, in number 2s and flying boots and raincoats, wondering what to do.
The main job seemed to be re-erecting the tents. At one point we group of flt lt, led by a captain naturally, were hammering in the stakes. Along can an engineer sqn ldr who took over the sledge hammer (we only had one hammer between 10), and the flt lt took shelter in the marquee.
Then along came wg cdr A. He took over the sledge hammer, as he was senior, and the engineer held the stakes. The other flt lt took shelter in the marquee.
Later I guess hot tea and butties were brought around and the air show got under way sometime but most likely not at 1000.
The highlight was the BAF F104 doing high-speed rolls and 20 feet or touch and go rolls at 50 feet with 2 or more touches per pass.
Could some please tell me the purpose of the very large red arrow that was positioned almost directly in front of the public grandstand? It points from the crowd line towards the runway and is there every year.
Conditions were dire so a big thanks to the organizers and aircrew for giving us at least something to watch. Thought the Chinook and Typhoon displays were excellent.
Conditions were dire so a big thanks to the organizers and aircrew for giving us at least something to watch. Thought the Chinook and Typhoon displays were excellent.
Bear Behind
For those of you whingeing about a refund, this is on the Waddington Airshow website ( http://www.waddingtonairshow.co.uk/news.asp ):
Following the cancellation of the Airshow on Sunday 1st July, the information below summarises our refund policy.
For holders of Sunday tickets bought in advance, refunds will be considered if the tickets are returned, complete with counterfoil, your address and telephone number, to "The Air Show Office, RAF Waddington, Lincoln, LN5 9NB".
To enable us to process your refund correctly, please indicate if your original purchase was at a Morrisons supermarket, or if not, whether you paid by cheque, credit card or by online SECPAY on the Waddington Airshow Website.
For those who purchased a Sunday ticket at the gate, simply return the ticket to the above address with your address and telephone number.
Please be patient as it will take some time to process all requests.
Following the cancellation of the Airshow on Sunday 1st July, the information below summarises our refund policy.
For holders of Sunday tickets bought in advance, refunds will be considered if the tickets are returned, complete with counterfoil, your address and telephone number, to "The Air Show Office, RAF Waddington, Lincoln, LN5 9NB".
To enable us to process your refund correctly, please indicate if your original purchase was at a Morrisons supermarket, or if not, whether you paid by cheque, credit card or by online SECPAY on the Waddington Airshow Website.
For those who purchased a Sunday ticket at the gate, simply return the ticket to the above address with your address and telephone number.
Please be patient as it will take some time to process all requests.
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: UK
Age: 55
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Quote from Argonautical:
Could some please tell me the purpose of the very large red arrow that was positioned almost directly in front of the public grandstand? It points from the crowd line towards the runway and is there every year.
The large red arrow is the datum for displays, and indicates the centre of the display (I think).
As someone who has put it up (ok, supervised the lads putting it up) you have to be careful to point the arrow in the right direction i.e. away from the crowd! It has been done.
Could some please tell me the purpose of the very large red arrow that was positioned almost directly in front of the public grandstand? It points from the crowd line towards the runway and is there every year.
The large red arrow is the datum for displays, and indicates the centre of the display (I think).
As someone who has put it up (ok, supervised the lads putting it up) you have to be careful to point the arrow in the right direction i.e. away from the crowd! It has been done.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Emptying the litter bin
Age: 65
Posts: 409
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Doubters of the conditions at Waddington might like to take a look at the photos on this thread
http://forums.airshows.co.uk/cgi-bin...t=34439;st=100
Scroll down about half way
http://forums.airshows.co.uk/cgi-bin...t=34439;st=100
Scroll down about half way
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: London
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Waddington cancellation
Together with a friend I had a 300 mile round trip to get Waddington on Sunday.
