Who actualy wants a Waddington Airshow to return?
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Who actualy wants a Waddington Airshow to return?
A recent post by a local MP in a local newspaper ranted on about the 'Wonderful Waddington Airshow' and how he was hoping for it's return. I wrote to him on behalf of all those who actually 'work' the Airshow in these times of austerity - no money for vital equipment, overstretched and over committed.
So let's start a debate...who actually wants the Waddo Airshow to return? But before you offer an opinion, consider yourself eligible for a week out of your own life (leave ban included) to act as a glorified Butlins Redcoat to the great unwashed.
Discuss..........(incoming!!)
So let's start a debate...who actually wants the Waddo Airshow to return? But before you offer an opinion, consider yourself eligible for a week out of your own life (leave ban included) to act as a glorified Butlins Redcoat to the great unwashed.
Discuss..........(incoming!!)
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Were I still in, I would 'vote' no for the very reasons you mention. It wouldn't have been so bad at another time of year, but it always occurred around the time of 3 family birthdays, not to mention the height of the British motorsport calendar (Goodwood or British GP).
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Given that it was one of the few opportunities left in the UK, for the 'great unwashed' and enthusiasts alike, to actually see what's left of the RAF, FAA and the Army (plus our allies of course), apart from when they appear in the news during the latest defence cuts announcement, then yes, I would love to see it return...
-RP
-RP
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
And when I asked in the MSW coffee bar - Air show or £20 in the charity bucket - no contest.
The worst thing about modern air shows is charity, all the tat stalls, beer tents, kiddies fun fair. It isn't about aircraft at all.
I remember Hooton Park, my first BoB and less than 1000 there with the RAuxAF guys cobbling a show together on the fly.
Finningley with the officers' enclosure full of officers from the other stations enjoying the "privacy".
Cottesmore, 66, torrential rain and a gale, green marquees on the display line and no side shows.
Colt, 68 or 69, again grotty weather, everyone did a flat display and I reckon less than 1500 crowd.
The worst thing about modern air shows is charity, all the tat stalls, beer tents, kiddies fun fair. It isn't about aircraft at all.
I remember Hooton Park, my first BoB and less than 1000 there with the RAuxAF guys cobbling a show together on the fly.
Finningley with the officers' enclosure full of officers from the other stations enjoying the "privacy".
Cottesmore, 66, torrential rain and a gale, green marquees on the display line and no side shows.
Colt, 68 or 69, again grotty weather, everyone did a flat display and I reckon less than 1500 crowd.
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Four Types,
I recently visited the HoP and spent a few hours over a few beers with the local MP for Waddo. I had to admire his enthusiasm for the return of the airshow. He also showed a good level of understanding of how busy the station is (despite many assumptions at other units!) and how much of a burden the show places on serving personnel. As a result, I think he has one eye on Scampton as a potential, although I can't see how that unit could cope with the same level of airshow. It ain't big enough!! Waddo personnel would end up augmenting it too.
A bigger concern must be the risk management of having over 100000 people wondering around an ISTAR unit that is home to RJ and other very sensitive assets; a security nightmare.
Sadly, I think the airshow is long gone and I don't think the majority of folk working at Waddo will miss it!
I recently visited the HoP and spent a few hours over a few beers with the local MP for Waddo. I had to admire his enthusiasm for the return of the airshow. He also showed a good level of understanding of how busy the station is (despite many assumptions at other units!) and how much of a burden the show places on serving personnel. As a result, I think he has one eye on Scampton as a potential, although I can't see how that unit could cope with the same level of airshow. It ain't big enough!! Waddo personnel would end up augmenting it too.
A bigger concern must be the risk management of having over 100000 people wondering around an ISTAR unit that is home to RJ and other very sensitive assets; a security nightmare.
Sadly, I think the airshow is long gone and I don't think the majority of folk working at Waddo will miss it!
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These are the ingredients required for a major disaster:
Take one UK Drone (strike) HQ.
Insert just one ISS geezer thinly disguised as a Middle eastern refugee.
Add 50,000+ innocent bystanders.
Add a sprinkle of revenge doctrine.
Thereafter it is just a matter of timing.
