Farnborough Ripoff?
Farnborough Ripoff?
Just back from Farnborough today (Sunday). Now, although the Vulcan was memorable I fail to see how they can charge the public £28 per person for such a small static and flying display? Considering that Joe Public is just riding on the back of the larger corporate events of the week, I find the price of the ticket far too high for what was on offer?
Most of the trade stands were closed to the public and what ones were open seemed to be full of disinterested staff, jaded after a week of work. Considering the amount of deals signed in the week, and the level of corporate tents etc then why was the static and flying display so tired and dull.
At least they had the transport into/out of the event sorted; no boggy carparks here.
I think I may write to the organisers and complain...
Most of the trade stands were closed to the public and what ones were open seemed to be full of disinterested staff, jaded after a week of work. Considering the amount of deals signed in the week, and the level of corporate tents etc then why was the static and flying display so tired and dull.
At least they had the transport into/out of the event sorted; no boggy carparks here.
I think I may write to the organisers and complain...
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: UK
Age: 52
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I watched the display from a car park in the centre of Farnborough and was glad I hadn't paid the entry fee! Appalling end to the Airshow week (apart from the Reds of course). Would have been better to have the fast jet a/c displays dotted around throughout the day rather than in a glut at the beginning.
You would have thought that after the cancellation of Fairford the organisers of F'boro would have been keen to put on a good display!
Very poor.
And please don't blame the weather.....
You would have thought that after the cancellation of Fairford the organisers of F'boro would have been keen to put on a good display!
Very poor.
And please don't blame the weather.....
Personally, I thought it was really good, except for the nightmare that was getting out of the parking lot. The displays were good (Never heard of "The Blades", but v. impressive) - Vulcan was just awesome and the A380, that was excellent. And, (it pains me to say('cos I'm jealous)) the Reds were nice, friendly blokes who gave a good display to round it off.
Lots of gizzits for the kids, things to participate in, interactive - all in all, better than RIAT (this year) and, for a trade show with a public bent, I liked it. (Free tickets helped).
Lots of gizzits for the kids, things to participate in, interactive - all in all, better than RIAT (this year) and, for a trade show with a public bent, I liked it. (Free tickets helped).
As the man said, a trade show with a public bent. The FBO guys could not have changed the programme at the last minute to include extra stuff just because Fairford cancelled - planning for these things doesn't work doesn't work like that. Yes they could have spaced out the 3 fast-jet displays, but then people would have moaned that they were dotted throughout the day. It was great to see the Vulcan again after all these years, the A380 was awesome, Blades good, Typhoon very good but I take my hat off to the Hornet driver. What he was making the jet do was very impressive, especially the slow speed nose pointing piece if you end up in a turning fight
. Mrs WWW and I were especially impressed with all of the rug rat distraction devices that were available free of charge - well done Farnborough! Of course I did get trade tickets....
. Mrs WWW and I were especially impressed with all of the rug rat distraction devices that were available free of charge - well done Farnborough! Of course I did get trade tickets....
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Essex
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've now been to Farnborough 5 times with the first 4 visits being on trade days. As the trade display (flying) seemed to be more or less the same as 2 years ago I decided to hold off and go on the Saturday instead.
I must say I was quite disappointed as were 4 of my colleagues I was with that day.
The Vulcan was great as expected but a little unexpected was the Vimy having a little jaunt accross the grass then back onto the runway then accross the grass again!
I must say I was quite disappointed as were 4 of my colleagues I was with that day.
The Vulcan was great as expected but a little unexpected was the Vimy having a little jaunt accross the grass then back onto the runway then accross the grass again!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Weston-super-Mare & Jersey CI
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not done Farnborough for many years, but as we got bounced by RIAT I bought a pair of tickets for me and Mrs Vulcanpilot (and tickets to the Diamond Enclosure, which was nice away from most of the crowds).
Good to see the old girl back in the air again even if the display was a bit less sporting than when she was owned by HMG.
But tend to agree that for the money it was pretty lame.
Vulcan ...
Typhoon ...
A380 ...
but I have to say the MOST disappointing display for me was the Bone - thought it had cancelled and then did a late-in-the-display two-pass flypast. Previous shows I always remember the thing 'arriving' low, loud and VERY fast. All we got was a slow wings extended pass, then it came back round with a faster wings swept pass and then ambled off....
All in all, not a patch on the Farnborough shows of the past couple of decades
Good to see the old girl back in the air again even if the display was a bit less sporting than when she was owned by HMG.
But tend to agree that for the money it was pretty lame.
Vulcan ...
Typhoon ...
