Who actualy wants a Waddington Airshow to return?
With Leuchars gone, Cosford is the only RAF Airshow left, I am not a plane spotter but it would be nice if the RAF could put one airshow on that includes a runway for static. Only problem is where would it be.
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A glance at Britishairshows.com shows 18 planned events between now and the end of the year.
Surely that's plenty for the UK Spotter population to enjoy, without taking the risk of opening up a major operational military base to all and sundry.
On security grounds alone, I would vote for binning Cosford and Yeovilton next year too.
Surely that's plenty for the UK Spotter population to enjoy, without taking the risk of opening up a major operational military base to all and sundry.
On security grounds alone, I would vote for binning Cosford and Yeovilton next year too.
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Grumpy old bunch of loafers.
Waddington is hardly the hardest working station.
In fact, it is the least operationally focused airbase I have ever had the misfortune to operate from.
It is, however, a good airshow.
Waddington is hardly the hardest working station.
In fact, it is the least operationally focused airbase I have ever had the misfortune to operate from.
It is, however, a good airshow.
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Reply!
Yes Courtney Mil I did get a reply. A polite 'I hear what you say...' plus a note that he is not my actual MP! I knew that, I was just trying to let him have my opinion.
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Inspired?
No I was not inspired by an airshow. No family connection with the RAF apart from an uncle who did National Service in the 50s. I actually joined having read an advert in the newspaper!!!
If you want to inspire someone then let a civvy field take it on and invite any passing RAF Aircraft (I am sure one of the three remaining may make it!)
If you want to inspire someone then let a civvy field take it on and invite any passing RAF Aircraft (I am sure one of the three remaining may make it!)
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Perhaps you mistook Scampton for Waddington and landed there in error...?
Waddington is at absolute max chat at the moment and has been for quite a few years.
Originally Posted by Tourist View Post
Grumpy old bunch of loafers.
Waddington is hardly the hardest working station.
In fact, it is the least operationally focused airbase I have ever had the misfortune to operate from.
It is, however, a good airshow.
Grumpy old bunch of loafers.
Waddington is hardly the hardest working station.
In fact, it is the least operationally focused airbase I have ever had the misfortune to operate from.
It is, however, a good airshow.
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Lyme Regis Lifeboat week has for years enjoyed shows by the Red Arrows and the RAF Falcons. These have been free as a thank you for the contribution of the RNLI to the RAF's Air Sea Rescue efforts.
Now the ASR is being contracted out, the RAF apparently has no more need to say thank you in this way.
The press release says (if I understand it right) that the fees being waived this year are £ 12,184 for the Arrows and £ 2,939 for the Falcons. The fees would be payable next year and are set to rise.
The charity week net takings seem to have settled at £ 25,000 give or take. So the organisers have said for next year Thanks but No Thanks.
By another little step the service's image, like that of the Cheshire Cat, is diminishing.
Now the ASR is being contracted out, the RAF apparently has no more need to say thank you in this way.
The press release says (if I understand it right) that the fees being waived this year are £ 12,184 for the Arrows and £ 2,939 for the Falcons. The fees would be payable next year and are set to rise.
The charity week net takings seem to have settled at £ 25,000 give or take. So the organisers have said for next year Thanks but No Thanks.
By another little step the service's image, like that of the Cheshire Cat, is diminishing.
rlsbutler, that's a great shame.
Back in the late 1950s and early 1960s when I lived in Somerset, family trips to West Dorset were weekend highlights. I well recall the RAF Air Sea Rescue launches which belonged to the MCU back then....
Now we read the following:
The creeping cancer of contractorisation strikes again....
Back in the late 1950s and early 1960s when I lived in Somerset, family trips to West Dorset were weekend highlights. I well recall the RAF Air Sea Rescue launches which belonged to the MCU back then....
Now we read the following:
Sad farewell to Red Arrows from Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week
We’re sad to announce that the Red Arrows and the RAF Falcons parachute team will not be thrilling the crowds at next year’s Lyme Regis Lifeboat week.