Take one UK Drone (strike) HQ.
Insert just one ISS geezer thinly disguised as a Middle eastern refugee.
Add 50,000+ innocent bystanders.
Add a sprinkle of revenge doctrine.
Thereafter it is just a matter of timing.
Did attending air shows as kids not inspire you to join up? I mean, before you grew up and became all jaded and all.
Surely that's the point of them - to inspire the next generation, no? If that doesn't inspire you, then perhaps it's time to hang up your chocks if you haven't already.
Surely that's the point of them - to inspire the next generation, no? If that doesn't inspire you, then perhaps it's time to hang up your chocks if you haven't already.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Melmothtw, indeed, but my route was uncles in RAF, visited Hooton Park, CCF(RAF), air experience flights in a Dakota and the Met Hastings with lunch in the Officers' Mess at Siloth, camps at Topcliffe, Manby, and Upwood.
Air shows played no part in my indoctrination and with one show at Waddo just how much effect will that hav
Air shows played no part in my indoctrination and with one show at Waddo just how much effect will that hav
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One of the Fb pages for Waddington Spotters is full of moaning about the lack of an air show and constant questions of when the runway will re-open again (plus about 50 shots per day of the damn Vulcan). I once put my view over (similar to 4 Types) that air shows didn't just happen and most of Waddington would be happy to see the back of it for a while. A few weeks later and I am still in lock down with radiation levels rising . These guys are RABID! Cancel at your peril!!!!
Having worked the Waddington Air Show every year from 1996 to 2008, I can confirm that it was a complete pain in the a$$ for the station personnel: It was more than a weekend of work (with set-up and break-down) that was executed by a community who were regularly deployed away from home for extended periods. A leave ban was always in place to maximise the pain and inconvenience at a time when people were looking to go on leave.
I completely get the "good" that such shows do in terms of PR and fundraising, but the level of effort required to stage such an event outweighed the benefits (IMHO). The traffic burden on the surrounding area, where the road infrastructure is lacking at the best of times, was also intolerable.
Given the sensitivity of the base, and particularly with the controversy surrounding RPAS, Waddington is probably not the best place to have several hundred thousand people wondering around.
My vote would be to bin it at Waddington and use RIAT to inspire/impress.
I completely get the "good" that such shows do in terms of PR and fundraising, but the level of effort required to stage such an event outweighed the benefits (IMHO). The traffic burden on the surrounding area, where the road infrastructure is lacking at the best of times, was also intolerable.
Given the sensitivity of the base, and particularly with the controversy surrounding RPAS, Waddington is probably not the best place to have several hundred thousand people wondering around.
My vote would be to bin it at Waddington and use RIAT to inspire/impress.
Melmothw #9,
Curiously, my annual attendance at our nearest B of B display (RAF Gaydon, home of No2 Air Navigation School) had no attraction to me to join the Royal Air Force. Neither did my membership of the local Air Training Corps Squadron. Perhaps because of my enthusiasm for music. My disappointment at having to wait 12 months to enter training with the Royal Marines Band was interrupted by the next door RAF recruiting office. I walked in hoping they needed a trombonist, I became their latest Halton airframe fitter apprentice. Waddington, in its day was a great display day, I well remember being part of the static display crew (only the AGE) with XV210 many years ago. Our Air Force is a beast of a different time now. No spare money for such fripperies, and perhaps as already stated, Waddington is not a sensible location for public access. Perhaps the future is Fairford as the primary (or only) military display in Britain, and Waddington, Abingdon et al become a distant memory.
Smudge
Curiously, my annual attendance at our nearest B of B display (RAF Gaydon, home of No2 Air Navigation School) had no attraction to me to join the Royal Air Force. Neither did my membership of the local Air Training Corps Squadron. Perhaps because of my enthusiasm for music. My disappointment at having to wait 12 months to enter training with the Royal Marines Band was interrupted by the next door RAF recruiting office. I walked in hoping they needed a trombonist, I became their latest Halton airframe fitter apprentice. Waddington, in its day was a great display day, I well remember being part of the static display crew (only the AGE) with XV210 many years ago. Our Air Force is a beast of a different time now. No spare money for such fripperies, and perhaps as already stated, Waddington is not a sensible location for public access. Perhaps the future is Fairford as the primary (or only) military display in Britain, and Waddington, Abingdon et al become a distant memory.