A380 ...
but I have to say the MOST disappointing display for me was the Bone - thought it had cancelled and then did a late-in-the-display two-pass flypast. Previous shows I always remember the thing 'arriving' low, loud and VERY fast. All we got was a slow wings extended pass, then it came back round with a faster wings swept pass and then ambled off....
All in all, not a patch on the Farnborough shows of the past couple of decades
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: NE Surrey, UK
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I went on the Friday to miss the crowds and see the stands manned. Weather wasn't great but the display seemed to be pretty close to that advertised for Sat/Sun and anyway I really only went to see the mighty VULCAN! She did not disappoint as we had ringside spot at the run-up point so we could not just hear the induction howl but also feel the roar....
Like others I thought the A380 was impressively displayed, Reds still hugely enjoyable, Bone was disappointing (but had he blotted his copybook earlier in the week and was therefore playing safe?), BA609 different, WW1 bi- and triplanes beautifully choreographed.
Trouble is, some of us can remember what it was like in the 60s. Like certain other things in life, once you have seen a whole squadron of Vulcans scramble, nothing else quite compares, does it?!
Like others I thought the A380 was impressively displayed, Reds still hugely enjoyable, Bone was disappointing (but had he blotted his copybook earlier in the week and was therefore playing safe?), BA609 different, WW1 bi- and triplanes beautifully choreographed.
Trouble is, some of us can remember what it was like in the 60s. Like certain other things in life, once you have seen a whole squadron of Vulcans scramble, nothing else quite compares, does it?!
I was there yesterday (Sun), and agree with some of what has been said above:
1. Flying display content - great to see the 'phoon being thrown around (what energy that thing has), the F18 with it's mid-air "stops" etc, the Vulcan....enough said. The 380....enough said (it will never do these things climbing out from 27L!). I also enjoyed a spirited display from the DC-6.Had never seen The Blades display before - they are good and great entertainment (although the formations and breaks etc. remind you a little too much of where they all used to work IMHO!)
The B1 fly-by's (at at least 2000' I should think) were a waste of time.
Lastly, Guy Westgate's glider display
I left before RAFAT displayed, as I hope to catch them in a much more scenic environment in Cornwall next month.
2. Statics - very disappointing - a lot of it had left at the end of the business week. US Mil stuff all parked too close together.
......however, like it or not they apparently broke all one day attendance records yesterday, so if that's all that's needed to pull in 80,000 people, I guess that's what we'll get.
1. Flying display content - great to see the 'phoon being thrown around (what energy that thing has), the F18 with it's mid-air "stops" etc, the Vulcan....enough said. The 380....enough said (it will never do these things climbing out from 27L!). I also enjoyed a spirited display from the DC-6.Had never seen The Blades display before - they are good and great entertainment (although the formations and breaks etc. remind you a little too much of where they all used to work IMHO!)
The B1 fly-by's (at at least 2000' I should think) were a waste of time.
Lastly, Guy Westgate's glider display
I left before RAFAT displayed, as I hope to catch them in a much more scenic environment in Cornwall next month.
2. Statics - very disappointing - a lot of it had left at the end of the business week. US Mil stuff all parked too close together.
......however, like it or not they apparently broke all one day attendance records yesterday, so if that's all that's needed to pull in 80,000 people, I guess that's what we'll get.
Last edited by Wycombe; 22nd Jul 2008 at 07:59.
Farnborough Queueing Festival
I went on Sunday and enjoyed it by and large but I thought the flying display was a bit front loaded, A380, typhoon, F-16, F1-18 all one after another..the Vulcan was amazing and the red arrows good as ever. But oh the queues.. to get in to the car park, to get on the buses, to get through security, to get a burger, to get to our £35 for 6mins helicopter ride, to get out of the car park..maddening and enough to put anyone off. I don't remember it being anything like as bad last time.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: In between days
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Vulcan was worth £28 (annual opco £1m.....hmmm.....do the maths)
Everything else a bonus.
Nobody forced you in there. The prices were published weeks beforehand as was the flying programme.
Tight fisted whinging skinflints. Do something else next time, there will be more space for the rest of us.
With a bit of luck the skinflints are also the ones who block the crowd line with their windbreaks. Please don't come back.
Everything else a bonus.
Nobody forced you in there. The prices were published weeks beforehand as was the flying programme.
Tight fisted whinging skinflints. Do something else next time, there will be more space for the rest of us.
With a bit of luck the skinflints are also the ones who block the crowd line with their windbreaks. Please don't come back.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: In the sun
Age: 52
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Great deal!
The displays were good considering the anal rules that were forced upon the pilots. Lumping similar aircraft together was a mistake but the event was busy and there were no real gaps.
As for the price, for a London air show I thought £28 was a bargain. This is especially so when you consider the costs of hosting an air display of this size. Great value for money I reckon.
