Yet Another RIAT F**k Up!
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I hope no one goes to Duxford hoping to see the Swordfish as listed, it has not flown for several years, the current flyer LS326 made an emergency landing at Yeovilton today sounding very rough, I hope all is well and it makes it to Duxford for the show.
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TSM or anyone else with a bold opinion
The thread starts with:
Could you tell me about previous “F**k Ups".
I have been to loads over the years and they have always been a total success.
I also know several volunteers that work their bollocks off to make it a total success. I am pretty sure that they would be quite offended by your comment.
As an aside:
I agree that this decision may go down pretty badly with anybody travelling 100’s miles to find they can’t get in, but I have no doubt that it is being made in the best interest of all. Apart from that if I was travelling I would check that all was ok before I set off.....especially in this day and age.
The thread starts with:
Yet Another RIAT F**k Up!
I have been to loads over the years and they have always been a total success.
I also know several volunteers that work their bollocks off to make it a total success. I am pretty sure that they would be quite offended by your comment.
As an aside:
I agree that this decision may go down pretty badly with anybody travelling 100’s miles to find they can’t get in, but I have no doubt that it is being made in the best interest of all. Apart from that if I was travelling I would check that all was ok before I set off.....especially in this day and age.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Heard from a mate the airfield is one huge mud bath anyway with big areas of surface water still standing 24 hours after the rain stopped, and some areas getting worse by the minute as people walk or drive over them. Doesn't sound like a fun day out any more, will try Flying Legends at Duxford instead I think.
Now if you could just get punters to stump up in advance . . .
Join Date: Feb 2004
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In previous years....Got up on the day
Wet weather....gone back to bed - not out of pocket
Fine weather - wake family up and go to Fairford - RIAT gets my money
Now.....
Chucking it down on Sat - either drag MrsNov and the kids round getting soaked or loose money but that's OK because RIAT are better off..
Sod that money staying in my pocket this year
Wet weather....gone back to bed - not out of pocket
Fine weather - wake family up and go to Fairford - RIAT gets my money
Now.....
Chucking it down on Sat - either drag MrsNov and the kids round getting soaked or loose money but that's OK because RIAT are better off..
Sod that money staying in my pocket this year
Whilst this does seem a dubious/late-in-the-day decision, some perspective is also required.
My recollection of entering the site last year was that nearly everyone (90% for sure) entering at the time I did had prepaid.
I clearly remember seeing a small half-size portacabin to the side of the main entrance, which was the place to buy "on the day" tickets, looking very quiet.
My strong suspicion is that accurate records are being kept of advance Saturday sales - and it is getting full (or as much as car parks that aren't under water can take).
I say this because when I bought my tickets in Barclays the other day, the cashier showed me the record she was having to fill out and submit to RIAT of tickets sold for each day.
Despite my observations from last year, I can see there might be some trouble over this
- good job there will no doubt be lots of heavily armed plod around.
My recollection of entering the site last year was that nearly everyone (90% for sure) entering at the time I did had prepaid.
I clearly remember seeing a small half-size portacabin to the side of the main entrance, which was the place to buy "on the day" tickets, looking very quiet.
My strong suspicion is that accurate records are being kept of advance Saturday sales - and it is getting full (or as much as car parks that aren't under water can take).
I say this because when I bought my tickets in Barclays the other day, the cashier showed me the record she was having to fill out and submit to RIAT of tickets sold for each day.
Despite my observations from last year, I can see there might be some trouble over this
- good job there will no doubt be lots of heavily armed plod around.
Join Date: Apr 2006
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SRENNAPS
Have you ever been to RIAT other than as a punter?
I can recall quite a few incidents of c**k ups at RIAT - most, if not all of them avoidable.
This decision is shameful, and will come back and bite them in years to come I fear. I suspect there will be a great many irrate and very upset people at the gates tomorrow - I hope there are plenty of police on hand!
Have you ever been to RIAT other than as a punter?
I can recall quite a few incidents of c**k ups at RIAT - most, if not all of them avoidable.
This decision is shameful, and will come back and bite them in years to come I fear. I suspect there will be a great many irrate and very upset people at the gates tomorrow - I hope there are plenty of police on hand!
I've seen various ccok ups both as a punter and as worker from 90-95. Just too many to list like no accomodation for workers- oh we forgot about your lot and having the gate people accomdated off camp so one year they were stuck in traffic jams so could'nt get the gate opened !-doh !