Smudge
It looks like the Armed Forces charities might want it (apologies for the loop diagram in the middle of the article):
Armed Forces charities face funding shortfall as Shoreham disaster puts air shows under threat - Telegraph
Armed Forces charities face funding shortfall as Shoreham disaster puts air shows under threat - Telegraph
61 years ago, even a small flying training station managed a flying display programme which included:
- Formation aerobatics by 2 different RAF teams, one with Meteors, one with Vampires.
- Solo aerobatics by 5 different RAF aircraft types.
- A sonic boom from an RAF Sabre.
- A mock airfield attack by Vampires against RAF Regiment Bofors guns.
Plus the usual speed / height judging, demo flights of manufacturers' aircraft, pleasure flights and a helicopter air sea rescue demo.
The static display included a Vampire FB5, Vampire T11, Venom NF3, Prentice, Meteor T7, Meteor NF11, Lincoln, Canberra, Varsity, Provost, Harvard, Balliol, Chipmunk, Anson, Tempest, Sabre, Wyvern and Dragonfly.
It even included a performance by the RAF Boscombe Down station band!
There was a children's playground - and a disclaimer on the programme stating that visitors entering the station did so at their own risk. No liability would be accepted by the Air Ministry for any injury, damage or loss. Paranoia of the day also asked people not to take photographs!
Quite what could one expect to see at Waddington these days? Fat spotters with camouflaged waistcoats covered in tat clutching little aluminium stepladders and expensive cameras all vying for yet another photograph of the one or two RAF aircraft participating?
- Formation aerobatics by 2 different RAF teams, one with Meteors, one with Vampires.
- Solo aerobatics by 5 different RAF aircraft types.
- A sonic boom from an RAF Sabre.
- A mock airfield attack by Vampires against RAF Regiment Bofors guns.
Plus the usual speed / height judging, demo flights of manufacturers' aircraft, pleasure flights and a helicopter air sea rescue demo.
The static display included a Vampire FB5, Vampire T11, Venom NF3, Prentice, Meteor T7, Meteor NF11, Lincoln, Canberra, Varsity, Provost, Harvard, Balliol, Chipmunk, Anson, Tempest, Sabre, Wyvern and Dragonfly.
It even included a performance by the RAF Boscombe Down station band!
There was a children's playground - and a disclaimer on the programme stating that visitors entering the station did so at their own risk. No liability would be accepted by the Air Ministry for any injury, damage or loss. Paranoia of the day also asked people not to take photographs!
Quite what could one expect to see at Waddington these days? Fat spotters with camouflaged waistcoats covered in tat clutching little aluminium stepladders and expensive cameras all vying for yet another photograph of the one or two RAF aircraft participating?
Last edited by BEagle; 16th Sep 2015 at 12:03. Reason: Apostrophic abuse - mea culpa. Thanks, vasco!
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The decision was made two years ago that 'RAF 100' pron "RAFF one hundred!!" would be held by RIAT. I don't know if it a contractual obligation or a memorandum of understanding, but either way, that is the official way ahead. As is a show of farce at village fetes.
I suspect that after recent tragic events and the draconian legislation by the CAA; air displays as was will never be the same again. Presumption based upon 'temporary restrictions' to reduce risk not being superseded by anything that could be seen to increase risk. ie a relaxation of recent regulations. If I was fortunate enough to own one of the 14 airworthy Hunters in the UK; I would be mightily Peed off.
I suspect that the MAA are poised with pen ready to amend RA2335.
I suspect that after recent tragic events and the draconian legislation by the CAA; air displays as was will never be the same again. Presumption based upon 'temporary restrictions' to reduce risk not being superseded by anything that could be seen to increase risk. ie a relaxation of recent regulations. If I was fortunate enough to own one of the 14 airworthy Hunters in the UK; I would be mightily Peed off.
I suspect that the MAA are poised with pen ready to amend RA2335.