As already mentioned, the show website had a news item posted since 26th June stating that recent and forecast wet weather would not be a problem due to excellent drainage on site. That item was joined by another at 0645hrs on the Sunday morning stating that while some areas of the car parks were muddy, the show would be going ahead and visitors were encouraged to attend. So off we went up the A1. There is nothing between London and Waddington by the way (except Alconbury and Wittering). On arrival at the show car park at 1045hrs a thoroughly unpleasant police officer took great pleasure in explaining the show was cancelled. I'd assumed due to the current security state. To find out later that it was due poor conditions underfoot that would only get worse with the predicted weather has made me extremely angry. I do not doubt a that there was much mud and genuine H & S concerns, but to continue to encorage attendance up to and including the Sunday morning was ridiculous and irresponsible. Incidentally, the Met Office early warning of heavy rain in force since the Saturday afternoon was cancelled at 1116hrs on Sunday.
The final insult is to see that the show website has removed the news items posted on 26 June and at 0645hrs on 01 July, to replace them with a notice stating that applications for refunds will be 'considered'. There is no apology for the blind and obviously misplaced faith in onsite drainage. Oh, and there's no address or contact to direct these complaints other than the refunds office at the station.
As already mentioned, the show website had a news item posted since 26th June stating that recent and forecast wet weather would not be a problem due to excellent drainage on site. That item was joined by another at 0645hrs on the Sunday morning stating that while some areas of the car parks were muddy, the show would be going ahead and visitors were encouraged to attend. So off we went up the A1. There is nothing between London and Waddington by the way (except Alconbury and Wittering). On arrival at the show car park at 1045hrs a thoroughly unpleasant police officer took great pleasure in explaining the show was cancelled. I'd assumed due to the current security state. To find out later that it was due poor conditions underfoot that would only get worse with the predicted weather has made me extremely angry. I do not doubt a that there was much mud and genuine H & S concerns, but to continue to encorage attendance up to and including the Sunday morning was ridiculous and irresponsible. Incidentally, the Met Office early warning of heavy rain in force since the Saturday afternoon was cancelled at 1116hrs on Sunday.
The final insult is to see that the show website has removed the news items posted on 26 June and at 0645hrs on 01 July, to replace them with a notice stating that applications for refunds will be 'considered'. There is no apology for the blind and obviously misplaced faith in onsite drainage. Oh, and there's no address or contact to direct these complaints other than the refunds office at the station.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Under a stone
Age: 68
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Short Ferret,
It was a lovely day at 0615 at Waddington - I changed into my good weather uniform, walked downstairs to the office foyer to be greeted by the rain coming down in stair-rods (not forecasted). This rain continued for a further hour turning the Western taxiway into a torrent (over the top of a pair of flying boots) and swamping the stalls opposite the static line. The first cars onto site turned off the taxiway onto the grass roadway and turned it into a mud bath.
After 10 minutes cars became stuck, so a parallel road was made to the first - this one lasted 5 minutes before cars also became stuck. The parking attendants were then forced to direct all traffic into the national disabled carpark (first available space) while they tried in vain to make the roadway passable with straw. Soon the disabled park was filled with able bodied persons' cars. The show was called off soon afterwards with the met office promising another trough with the potential of similar heavy rain for an hour. I understand that ground conditions at the lower end of the airfield were even worse.
As one stood in the rain watching a disaster about to unfold, the decision to call off the display was made - the correct and proper option. The outcome is disappointing for all concerned - however to manage the ground conditions with emergency services being diverted into Lincoln away from the airshow was impossible.
I notice lots of complaints from those who were not actually there to experience the conditions. Those of us who were there do not have a guilty conscience.
It was a lovely day at 0615 at Waddington - I changed into my good weather uniform, walked downstairs to the office foyer to be greeted by the rain coming down in stair-rods (not forecasted). This rain continued for a further hour turning the Western taxiway into a torrent (over the top of a pair of flying boots) and swamping the stalls opposite the static line. The first cars onto site turned off the taxiway onto the grass roadway and turned it into a mud bath.
After 10 minutes cars became stuck, so a parallel road was made to the first - this one lasted 5 minutes before cars also became stuck. The parking attendants were then forced to direct all traffic into the national disabled carpark (first available space) while they tried in vain to make the roadway passable with straw. Soon the disabled park was filled with able bodied persons' cars. The show was called off soon afterwards with the met office promising another trough with the potential of similar heavy rain for an hour. I understand that ground conditions at the lower end of the airfield were even worse.