For many years the Red Arrows have performed free of charge during Lifeboat Week as a ‘thank you’ to the RNLI for its contribution to Search and Rescue work.
The organisers of the week, the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild, has learned that due of the transition of Search and Rescue services from the RAF to a civilian contractor, display charges will apply in future.
As usual the guild applied for a visit from the Red Arrows almost immediately after this year’s Lifeboat Week. In their response it was stated that the current charge for the Red Arrows was £12,184 and the Falcons £2,939 and these costs were likely to rise next year. The RNLI guild said that they were unable to find sufficient funds from donations in Lifeboat Week to pay for these displays, and thanked the Red Arrows and RAF Falcons for their support over many years.
A spokesperson said: ‘For many years we have been very fortunate with the Red Arrows and the RAF Falcons visiting the town in Lifeboat Week and supporting the RNLI charity free of charge. Their stunning displays have been a huge attraction to residents and visitors alike, and we know their inclusion in the programme of events has been responsible for raising many thousands of pounds for our charity.
“Regrettably, we cannot find sufficient funds from donations in Lifeboat Week to pay for these displays. The presence of these two magnificent teams will be sorely missed by thousands of people, but this year – when they could not fly because of the weather – we felt we were still able to provide plenty of family events, and donations were not severely affected. Our final figure for this year’s week is in the region of £25,000.
‘Finally, we would like to extend our deep gratitude to the men and women of the Red Arrows and the RAF Falcons and, indeed, the Ministry of Defence, for their wonderful support for our fundraising over many years.’
We’re sad to announce that the Red Arrows and the RAF Falcons parachute team will not be thrilling the crowds at next year’s Lyme Regis Lifeboat week.
For many years the Red Arrows have performed free of charge during Lifeboat Week as a ‘thank you’ to the RNLI for its contribution to Search and Rescue work.
The organisers of the week, the Lyme Regis and Charmouth RNLI Guild, has learned that due of the transition of Search and Rescue services from the RAF to a civilian contractor, display charges will apply in future.
As usual the guild applied for a visit from the Red Arrows almost immediately after this year’s Lifeboat Week. In their response it was stated that the current charge for the Red Arrows was £12,184 and the Falcons £2,939 and these costs were likely to rise next year. The RNLI guild said that they were unable to find sufficient funds from donations in Lifeboat Week to pay for these displays, and thanked the Red Arrows and RAF Falcons for their support over many years.
A spokesperson said: ‘For many years we have been very fortunate with the Red Arrows and the RAF Falcons visiting the town in Lifeboat Week and supporting the RNLI charity free of charge. Their stunning displays have been a huge attraction to residents and visitors alike, and we know their inclusion in the programme of events has been responsible for raising many thousands of pounds for our charity.
“Regrettably, we cannot find sufficient funds from donations in Lifeboat Week to pay for these displays. The presence of these two magnificent teams will be sorely missed by thousands of people, but this year – when they could not fly because of the weather – we felt we were still able to provide plenty of family events, and donations were not severely affected. Our final figure for this year’s week is in the region of £25,000.
‘Finally, we would like to extend our deep gratitude to the men and women of the Red Arrows and the RAF Falcons and, indeed, the Ministry of Defence, for their wonderful support for our fundraising over many years.’
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To come back to the original question, YES,Please! It's an important part of what the RAF does. It's probably going to get more difficult each year though; fewer jets, likely more post-Shoreham restrictions. Good luck!
Short answer to the question, "No"
Longer answer (being subjected to the absolute nause for 6 continious years),
The place is at 100%, morale is low, staff are dispersed, many others are covering roles in absence, there is no internal appetite for it, local roads are gridlocked, security for both known and little understood assets would be a nightmare, etc etc
Let's throw a few items into RIAT and call it a deal, a weekend away for air and groundcrews and a show for the aviation enthusiasts...
Longer answer (being subjected to the absolute nause for 6 continious years),
The place is at 100%, morale is low, staff are dispersed, many others are covering roles in absence, there is no internal appetite for it, local roads are gridlocked, security for both known and little understood assets would be a nightmare, etc etc
Let's throw a few items into RIAT and call it a deal, a weekend away for air and groundcrews and a show for the aviation enthusiasts...
