GA events..value for money?
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Ashwell, U.K.
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GA events..value for money?
With 3 of the 4 main GA events for the year already over I wonder what fellow ppruners think of them so far? For what it's worth my view is:-
1. FLY at Earls Court. Good first effort, excellent lectures (step forward the Flying Lawyer), pleasant way to spend a wet Sunday and not bad value with 1/2 price ticket i.e.£6.50. Score 3/5.
2. G-VFWE at Abingdon. How do they do it? Free landings AND a free book. (A request for a contribution was very reasonable I thought). A whizpast by the BBMF on Saturday was a bonus. Only minor downside was the departure procedure and taking in the silage with my prop!. Score 4.5/5
3. AeroFair. Tricky one this. It seems to be aimed at an upmarket audience, no problem there but it makes the lower end seem slightly out of place. Tremendous aeros though and reasonable admission fee at £15.00. Score 3.5/5
Bearing in mind the foregoing I would hate to start another round of PFA bashing but isn't £25 for the PFA Rally a bit steep for an event without an airshow or maufacurers demos? Couple that with some curious approach details I think I might be giving it a miss this year after 14 previous visits. I thought the comment in the G-VWFE programme to the effect that the organisers acknowledged the cost to the participants of getting there was one of the reasons for the free landings, was quite refreshing. Perhaps the PFA could take a leaf out of their book?
1. FLY at Earls Court. Good first effort, excellent lectures (step forward the Flying Lawyer), pleasant way to spend a wet Sunday and not bad value with 1/2 price ticket i.e.£6.50. Score 3/5.
2. G-VFWE at Abingdon. How do they do it? Free landings AND a free book. (A request for a contribution was very reasonable I thought). A whizpast by the BBMF on Saturday was a bonus. Only minor downside was the departure procedure and taking in the silage with my prop!. Score 4.5/5
3. AeroFair. Tricky one this. It seems to be aimed at an upmarket audience, no problem there but it makes the lower end seem slightly out of place. Tremendous aeros though and reasonable admission fee at £15.00. Score 3.5/5
Bearing in mind the foregoing I would hate to start another round of PFA bashing but isn't £25 for the PFA Rally a bit steep for an event without an airshow or maufacurers demos? Couple that with some curious approach details I think I might be giving it a miss this year after 14 previous visits. I thought the comment in the G-VWFE programme to the effect that the organisers acknowledged the cost to the participants of getting there was one of the reasons for the free landings, was quite refreshing. Perhaps the PFA could take a leaf out of their book?
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Must agree that G-VFWE was an excellent event for pilots, and even the mass post-14:30 departure was far better handled than at Kemble last year. Another, for Moth Club members in suitable aircraft only, is the Moth rally at Woburn, where there really is such a thing as free lunch 
I have long since given up on the PFA rally.
SSD
I have long since given up on the PFA rally.
SSD
Join Date: Nov 1999
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G-VFWE was certainly excellent. Could have done with cutting the grass though- I presume it was some farmer's sileage, so would have cost a lot?? not just a matter of getting it mowed.
Also no showers or even any water for us camping. But overall very good. ATC seemed better than the last two efforts at Kemble and Wroughton, although there still seemed to be a big queue Saturday afternoon getting out and lots of go-arounds Sat morning. dont know how they do it for the price!
Popham Microlight trade fair is another good event, spoilt by the weather this year, but Sunday was good, always a lot of interest to see.
Aerofair- I dont know how this keeps going, there seems to be no one there, if you dont count the line of spotters on the fence. Exhibitors I spoke to said they were disappointed and there seemed to be a lot less than last year. A few interesting visiting aircraft, but a real pain that they are stuck on the other side and you cant look around them, a real impersonal event if you ask me. ATC not that great either, far too much talking and quite a few times aircraft getting very close to each other and having to go around- more than at the PFA considering the amount of traffic.
I thought £15 for what you get there was quite expensive. MAkes £25 for PFA seem very cheap as there are 5 times the number of exhibiutors and 10 times the number of aircraft. Actually for all 3 days, PFA is cheaper- £40 versus £45 at Aerofair!
