"A country fair with aircraft." I like that ! Nice one. How would you sum up the Air Tattoo at Fairford these days ?

The commentary may have a little OTT but the Thunderbirds display itself was excellent. Fast and loud - like a good display ought to be - highlight of the show for me, followed by the Team Viper Hunters and the superb OV-10. Oh and seeing Sally B again, the Black Cats, the Belgian F-16, the Norwegian Vampires, the RN Merlin , the Chinook etc. A great day out and thank to all involved for their efforts.

Haven't had chance to see RIAT maybe if it wasn't at opposite end of the country I might go.

"Country fair with aircraft" is a comment I heard more than once from different people I met most of whom have attended for many years.

"Country fair with aircraft"

Spot on, an increasing amount of commercial tat each year with an ever decreasing presence of military aircraft. :(

Beagle opined....

Ø Clockwork Mouse, you clearly haven't heard them! It isn't when
Ø they're 'pulling 6G', it's even when they're simply turning final to
Ø land...... Or checking in on start.A bit like Americans. Individually
Ø quite nice people; it's when they get into groups of about 9 that
Ø things change....Flap62 has it right.

Bang to rights, Herren Beagle and Flap 62. A point I tried to make with the nomenclature of No 32 Sqn. None of this egotistical, self promoting buffoonery has any place in the Royal Air Force. What next? No 56 (The Red Rippers) Sqn to be gazetted?
I know more than a few ex COs of the latter who would cringe at the very thought.
The past deeds and glorious achievements of the Royal Air Force do not require any modern ‘mincing up’ to maintain the tradition.
Immensely proud yet understated should be the behavioural standard (apart from the customary inter Sqn shenanigans on Dining-In evenings J).
Always was, always should be.

What was this thread all about anyway?
 

As a member of the "Great British Public", may I offer sincere thanks to all the guys and gals at Waddington for organising this weekend's airshow? Despite all the overstretch, months away on duty in different war zones, cost cutting etc, they still do this each year.

I'm afraid I was very underwhelmed by the Thunderbirds. It took them over five minutes from taxying out to getting airborne. During that we had swells of martial music, and Leonard Nimoy spouting Vulcan mysticism.....

To my amateur eyes, the flying, though close, was very pedestrian, with most of the turns being made over Grimsby..... It's a very different show to the sort of the in the Arrows, Frecce, or Patrouille. Yet, on their home turf, the crowds go wild..... maybe it's because, unlike us, they don't know the difference?

Now off to dig myself a slit trench to avoid the incoming that's bound to follow.:sad::rolleyes:

M69
"Egotistical, self-promoting buffoonery."
Now is the Thunderbirds' display and commentary the sort of understated professionalism which you might prefer the RAFAT to adopt?

Was at RIAT last year [as part of a display crew] and thought the Patrouille stole the show - team wise. The undoubted star was the F22 but the commentary was awful - like David Brent crossed with some form of overly patriotic simpleton.

F22 Commentary
 

I also found the F22 Commentary at RIAT rather cringeworthy. Most of the people around me were sniggering away. What i did enjoy was the boasts of how great each of the Fast Jets were; F/A-18, Typhoon, Griphen, Rafale etc. It should have been decided, shirts off in the car park. Bit more exciting than some X Factor reject warbling away like this year :ok:

*Geek mode on*
What most people seem to be missing, is that the USAF Thunderbirds are an Air Demonstration Squadron whilst the Reds, PdF etc are all Aerobatic Teams
*Geek mode off*

I am sure someone with more time on their hands can explain the difference!;)

Do you think they get a choice? Too many egos and promotions at stake for someone to say "Not this year - we're too busy on Ops".