Helitech to move away from Duxford???
 

Can there be any truth in this story? Seems a bit far-fetched to me..

Helitech considers move from Duxford to non-airfield location
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I suspect this is a bargaining tool to bring down the price at Duxford.

They tried to propose this back in 03

There is a lot of old school pressure to go to ExCeL..... on the basis that it will focus the attention on sales.

As we all know the place has its magic.

There comes a time where the IWM might see the Helitech team as its prisoner..... up goes the price .......its a case of who flinches first!

or are they thinking along the lines of Heli Expo with indoor displays?

Looking at the article, the last sentence mentions how two exhibitions in Europe were canned, is that supposed to mean that Helitech which has been running over 2 decades albeit in odd years, will be under threat?

Back in the day I attended Helitech at Redhill. Not sure why it moved from there, but Duxford appears to be a better facility so would be a shame if it moved again.

I think it left Redhill because there was not enough hard standing area, remember the last two times the show was there it rained heavily and the place was a mess. Hope it stays at Duxford, nice to fly in there and the atmosphere is special, I for one won t be attending if it moves to London.

The mention of the cancelled shows is only part of it.... the events organisers have changed ownership and the characters actually doing the job have changed almosts annually. Lots of blood letting in this market. You may recall the Helicopter Show that did not happen at Silverstone... the characters involved in that were once part of Helitech and it was the new/current Helitech that was at the centre of getting the Silverstone event crippled......

Watch your back seems to be the pattern here!

If they did decide to go to ExCeL there may be plenty waiting in the wings to spread the acid and repay past 'favours'.....:E

PAN,

Hmmm you're suggesting it could be all out war in the boardroom perhaps?? :) :E:mad:

Though whats the real real reason behind the Excel proposal? If its old skool then surely for over 2 decades they appreciated the outdoor scene!!

Unless Reed are secretly own a percentage of the Excel Centre ....:}

chopper2004 is correct - think 'Heli-Expo' meets 'National Lampoon's European Vacation.'

I/C

Well folks its official 2013 - Excel, 2014, Berlin
 

I've just had an email confirming the move to ExCel.

Home - Helitech

I'm pretty sure I will have another one in a few months confirming its cancellation.

A shame, it used to be a reasonable day out.

A helicopter show without helicopters flying in and out to a helipad on the day doesn't really inspire me to visit. I won't be going.

shy

yup wont be going for same reason, unless London City will accept helicopters on the days

To visit no more!
 

Well I for one have not missed a Helitech since the early days at Redhill.

Duxford was something special, and I for one will not be visiting the exhibition at the new Venue!

Hopefully someone will come along and hold a replacement for Helitech at a suitable venue.

An airfield not too far from Cambridge would be ideal, especially if there are other interesting historic attractions for the family nearby, museums perhaps!

tigerfish:(

"A helicopter show without helicopters flying in and out to a helipad on the day doesn't really inspire me to visit. I won't be going."

Wot 'e said.

Yup. Big mistake.

Phil

There is of course another aspect to this in that in another press release on this subject it is stated that in future Helitech is to be an annual 'wandering willie' helicopter show and will appear in Berlin in 2014 [and perhaps never return to the UK on a regular basis?].

Annual helicopter show. There is one of those each year in the USA.

This stance from Helitech is of course exactly the opposite to the message they were putting out when destroying the Silverstone show.

OK so its an industry ploy to kick away the potential competitor from your path by fair means or foul. [looks like foul won this time] but remember that they then said that 'industry does not want and annual show'.......

Reed has a good Pedigree in Helitech based on it being a UK show, the earlier foray to Helitech Portugal [the bottom left hand corner of Europe] failed by location so where it goes needs to be carefully judged. Duxford worked.

There is another annual Helicopter Show already.... for a decade it has been quietly sitting in the Czech Republic [Hradec Kralove 18-19 May 2012 and 9-11 May 2013] ....... this looks as if REED could be out to destroy that and any other competitors as well.

Then there would be no choice.:{

Even if it's the only one we won't be exhibiting in London. As you say, Duxford worked and foreign shows are way disruptive. Three days at a show without a distraction like the war museum is just too much. I usually see all the people I want to see in the first morning anyway.

Not only that, I wasn't terribly happy with their customer service at the last one.

phil

Agree completely, a helicopter event next to City Airport, no chance to fly in, not a good move, the whole experience was watered down on the move to Duxford, however at least it retained the helicopter movements, this will deter alot of exhibitors and visitors from going. Also we have been here before with the London Air Show, not a great success either.

We need a new event to cater for the industry!