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I suspect there will be a great many irrate and very upset people at the gates tomorrow - I hope there are plenty of police on hand!
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I'm sticking my neck out here but what the heck! Those of you that know me from Terrane, will know that I obviously have a vested interest in this thread, and I make no apologies for stating that when I was informed about this yesterday morning by one of my customers in Belgium, I immediately contacted RIAT to ask what was going on.
They refered me to the web site, stating that becuase there had been 'healthy' sales of advanced tickets for the Saturday, they had chosen to make it a ticket only affair. They were at pains to assure me that people could still come on the saturday; all they had to do was to buy a ticket in advance! I tried to explain that that just didn't make sense, but was told that they would NOT change their minds. They also said that as the word had gotten to a customer in Belgium, then the message was obviously getting round, which may well be true, however there are a great many people from overseas who will be coming either by ferry or flying in to the UK and will be unaware of the decision, possibly not finding out until Saturday morning, when they arrive at the gate. What do they do then?
Their parting shot was 'well, if you don't like it Mr rumble.......' Yes, OK, and thanks for being so understanding.
The whole affair seems to be completelty without logic to me. Either they are full, in which case I can understand the decision, Or, they are NOT full, which is why you can still purchase advance tickets I assume. If that is the case, why not let people come along and purchase their tickets on the day at the gate?
It is, without doubt, an unmitigated PR disaster for RIAT, and I suspect many traders will be just as irate as the punters over the matter.
Come on RIAT Organisers. You have published this event, arguably the biggest airshow in the world, for the past 12 months. Don't you feel a little ashamed at changing the goal posts at such a late stage, when a great many people will already be en-route to Fairford? It is an outrageous way to treat the public, the very life-blood that keeps you going and who give so much to the RAFBF. Please revert it back to how it was, and let everyone in on Saturday as well as Sunday. Thank you.
TKR
They refered me to the web site, stating that becuase there had been 'healthy' sales of advanced tickets for the Saturday, they had chosen to make it a ticket only affair. They were at pains to assure me that people could still come on the saturday; all they had to do was to buy a ticket in advance! I tried to explain that that just didn't make sense, but was told that they would NOT change their minds. They also said that as the word had gotten to a customer in Belgium, then the message was obviously getting round, which may well be true, however there are a great many people from overseas who will be coming either by ferry or flying in to the UK and will be unaware of the decision, possibly not finding out until Saturday morning, when they arrive at the gate. What do they do then?
Their parting shot was 'well, if you don't like it Mr rumble.......' Yes, OK, and thanks for being so understanding.
The whole affair seems to be completelty without logic to me. Either they are full, in which case I can understand the decision, Or, they are NOT full, which is why you can still purchase advance tickets I assume. If that is the case, why not let people come along and purchase their tickets on the day at the gate?
It is, without doubt, an unmitigated PR disaster for RIAT, and I suspect many traders will be just as irate as the punters over the matter.
Come on RIAT Organisers. You have published this event, arguably the biggest airshow in the world, for the past 12 months. Don't you feel a little ashamed at changing the goal posts at such a late stage, when a great many people will already be en-route to Fairford? It is an outrageous way to treat the public, the very life-blood that keeps you going and who give so much to the RAFBF. Please revert it back to how it was, and let everyone in on Saturday as well as Sunday. Thank you.
TKR
Just goes to show they don't care about the punters or traders as long as they get the money to pay for big cars to ferry the bigwigs about.
There's a lot of people I know that are'nt going this year, I know that won't make a dent in the takings but its the principle.
There's a lot of people I know that are'nt going this year, I know that won't make a dent in the takings but its the principle.
SRENNAPS:
(R)IAT 'uck ups?
How about G-HUEY's shameful treatment?
(R)IAT 'uck ups?
How about G-HUEY's shameful treatment?
Red On, Green On
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Of course the simple solution would be to set up a phone-booking system that Saturday's punters could call en-route. The whole thing could be done on the keypad and then give them a ticket by SMS, which is linked to their car reg. Gate staff simply enter the car reg for authorisation.
In this day and age there really is no need for a physical ticket, and I predict that mass events like RIAT will go this way before long.
In this day and age there really is no need for a physical ticket, and I predict that mass events like RIAT will go this way before long.