I will miss Perth, which promises to be a good event, next one for me will be the Air Britain fly-in at North Weald, promises to be a good even, over 30 foreign Jungmann already booked to attend for their aniversary fly-in and lots of Vans RVs too (RV-4 25th aniversairy)
Looking forward to PFA at Kemble, it was superb last year, hopefully even better this year!
happy flying!
Also no showers or even any water for us camping. But overall very good. ATC seemed better than the last two efforts at Kemble and Wroughton, although there still seemed to be a big queue Saturday afternoon getting out and lots of go-arounds Sat morning. dont know how they do it for the price!
Popham Microlight trade fair is another good event, spoilt by the weather this year, but Sunday was good, always a lot of interest to see.
Aerofair- I dont know how this keeps going, there seems to be no one there, if you dont count the line of spotters on the fence. Exhibitors I spoke to said they were disappointed and there seemed to be a lot less than last year. A few interesting visiting aircraft, but a real pain that they are stuck on the other side and you cant look around them, a real impersonal event if you ask me. ATC not that great either, far too much talking and quite a few times aircraft getting very close to each other and having to go around- more than at the PFA considering the amount of traffic.
I thought £15 for what you get there was quite expensive. MAkes £25 for PFA seem very cheap as there are 5 times the number of exhibiutors and 10 times the number of aircraft. Actually for all 3 days, PFA is cheaper- £40 versus £45 at Aerofair!
I will miss Perth, which promises to be a good event, next one for me will be the Air Britain fly-in at North Weald, promises to be a good even, over 30 foreign Jungmann already booked to attend for their aniversary fly-in and lots of Vans RVs too (RV-4 25th aniversairy)
Looking forward to PFA at Kemble, it was superb last year, hopefully even better this year!
happy flying!
I can't remember what year I last didn't go to the PFA rally, at Kemble, Cranfield, Wroughton....
Yes it's becoming expensive, but let's be fair. It doesn't have a thousands of "purely interested" general public that you'll get at Fairford or North Weald - that pushes the cost up. Secondly it has to handle far more aeroplanes, and aeroplanes types, than anything else - even with the use of volunteers, that's not cheap. Third, it's £40 for three days, whilst Aerofair was £15 for one day - which makes it (just) cheaper if you're there for the whole thing. Fourth, whilst virtually all the exhibitors at other shows have paid to be there, many of those at the PFA rally haven't, they're PFA members providing public information - again they are volunteers, but there are overheads (tents, furniture, loos) needed to service these and all that needs to be paid for.
Personally I think Popham is overall the best value for money going, but failing that, Kemble is (roughly) twice the event for three times the money, which still aint bad.
I must get to G-VFWE one of these days.
G
Yes it's becoming expensive, but let's be fair. It doesn't have a thousands of "purely interested" general public that you'll get at Fairford or North Weald - that pushes the cost up. Secondly it has to handle far more aeroplanes, and aeroplanes types, than anything else - even with the use of volunteers, that's not cheap. Third, it's £40 for three days, whilst Aerofair was £15 for one day - which makes it (just) cheaper if you're there for the whole thing. Fourth, whilst virtually all the exhibitors at other shows have paid to be there, many of those at the PFA rally haven't, they're PFA members providing public information - again they are volunteers, but there are overheads (tents, furniture, loos) needed to service these and all that needs to be paid for.
Personally I think Popham is overall the best value for money going, but failing that, Kemble is (roughly) twice the event for three times the money, which still aint bad.
I must get to G-VFWE one of these days.
G
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Don't forget that the ultimate in General Aviation events is the EAA AirVenture show at OSH (Oshkosh Wisconsin) during the last week of July.
If any fellow PPruners are going to be there don't hesitate to stop by where the controllers hang out (The NATCA Booth near the Control Tower) and say hello to Scott and I.
With the exchange rate being so favorable for you, I would hope to see more members from the UK at the air show. Where else can you see over 14,000 general aviation aircraft in one place, and watch several thousand operations (landings and departures) per day.
