Proposal to resurrect Finningley Air Show
Thread Starter
FB
Thread Starter
Because the F35 squadrons are busily trying to train new pilots and instructors for a growing force, while maintaining readiness for ops. And at least as importantly, as the inquiry into the QE accident observed, there are too few engineers on the squadrons for the size of the flying and operational readiness task as it is without adding a display workup and display season to the list. I presume the RAF has decided it would rather the aircraft been seen making pedestrian and restrained flybys (which is all the regulations allow without a display workup and all the supervisory overhead that goes with it) than not seen at all.
Last edited by Finningley Boy; 18th Dec 2023 at 23:17.
Now they're not.
We've got an air force pared to the bone and anyone in their right mind that looks at what the current service is working with and says " you should be putting more effort into air displays" is quite frankly delusional!
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Thread Starter
I know that "back when you were a lad" life and assets were cheap and plentiful...
Now they're not.
We've got an air force pared to the bone and anyone in their right mind that looks at what the current service is working with and says " you should be putting more effort into air displays" is quite frankly delusional!
Now they're not.
We've got an air force pared to the bone and anyone in their right mind that looks at what the current service is working with and says " you should be putting more effort into air displays" is quite frankly delusional!
The "you're only interested air displays" argument is a thin skinned reflex. It was always the case before and should be now, if you're going to place the service on show in public, make it worth while! As for the one and only operational "display" the Typhoon, the RAF might save some much needed cash by not frittering it on gaudy coloured paint.😁
FB
Last edited by Finningley Boy; 19th Dec 2023 at 00:32. Reason: update
Seeing as the airfield owner, Peel, has closed the airfield to any flying operations and dismissed all the Air Traffic staff, this proposal is highly unlikely, actually more like totally impossible!
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They reckon 2025 is still on the cards. The same was said about the Scampton Air Show in 2017, after the hype smoke screen faded and revealed that the event wasn't quite as successful as was originally fiercely claimed to have been, there was an eventual announcement, well and truly belated, that there wouldn't be a Scampton Air Show in 2018. But, the ambition was to hold one in 2019, and the rest as they say, is history.
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FB
One of the problems is that air shows have become a victim of their own success.
Climbing into the `way back` machine for a moment The Fighter Meet at Weald in 89 had two P51's. Probably a Spitfire. Stalwarts like the RNHF, BBMF and not much else.
Yes, I'm sure the list was bigger (I can recall a black still in service Hunter) but there wasn't a lot of stuff. Some stalls. A few planes. Good commentary and that was it.
Of course your show could be spiced up with some quite nice RAF types like the Vulcan, Tornado, Jaguar, Shackleton and so on now all sadly gone.
Fuel was cheap. Entry was cheap and life was relatively cheap.
Now shows, and life is expensive. Not for what you get (you get an awesome line up of warbirds, not much modern though) but still a big chunk out of the average families budget. Blame that on the government.
I also think that the people that went to shows are now like me. Old and pot bellied. They haven't got the same draw as they used too for younger generations.
So for a show to work it needs to have a local fan base it can drawer on. Be relatively cheap, cheerful, fun and, gonna get some flack for this, be down south where most of the money is.
Hence Old Warden, Duxford, Lashenden. RIAT et al.
Climbing into the `way back` machine for a moment The Fighter Meet at Weald in 89 had two P51's. Probably a Spitfire. Stalwarts like the RNHF, BBMF and not much else.
Yes, I'm sure the list was bigger (I can recall a black still in service Hunter) but there wasn't a lot of stuff. Some stalls. A few planes. Good commentary and that was it.
Of course your show could be spiced up with some quite nice RAF types like the Vulcan, Tornado, Jaguar, Shackleton and so on now all sadly gone.
Fuel was cheap. Entry was cheap and life was relatively cheap.
Now shows, and life is expensive. Not for what you get (you get an awesome line up of warbirds, not much modern though) but still a big chunk out of the average families budget. Blame that on the government.
I also think that the people that went to shows are now like me. Old and pot bellied. They haven't got the same draw as they used too for younger generations.
So for a show to work it needs to have a local fan base it can drawer on. Be relatively cheap, cheerful, fun and, gonna get some flack for this, be down south where most of the money is.
Hence Old Warden, Duxford, Lashenden. RIAT et al.
Although too young to have seen the airshows of the 50s and 60s where huge formations would take to the skies, I still feel fortunate to have seen what was around in the 80s and up to the 90s (where family took priority over airshow attendance)
North Weald Fighter Meet was usually the first attendance on the calendar with a healthy mixture of old and new (a spirited performance by a fairly newish Tornado F2 in 86)
Next was the legendary Mildenhall Air Fete which was in a league of its own with its infamous hospitality (Bud and a wet burger)
This was back when the Cold War (original one) was still full on and the skies of East Anglia were almost solid aluminium.
Those days are gone and with numbers of aircraft very much down, the airshows of the past are just that. The only exception maybe RIAT but even that is a shadow of its former self.
Just my take.
North Weald Fighter Meet was usually the first attendance on the calendar with a healthy mixture of old and new (a spirited performance by a fairly newish Tornado F2 in 86)
Next was the legendary Mildenhall Air Fete which was in a league of its own with its infamous hospitality (Bud and a wet burger)
This was back when the Cold War (original one) was still full on and the skies of East Anglia were almost solid aluminium.
Those days are gone and with numbers of aircraft very much down, the airshows of the past are just that. The only exception maybe RIAT but even that is a shadow of its former self.
Just my take.
Thread Starter
My own first experience of an air show was at the place in question, Finningley, 1962, perched on dad's shoulders watching the Vulcan Scramble. All anti-flash white. I can still remember the air cadet or airman, running along the side of the car as we went to park, thrusting a copy of the Battle of Britain Souvenir Magazine through the open window in exchange for a few shekels and mum remarking about how cold it was. Trips down memory lane, happen more often these days.
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I think we were in the car behind yours, FB. The annual pilgrimage!
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"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Well the article you’ve linked to is only a couple of weeks off being a year old, 9th Jan 23… At that time the airport had only been closed four weeks
Assuming the airport stayed open, an air show to contemporary safety standards at the site would be very difficult to manage, and even prior to Shoreham and subsequent changes would have been impractical due infrastructure and commercial operations.
Assuming the airport stayed open, an air show to contemporary safety standards at the site would be very difficult to manage, and even prior to Shoreham and subsequent changes would have been impractical due infrastructure and commercial operations.
Thread Starter
Well the article you’ve linked to is only a couple of weeks off being a year old, 9th Jan 23… At that time the airport had only been closed four weeks
Assuming the airport stayed open, an air show to contemporary safety standards at the site would be very difficult to manage, and even prior to Shoreham and subsequent changes would have been impractical due infrastructure and commercial operations.
Assuming the airport stayed open, an air show to contemporary safety standards at the site would be very difficult to manage, and even prior to Shoreham and subsequent changes would have been impractical due infrastructure and commercial operations.
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