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Old 11th Jul 2004, 20:22
  #41 (permalink)  
 
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Well, did anyone go?? What was it like? Worth the entrance/landing fees? Too many anoraks/spotters? Give us a clue..

As for me, I avoided the place by flying at the other end of the country
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Old 11th Jul 2004, 22:18
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Yup, we went on Friday.

Managed to work out the AIC but for lack of traffic decided to abandon flying all the way to the watertower and proceeded to find our way safely into Kemble. Was a steady stream rather than really busy at that time, but that suited me quite well.

Some grumbles that it was quiet but I can not compare as I have only been on weekend days in the past.

As I flew in and am a member I only had to pay a fiver and my passenger a tenner so that was all not too bad.

Quite enjoyed ourselves and was nice to see some friends although there was nobody vaguely obnoxious enough at the beertent at 1500 to be able to claim to be a Prooner so just had a sarnie and drink with some mates at one of the wooden tables.

Worth it? Yup for me although I don't think not going would have made life not worth living either.

Stillthink the approach procedures are crap.

FD
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Old 11th Jul 2004, 22:52
  #43 (permalink)  
 
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I went on Saturday. Aircraft wasn't ready so I drove in. First impression was that I'm glad there wasn't a big crowd trying to get in as even with all 3 or 4 lanes taking entrance money it was sllooowwwww. There must be a better way than that.
There needs to be an 'Entrance'. Only clue to where to head was the general drift of pedestrians.
There weren't any aviation junk stalls. Possibly put off by high charges. I particularly wanted an obsolescent old Dzus fastener for my obsolescent old glider.
Nothing on the tradestands that particularly interested me as I'm not in the market for new instruments or electronics and I certainly can't consider any of the new super sleek super expensive kits.
There didn't seem to be that many aircraft on the ground, maybe half what there were last year and a quick walk around didn't show up anything that needed too much close inspection. I think most of what was of interest to me, vintage or rag and wood homebuilts were put off by the weather. Once you've seen one Europa and one RV you've seen them all unless you are particularly interested in them.
Why are people so shy about putting the identification of their aircraft on the aircraft. There were two Thorpe T 18s there. I know that because the second one had it written on the tail. The first one was, to me, a curious aircraft with a touch of the Wittman Tailwind about it and no clue as to what it actually was.
I didn't go across to the Tower side but I did notice a low wing trike at the end of his landing run on the grass and he was being bounced around all over the place. I guess they haven't done anything to de-bump the grass 'runway' yet. It's just a bit too rough in my opinion.
Catering was the usual rip off. Fish and chips was only about a pound more than the local chippie but the other stuff seemed well overpriced. Someone told me in conversation that the coffee stall was charging £2 for a Latte and that no-one else was allowed to sell them. A bit of competition would sort out the prices methinks. It's probably just me. I'm at the age where everything seems expensive. Even the politicians are beginning to look young now.
Your turn, what did you think?

Mike W
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 07:30
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Would you believe it!

I was at the AirworldUK stall picking up a package Friday afternoon whilst this fella was asking about a Dzus fastener ... if only I'd known

The approach proceedures actually turned out to work very well. However, sitting at Goodwood trying to make head and tail of them was a nightmare! Far far too complicated for what they needed to be. If I'd been flying a single seat open cockpit type I'd have given up! You'd need a photographic memory because all that paper would be impossible to carry and you can only make so many marks on a map before its over cluttered.

My other niggle was being stuck over on the Northside. It's a shame nobody antisipated the low turnout of aircraft due to weather. If they had they could have parked us all Southside, which would have given better access to pilots and spotters alike. As it was my feet were soaked by the time I walked over for breakfast Saturday morning.

Other than that I had a good time and would definately go again ... but then I do go most years anyway

SS
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 08:56
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I went on Saturday. The Watertower join worked well for us and the two other aircraft we were following. The two plonkers who decided to make a straight-in approach and whom we met as they approached directly overhead Kemble village clearly found it not to their taste

Not sure how in Saturday's viz, you can determine that the published approach is not busy since nobody was transmitting until on final, as per instructions. Oh well!

On the ground, things were very much as expected, except perhaps that there were rather fewer stalls overall then in some previous years, and certainly rather fewer tat stalls. Good to see that incluced in those that did make it was the one that looks like a down-market version of Millets, busy flogging rusty cracked cylinders and WW2 German helmets. Just the thing for your Piper Arrow

Popped over to AV8 for lunch squeezing a table away from the spotters who were busy making a cup of coffee last as long as possible whilst their notepads rustled in the slightly damp breeze.

Popped back over to look at the stands. Liked the Fieseler Storch lookalike a lot, liked a few of the sleek Lancair-type machines on the visitors' area, admired the wingless JetA1 Vari-Eze.

45 minutes later, and unpersuaded to part with any money, I got the departure brief and joined the queue to leave. Total time on the ground 3:20 of which man-sized portions were spent in Av8 eating, and in the queue waiting to leave.

It was not an unpleasant outing, but I wouldn't have killed to go on it. I think the format is now seriously tired and needs the kind of rethink that events like Aerofair would also benefit from.