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Of course the simple solution would be to set up a phone-booking system that Saturday's punters could call en-route. The whole thing could be done on the keypad and then give them a ticket by SMS, which is linked to their car reg. Gate staff simply enter the car reg for authorisation.
In this day and age there really is no need for a physical ticket, and I predict that mass events like RIAT will go this way before long.
In this day and age there really is no need for a physical ticket, and I predict that mass events like RIAT will go this way before long.
Prior planning prevents p1ss poor performance.
This is noting like prior planning so performance remains to be rated.
As Terry says, just because SOME people found out does not mean many people won't.
I would concede that if I was travelling a long distance then I would certainly have bought my tickets in advance. If I was local I would tend to suck it and see and only go if the weather was OK. It does seem like a 'push' to get advance sales in anticipation of poor weather. On Sunday, fair weather or not, it is the last day so punters who held off on Saturday, hoping for better weather, would have no choice but to brave the elements.
It looks like it will be the relative locals who have put up with the traffic, noise etc and who have waited to see about the weather who will be affected. As local radio will, inevitably, be broadcasting on Saturday that it is ticket only (they have arranged that , I hope) there should not be too many non-ticket holders turning up.
I would also guess that they WILL sell tickets at the gate but don't bank on it.
I'm definitely going to Duxford anyway! The aircraft are more my style (I know; old, slow and noisy before anyone gets there first!).
Red On, Green On
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I know; old, slow and noisy before anyone gets there first!
Memories of the survival course in Feb 79, when the skinny Welshman got a bit hypothermic, but your "reserves" kept you going quite happily until endex
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This could well be the latest in a fairly long list of cock-ups, but just as a matter of information, RIAT is now run by RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises, not the RAF Benevolent Fund. Quite separate and different organisations these days.....
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AIR TATTOO CANCELLED ON SATURDAY
Due to the unusually heavy rainfall during the past 72 hours, a decision has been made by the organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to cancel the airshow on Saturday, July 12.
The cancellation of the airshow on Saturday follows a sustained period of heavy rainfall that has resulted in waterlogged conditions not only in the public car parks but also on the airfield itself. The decision was taken following consultation with the police and other safety services.
Air Tattoo Director Tim Prince said it was the first time the Air Tattoo had ever had to cancel one of its days in its 38-year history.
“It is with great regret that we had to take the decision to cancel the airshow on the Saturday but the safety of the public is paramount.
“When it became clear that we could not guarantee the safety of the many thousands of people who had bought tickets for Saturday, the decision to cancel was straightforward.
“We are aware of the inconvenience our decision will have on the many thousands of people who have bought tickets for the Saturday but the potential risk of there being significant difficulties on the roads, in our car parks on the airbase itself were too high.”
It is anticipated that the show will be held on Sunday but it will be only for holders of tickets valid for Sunday. A decision in respect of this will be announced by 4pm on Saturday.
Please note that Saturday tickets will not be valid for Sunday.
Refund details for tickets bought for Saturday, July 12, can be found on the Royal International Air Tattoo website at Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises . For further enquiries contact [email protected]
****
Due to the unusually heavy rainfall during the past 72 hours, a decision has been made by the organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to cancel the airshow on Saturday, July 12.
The cancellation of the airshow on Saturday follows a sustained period of heavy rainfall that has resulted in waterlogged conditions not only in the public car parks but also on the airfield itself. The decision was taken following consultation with the police and other safety services.
Air Tattoo Director Tim Prince said it was the first time the Air Tattoo had ever had to cancel one of its days in its 38-year history.
“It is with great regret that we had to take the decision to cancel the airshow on the Saturday but the safety of the public is paramount.
“When it became clear that we could not guarantee the safety of the many thousands of people who had bought tickets for Saturday, the decision to cancel was straightforward.
“We are aware of the inconvenience our decision will have on the many thousands of people who have bought tickets for the Saturday but the potential risk of there being significant difficulties on the roads, in our car parks on the airbase itself were too high.”
It is anticipated that the show will be held on Sunday but it will be only for holders of tickets valid for Sunday. A decision in respect of this will be announced by 4pm on Saturday.
Please note that Saturday tickets will not be valid for Sunday.
Refund details for tickets bought for Saturday, July 12, can be found on the Royal International Air Tattoo website at Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises . For further enquiries contact [email protected]
****