Of course we could cancel all airshows at military airfields for security reasons, as suggested. While we're at it let's cancel all other events where the public comes onto the site as well; the regular Northolt photo-shoots, Antiques Roadshow recordings, etc, and close down attractions such as the FAA Museum and the Museum of Army Flying as they're on military establishments. In fact, put up HESCO barriers all the way round with watchtowers at regular intervals. Just like Bastion but not as warm and with nobody actually trying to kill you.
Now that my tongue has been removed from my cheek, let's be a bit more sensible.
Let's be honest, the RAF needs publicity and PR, and there are rapidly diminishing opportunities for it. No SAR helicopters, the virtual disappearance of the Town Show, etc, even the widespread adoption of DPM uniform rather than blue for everyday use. There is a big proportion of the public who rarely, if ever, see a military aircraft from one end of the year to the next, and probably have no concept of what the RAF actually does and that it is even a separate organisation from the Army.
Perhaps an answer is to move the event around each year as they do in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, or use personnel from other airfields around the UK to ease the load on Waddington's people. Alternatively, why not do what the Israelis do every year throughout their anniversary week, and open three or four bases to the public -one a day- with a good representative static line-up of aircraft, exhibitions and a couple of flying demos. The idea is to show what the air force does, and what it uses taxpayers' money for, much like the traditional 'At Home' events. And they're happy to let the public onto their airfields, even with their security situation being much worse than ours is
.
Can we also please get away from the idea that only spotters go to airshows? RIAT estimate that only about 10% of their visitors are enthusiasts, so there is a big interest out there, and at the very least I think that, just as in Israel, taxpayers should be able to see just what some of the government buys on their behalf.
By the way, Flightline UK, which is a much more more reliable source of airshow news, lists nine events between now and the end of next month, only three or four of them traditional airshows as opposed to events with a couple of flying displays added in. RAF participation is limited to BBMF and the Reds at one of those shows, and BBMF at two others. Chances to meet 'your RAF' are getting fewer and fewer.
Now that my tongue has been removed from my cheek, let's be a bit more sensible.
Let's be honest, the RAF needs publicity and PR, and there are rapidly diminishing opportunities for it. No SAR helicopters, the virtual disappearance of the Town Show, etc, even the widespread adoption of DPM uniform rather than blue for everyday use. There is a big proportion of the public who rarely, if ever, see a military aircraft from one end of the year to the next, and probably have no concept of what the RAF actually does and that it is even a separate organisation from the Army.
Perhaps an answer is to move the event around each year as they do in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, or use personnel from other airfields around the UK to ease the load on Waddington's people. Alternatively, why not do what the Israelis do every year throughout their anniversary week, and open three or four bases to the public -one a day- with a good representative static line-up of aircraft, exhibitions and a couple of flying demos. The idea is to show what the air force does, and what it uses taxpayers' money for, much like the traditional 'At Home' events. And they're happy to let the public onto their airfields, even with their security situation being much worse than ours is
. Can we also please get away from the idea that only spotters go to airshows? RIAT estimate that only about 10% of their visitors are enthusiasts, so there is a big interest out there, and at the very least I think that, just as in Israel, taxpayers should be able to see just what some of the government buys on their behalf.
By the way, Flightline UK, which is a much more more reliable source of airshow news, lists nine events between now and the end of next month, only three or four of them traditional airshows as opposed to events with a couple of flying displays added in. RAF participation is limited to BBMF and the Reds at one of those shows, and BBMF at two others. Chances to meet 'your RAF' are getting fewer and fewer.
A few years ago now (well to be true, many but the memories are still clear) I lead an exchange of recently graduated Cranditz cadets (including JB and LK) to the Norwegian Air Force Academy. There were cadets from their Army and Navy academies as well. They offered us flying in their SAAB grading trainer, and the girl friends of the visiting cadets too "as they were taxpayers and should have the opportunity to see what we do". Seemed a good idea
Last edited by Wander00; 17th Sep 2015 at 12:28.