2D
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 09:05
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Between Thursday evening and Friday morning the TAFs improved enough that I decided to try flying in. I also found I had a cat sitter, and accommodation at Kemble, so decided to stay all weekend!

Flying in f/w, for the first time, to an airfield I'd never visited except by helicopter (so not to the runway) was much easier than I expected. In fact, Friday morning was so quiet that there were no other aircraft to follow in! The plan on the AIC had fallen on the floor of the aircraft, so just as well I'd memorised it. Great fun taxi-ing in though, loads of spotters taking photos and registrations...hey, this is a very ordinary old C150; I like it and take pictures of it, but why are you?

Managed to meet a few prooners in the afternoon at the Flyer stand, sorry to have missed FD and shortstripper. Had a good time, meeting people, arranging to write more articles for the mags, helping on the BWPA stand, buying stuff...all filled in the time till Sunday morning, when I decided to leave before the general rush. But I agree, quieter than previous years. I think the slightly iffy wx (technical term that ) put off some flyers. I'm sure the inflated entrance prices put off many people...I'm a member, so £5 was fine, but £25 for a day is ridiculous. And stallholders said prices had gone up, hence the empty stalls and lack of fun-type stalls as in the past.

I had a great weekend, but that's me. But PFA, I think you need to re-think this one a little bit for next year.
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 10:10
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FD,

Sorry to have missed you on Friday. The pprune "crowd" met at 3pm at the Pilot stand (all four of us), perhaps the beer tent would have been better !

I always thought the marshalling was done pretty well by the cadets in previous years, but this year neither the cadets, nor the older marshallers seemed to have been briefed at all. The AIC said display a letter "S" if you need to be parked south side after landing, and we waved and pointed at this to each marshaller but ended up being marshalled further and further North into the North side and directed to park there. Fortunately it was very quiet Friday morning and so a radio call to Kemble grass sorted out a follow-me van and we eventually managed to get to the Europa line-up.

I also couldn't understand why both aircraft wanting to park "South Side" and aircraft wanting to go to the Sales Area were both told to display the same letter "S".

Rally seemed very quiet and there seemed to be many traders missing, with empty stalls, and one trader told me he had reduced the size of his stall this year because of the prices.

Did I enjoy it? .... Yes.

Will I go next year? ..... Probably, but next year might be my last visit unless things reverse.

I don't like being negative without offering a solution, but I'm afraid I don't know enough detail of the rally finances to offer one.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who made it all possible.
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 11:30
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Angel RIP OFF RALLY

I have to agree in the rip off charges. I have been going to the PFA rally off and on for 20 years and this year I was really annoyed at the costs.

I flew in a friends A/C; as ours was away and on landing was charged £35!!!!!.

£10 because my friend who OWNS the A/C but did not land it, making him a passenger and therefore charged £10 not the £5 for members!

I was charged £25 even though I asked to renew my membership on arrival AS IN PREVIOUS years, and was told that we've stopped that now, as it was too difficult to administer …………..Bollocks!!!

I went to the PFA tent to complain and still to renew and was only offered a Rally Discount.

I once ran the Berkshire strut with over 200 members and gave that up, as the PFA was more concerned then with in house politics rather than flying.

Again RIP OFF BRITAIN and the PFA.

A party from Germany also felt aggrieved as 4 flew in and were charged £100!!!!

“Never again” I heard him say, I also feel the same!!!!!!!!
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 12:02
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A party from Germany also felt aggrieved as 4 flew in and were charged £100!!!!
I read somewhere - I think on the PFA website - that vistors flying in from overseas get in FREE!!!!!!!!!
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 12:08
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Then they should not have been charged then !!!!
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 12:33
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I enjoyed myself, although only one chance to try out a new aeroplane in 3 days was a tad dissapointing That one was fun though, and I live in hope of getting a go in the Supermarine Mk.26 one day


I quickly lost track of the number of times that I heard the phrase "twenty five pounds" in a rising tone of voice. Appreciating that there were substantial discounts for PFA members, these weren't all that clearly pre-publicised, nor did there seem to have been an option for people to join and get the difference back. Certainly I've heard of a lot of people who didn't come because of the cost - I certainly met virtually nobody who could be described as "general public" - that I think is a great shame at a GA event of this size.

Surprised more wasn't made of the private fast jets, Bristol Aero-Collection, etc. on site. It wouldn't have been hard to put a static display on as part of the overall event.

Far less traders than previously; I heard from several that the stand fees were up 40%, which would tend to explain that. I have to say, I'm not sure that the Vodaphone bus was a fair exchange for the rather charming "ladies tent" of previous years.

Also, surely the PFA, which is trying to persuade the world that it isn't the "microlight unfriendly" organisation some think it is, wasn't being very clever in segregating most of the microlights to the other side of the airfield at the end of a shuttle-bus?

Lastly, publicity for the forums was poor - it was there in the rally programme, but very little in advance so, for example, anybody desperate to hear about the Magnum but coming on Sunday would have been very dissapointed. Having given a few forum lectures in the past, and chaired a couple this year, I find it dissapointing when the great and good of GA are prepared to give up the considerable time to prepare a talk, that the utmost isn't made of it.