Mike
NATCA FWA
If any fellow PPruners are going to be there don't hesitate to stop by where the controllers hang out (The NATCA Booth near the Control Tower) and say hello to Scott and I.
With the exchange rate being so favorable for you, I would hope to see more members from the UK at the air show. Where else can you see over 14,000 general aviation aircraft in one place, and watch several thousand operations (landings and departures) per day.
Mike
NATCA FWA
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I'll be going...mind you, the air fares across to Chicago appear to be very dear this year...I've just paid over £600, against previous years of about £400-£450. Will come by if time permits; I'm there early for the arrivals. Do you know if there is a mass Bonanza arrival this year?
Sun 'n' Fun was also good.
DT
Why do the Americans keep missing letters out...it's KOSH, not OSH.
I'll be going...mind you, the air fares across to Chicago appear to be very dear this year...I've just paid over £600, against previous years of about £400-£450. Will come by if time permits; I'm there early for the arrivals. Do you know if there is a mass Bonanza arrival this year?
Sun 'n' Fun was also good.
DT
Why do the Americans keep missing letters out...it's KOSH, not OSH.
Join Date: Oct 1999
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The Best GA events are the small fly-ins and such like.
Since joining the PFA and becoming part of an owner group I've taken part in a whole heap of fly-in's and been a rally Volunteer for many years.
When you get involved in running stuff you get to see events like this in a whole new light.
For a lot of people the best Part of the PFA rally is the evening, after the "Day Trippers" have gone home. I particularly savour walking the aircraft parks. There's nothing quite like watching the sun going down over Wots, Tipsys, Tigers, Cubs, Jodels and even Spamcans.
Especially if the weather is as good as it was last year. Then as the chill of the evening descends retiring to the bar to have a beer and a yarn with your mates.
I appreciate that not everyone can spare the time to do this, so I feel quite honoured to have had the privilege.
Since joining the PFA and becoming part of an owner group I've taken part in a whole heap of fly-in's and been a rally Volunteer for many years.
When you get involved in running stuff you get to see events like this in a whole new light.
For a lot of people the best Part of the PFA rally is the evening, after the "Day Trippers" have gone home. I particularly savour walking the aircraft parks. There's nothing quite like watching the sun going down over Wots, Tipsys, Tigers, Cubs, Jodels and even Spamcans.
Especially if the weather is as good as it was last year. Then as the chill of the evening descends retiring to the bar to have a beer and a yarn with your mates. I appreciate that not everyone can spare the time to do this, so I feel quite honoured to have had the privilege.
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DT,
There is always a mass Bonanza, Mooney, T-6, and several other arrivals, the mass arrivals are an air show all by themselves that are exciting to watch.
If you plan on renting a car to get around, MKE, DTW, MSP, or YQG (Windsor, which is accross the river from Detroit Michigan, I'm not sure of what challenges are involved in clearing customs to cross into the US are) airports may be viable options. The drive from Detroit (DTW) only takes about 7 hours depending on traffic, or if you have the time the drive up across the Mackinaw Bridge and across the U.P. of Michigan is relaxing and scenic.
The controllers arrive on July 22, and undergo two days of classroom training on procedures, and safety, then on Sunday the fun begins.
Mike
NATCA FWA
There is always a mass Bonanza, Mooney, T-6, and several other arrivals, the mass arrivals are an air show all by themselves that are exciting to watch.
If you plan on renting a car to get around, MKE, DTW, MSP, or YQG (Windsor, which is accross the river from Detroit Michigan, I'm not sure of what challenges are involved in clearing customs to cross into the US are) airports may be viable options. The drive from Detroit (DTW) only takes about 7 hours depending on traffic, or if you have the time the drive up across the Mackinaw Bridge and across the U.P. of Michigan is relaxing and scenic.
The controllers arrive on July 22, and undergo two days of classroom training on procedures, and safety, then on Sunday the fun begins.
Mike
NATCA FWA