As one stood in the rain watching a disaster about to unfold, the decision to call off the display was made - the correct and proper option. The outcome is disappointing for all concerned - however to manage the ground conditions with emergency services being diverted into Lincoln away from the airshow was impossible.
I notice lots of complaints from those who were not actually there to experience the conditions. Those of us who were there do not have a guilty conscience.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: London
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks, I have no doubt that conditions justified the cancellation but that is not the issue that has enraged (well almost) me. My frustration is due to the continual positive message put out by Waddington right up to and including Sunday morning, that the day would be proceeding no matter what, that the ground could cope with the weather, and that visitors were encouraged to attend from far and wide. That was bad public information and media management designed to maximise revenue.
Sorry for hijacking your board with my grumpiness but there is a real issue here that the organisers seem to have got away with. I and several hundred others made journeys that we didn't need to on Sunday - if the organisers had exericised more caution and common sense we would have been forewarned. As it was we simply believed the information that the organisers provided- as can be seen by the photos on this board that information was clearly and obviously wrong to anyone there on the Saturday.
The guy in front of me in the queue left the site crying by the way!
Thanks for letting me get this out of my system. Roll on Fairford.
Sorry for hijacking your board with my grumpiness but there is a real issue here that the organisers seem to have got away with. I and several hundred others made journeys that we didn't need to on Sunday - if the organisers had exericised more caution and common sense we would have been forewarned. As it was we simply believed the information that the organisers provided- as can be seen by the photos on this board that information was clearly and obviously wrong to anyone there on the Saturday.
The guy in front of me in the queue left the site crying by the way!
Thanks for letting me get this out of my system. Roll on Fairford.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lincoln
Age: 54
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Short Ferret
Why are you not reading the previous posts given by quite a few people who had some insight on the whole situation as it unfolded????
Lets make something clear......
The RAF Waddington Airshow takes a lot of hard graft by the Station personnel to give an insight into the Air Force way of life to the Taxpaying public and the aviation enthusiast alike.
At the same time; having paid out the costs for the facilities provided (such as the toilets), all moneys raised go to charity.....not into the Station coffers!! The Station gets nothing do you understand?
Those charities are being hard done by far far more than you matey!
The organisers did not know it was going to P**s down so much overnight on Saturday. We had been told that Saturday was going to be worse and the show organisers advertised that fact! Everything was going to be better after the Saturday downpours. Yes, Waddington has good drainage compared to a lot of the country; but I think most reasonable people will agree that the weather for much of June was beyond the NORM!
Now grow up, smell the coffee and realise that the emergency services...yes that policeman who took 'great pleasure' (I doubt it) in turning you away WERE WORKING HARDER THAN MOST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY FOR PRETTY MUCH ALL OF LAST WEEK (including me!). It was the emergency services being called away that cancelled the airshow....not the airshow organisers. The business about the toilets was that the service trucks couldn't get onto the grassed areas without sinking into the ground...that was the H&S business! Thousands of people wanting to shed bladders and nowhere to go....now that would have been good wouldn't it.
You make my blood boil you ungrateful g**
SA
Lets make something clear......
The RAF Waddington Airshow takes a lot of hard graft by the Station personnel to give an insight into the Air Force way of life to the Taxpaying public and the aviation enthusiast alike.
At the same time; having paid out the costs for the facilities provided (such as the toilets), all moneys raised go to charity.....not into the Station coffers!! The Station gets nothing do you understand?
Those charities are being hard done by far far more than you matey!
The organisers did not know it was going to P**s down so much overnight on Saturday. We had been told that Saturday was going to be worse and the show organisers advertised that fact! Everything was going to be better after the Saturday downpours. Yes, Waddington has good drainage compared to a lot of the country; but I think most reasonable people will agree that the weather for much of June was beyond the NORM!