Which all sounds very negative, so on the positive side:-

- Lots of aeroplanes to see, including a few new types.
- Safety, access to flightline, FOD control seems to have been all handled very well.
- The weather was just about flyable throughout, although it was certainly never tee-shirt weather.
- Catering was superb (although a few more bins around the eating area would have been a good idea).
- Nice to see the aviation related childrens activities going on.
- Very easy to get in and out by car; much less hard work than ever before.

Overall, it won't go down as the best rally in the PFA's history, but it was safe and fun, with lots to see.

G
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 12:46
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Same experience for some of my friends from Ireland.

They were told that Ireland was "NOT OVERSEAS" and the 4 were charged £25 each.

From the PFA site "AIR ARRIVALS FROM OVERSEAS - FREE"

Perhaps some PFA EC member would explain the Irish situation.

Tony
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 12:56
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It must be that Common Travel Area thing
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 13:06
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Overseas

That must be great insult as well to be told that Ireland is not overseas.

How insensitive can some people be.

Next year it will be

"Only from outside the EU and only if you have both sets of Grandparents with you"
Any way i know these will fall on deaf ears , so here's a few photo's of Aircraft I have owned or been in groups. over the recent years years to lighten things up







Last edited by Peeking Duck; 12th Jul 2004 at 13:25.
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 14:24
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Just a little note from a 'local' who lives close to Kemble. Notwithstanding all the understandable gripes about 'excess costs' - thanks to all those who flew in following all the laid down procedures. It was'nt a good weekend weather wise but I have plenty of neighbours who get hacked off by some of the goings on at Kemble especially by the Hunters - the PFA is not really a problem for the reasons expressed already. I believe that the airfield side of Kemble barely makes any money; hence high charges. The real profit from the site comes from the industrial leasing of hangarage etc.

Personally I remember the Halcyon days at Sywell in years gone by - no tarmac of course but a genuine pre-war airfield which has gone an art-deco transformation over the past few years. Maybe the PFA will reconsider a return to Northamptonshire as long as it does not coincide with the Grand Prix of course !
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 17:48
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Thumbs up

I was there over the weekend and was impressed. Most planes I've seen in a single spot, able to get up close to the planes and hands-on with goodies like the 296, and lowrance. Managed to avoid handing over a wad of cash though. Food was OK, better than some shows. Marshalling looked safe and well organised on the whole.

Even tried my hand at drilling, dimpling and hammering a few rivets, inspired by the impressive part-built RV7 in the homebuilders area. Better watch out, or the weekend could really be an expensive one, even with the low dollar!

And as a member, all this for a tenner.

Only negatives would be that the Northside just doesnt work, I'd be pretty disappointed if I'd flown in and been parked there.

Also, must be possible to have a simple mechanism where you sign up for membership and get the member entry.
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 18:08
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Thanks, I agree there used to be a system to join on landing but the Ivory tower bods stopped it.!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 18:25
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PFA Rally

I've read all that you write and would agree on some points.
However as a member of the booking in team I would assure you that it would not be practical to have joining facilities at THAT point of entry. Be it that you want to enjoy the benefits of reduced entry to the Rally then you have just less than 12 months to join. Why do wait till you get there? There is a lot more to the PFA than the Rally you know.
To revert for a moment to the booking in element of this I have noticed a very peculier thing about pilots in general. The format for booking in is as follows:
The pilot is asked the following simple questions in this sequence...
Registration mark
Aircraft type
First name of pilot
POB
Where from.

This year ( as usual) NOT ONE PILOT was able to answer question3.
Makes you think doesn't it?

I too would like to see some changes to the Rally. I don't want it to fold any more than most people. For some it has been the only way to fly cheaply which is what it should be all about.
If anyone out there who is not working the PFA Bulletin Board has anything tangible to input then please consider letting the PFA or one of its EC members know. All good suggestions will be gladly received.

Thanks.
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 18:27
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I was hoping that after last year and having talked to a number of EC members, things would change at the PFA.

But it would appear that this "we run the PFA and don't give a ***** what you say" attitude still prevails.

From what I hear the traders as well as visitors to the rally were doing pleanty of complaining but no one at HQ was taking any notice.

The BMAA however seem to be doing all the right things and perhaps it is time for them to seek approval to permit aircraft currently done by the PFA.

Sorry to be so negitive but I think it will soon be RIP PFA

Tony
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Old 12th Jul 2004, 18:36
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Question 3

You state that "The pilot is asked the following simple questions in this sequence...
Registration mark
Aircraft type
First name of pilot
POB
Where from.This year ( as usual) NOT ONE PILOT was able to answer question3. Makes you think doesn't it?"

Well it is the format of your booking in form that is the problem as every pilot probaby quoted their SURNAME first as I did; on asked "Name?" Every airfield I have ever been to on booking in requires the surname NOT the Christian name.

I cannot accept the lame comment that it is not possible to register at THAT point of entry, it used to bepossible !!!
Just another bloody excuse. The pilots want it but some bod decides NO.

Typical
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