Now grow up, smell the coffee and realise that the emergency services...yes that policeman who took 'great pleasure' (I doubt it) in turning you away WERE WORKING HARDER THAN MOST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY FOR PRETTY MUCH ALL OF LAST WEEK (including me!). It was the emergency services being called away that cancelled the airshow....not the airshow organisers. The business about the toilets was that the service trucks couldn't get onto the grassed areas without sinking into the ground...that was the H&S business! Thousands of people wanting to shed bladders and nowhere to go....now that would have been good wouldn't it.
You make my blood boil you ungrateful g**
SA
...........................................
You make my blood boil you ungrateful g**
SA
SA
Poor show Agitator
ALWAYS assume NEVER check
Join Date: May 2000
Location: door or ramp, don't mind.
Posts: 961
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do we know if there will be 9 reds at the Royal International Air Tattoo on the 13th - 14th July?
No news on Red Wrist.
I and several hundred others made journeys that we didn't need to on Sunday - if the organisers had exericised more caution and common sense we would have been forewarned.....Roll on Fairford
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: London
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Deary me. Only just arrived and so many unhappy faces.
First off - yes it was muddy, the bogs didn't work, and firemen were better employed pumping out people's living rooms. Fine, cancel the airshow.
Second off - For two weeks leading up to the event the show's official website stated that the wet weather would not be a problem and on the day of the event, Sunday morning, the same website stated that the show would be going ahead and actually told people to attend! That is my gripe.
I put up with happy coppers & other wonderful emergency services folk everyday of my working week, which occassionally includes Sunday's so please don't get distracted by my whinge at Lincolnshire's finest.
First off - yes it was muddy, the bogs didn't work, and firemen were better employed pumping out people's living rooms. Fine, cancel the airshow.
Second off - For two weeks leading up to the event the show's official website stated that the wet weather would not be a problem and on the day of the event, Sunday morning, the same website stated that the show would be going ahead and actually told people to attend! That is my gripe.
I put up with happy coppers & other wonderful emergency services folk everyday of my working week, which occassionally includes Sunday's so please don't get distracted by my whinge at Lincolnshire's finest.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: door or ramp, don't mind.
Posts: 961
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I put up with happy coppers & other wonderful emergency services folk everyday of my working week, which occassionally includes Sunday's so please don't get distracted by my whinge at Lincolnshire's finest.
Maybe for Fairford if you forward your mobile number the show director can call you personally on the morning and let you know whether to attend or not.
Yes, Him
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: West Sussex, UK
Posts: 2,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is nothing between London and Waddington by the way (except Alconbury and Wittering).
None of which probably appeal to folk wearing spotters' camouflage waiscoats covered in aircraft badges who tow their little aluminium stepladders around at air displays.....
Nonetheless, the cancellation could perhaps have been better promulgated? But how - Internet? Local radio??
Maybe a short pre-recorded message on a dedicated 'airshow news' phone number might be an idea next time? Make it 10p to call and get some additional income?
Nonetheless, the cancellation could perhaps have been better promulgated? But how - Internet? Local radio??
Maybe a short pre-recorded message on a dedicated 'airshow news' phone number might be an idea next time? Make it 10p to call and get some additional income?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
In reality all news is stale. In the airshow case, as it was such a fine run thing, it is inevitable that the crowds (?) were still being admitted as the decision to cancel was being made. Yes, the gates could have been left closed until that decision had been made but usually the local police insist the gates are open well before the start time. Yes, the local radio could broadcast the news but, even though they were on the airfield, they are not part of the air show executive. It all takes time.
A little like a supertanker, you can issue an order to turn it away but that takes time.
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Over there, behind that tree.
Posts: 581
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
However, the 'Ill wind' thing brought the Newark Aviation Museum probably the best Sunday they have ever had. Considered dropping in on the way back from Waddo but then thought that that's exactly what everbody else will do. Seems they had enormous queues for entry there, and their overspill carpark (a field) was waterlogged so the lock on the gliding school gate was broken and the overspill allowed too park on that bit of peri track. Their little cafe was overwhelmed. But NAM must have made a whole summer's money last Sunday.
.
.