As for the price, for a London air show I thought £28 was a bargain. This is especially so when you consider the costs of hosting an air display of this size. Great value for money I reckon.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: London
Age: 38
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Out of interest....how would one become a display pilot after becoming an airline pilot?....i'm seriously considering becoming a display pilot once im in the airlines.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Here, there & everywhere
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I took Mrs. NH and our three year old daughter on Sunday. Parked what seemed miles away then endured the rugby scrum through security. The security guards just gave up in the end and switched the scanners and arches off.
The static display was very disappointing, not much to see in the halls and agree with all other comments about the flying display.
Value for money at £28 each ? No, although my daughter took advantage of the free bouncy castle and rides and the traffic marshalling by the local Constabulary was superb.
I'd suggest a photographers area rather than trampling over numerous picnics to get decent photos. (and I apologise if I stood on someones scotch egg during the 'Vulcan photo rush').
As usual, the Reds were superb. Anyone know who's AN24 was parked behind the trees at the AAIB ? I could just see the tail from the Kingfisher ATR72.
The static display was very disappointing, not much to see in the halls and agree with all other comments about the flying display.
Value for money at £28 each ? No, although my daughter took advantage of the free bouncy castle and rides and the traffic marshalling by the local Constabulary was superb.
I'd suggest a photographers area rather than trampling over numerous picnics to get decent photos. (and I apologise if I stood on someones scotch egg during the 'Vulcan photo rush').
As usual, the Reds were superb. Anyone know who's AN24 was parked behind the trees at the AAIB ? I could just see the tail from the Kingfisher ATR72.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LONDON, GB
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cheer up, it's unique!
I thought the combination of the exhibitions, static display and flying display makes Farnborough unique. I thought it was pretty good this year, with the A380 and the Reds/Blades being the most memorable bit. Even some of the food was edible this time! And we found quite a few exhibition stands still open on Saturday, with some very helpful staff to explain the machine tools, the components, the engines and, of course, the simulators. Not something I'd do every time, but every four years or so seems about right to me. If you do go next year, please try the bus connections. The car parks and roads around Farnborough, as you saw on Saturday, simply cannot cope any other way!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: West Yorkshire Zone
Posts: 976
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was looking forward to the 'Great Yorkshire Show'
But sadly there will be no Aircraft noise at Elvington this year.
Airshows don't seem to happen much North of watford!
What a Carry on.....
But sadly there will be no Aircraft noise at Elvington this year.
Airshows don't seem to happen much North of watford!
What a Carry on.....
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: north of barlu
Posts: 6,207
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was happy that the entry fee reflected the quality of the show, it is the first time that I have been on a public day for about thirty years and the size of the crowd surprized me.
The trade show was almost dead and this for me was not a surprize but I did get to talk to one or two people and if one of these new trade contacts delivers the service that he speaks of then I will recover my four times my entry fee in in one transaction.
It was unfortnate that this year I could not get to the trade days due to other business comitments so on reflection it was a good day out but a little short on the business front and Mrs A and C had a good time watching the flying (and trying to buy a Cirrus!).
The only down side that I could see was the traffic getting in and out, I simlpy can,t do traffic jam's but would like to thank the Police for being very helpfull to those of us on motorbikes to make the transit of the car gridlock even faster.
The trade show was almost dead and this for me was not a surprize but I did get to talk to one or two people and if one of these new trade contacts delivers the service that he speaks of then I will recover my four times my entry fee in in one transaction.
It was unfortnate that this year I could not get to the trade days due to other business comitments so on reflection it was a good day out but a little short on the business front and Mrs A and C had a good time watching the flying (and trying to buy a Cirrus!).
The only down side that I could see was the traffic getting in and out, I simlpy can,t do traffic jam's but would like to thank the Police for being very helpfull to those of us on motorbikes to make the transit of the car gridlock even faster.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London, UK
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Isn't it a bit unfair to expect the exhibitors to deal with the public on the non-trade days - they are there to do business and I bet they get very little leads on the weekends. Not only that but they've been there for 5 days already and probably away from home too.
Some might enjoy being there and be interested in aviation, but I bet a lot wouldn't and just want to be home !
Some might enjoy being there and be interested in aviation, but I bet a lot wouldn't and just want to be home !
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Hendon
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Having worked Farnborough for the 6th time in succesion as a trade exhibitor it is hard work and yes by the weekend most want to disappear into the sunset.
That being said we have considered getting staff who are not involved in the day to day business but have a good knowledge of the industry to work the weekend. It would work well all round as a freebie for the staff and families plus a presence on the stand.
I still believe the infrastructure to be an issue at Farnborough, I stayed in Reading
and it took me nigh on two hours each way every day, it does wear you out particularly with all the Corporate hospitality and so on 
I much prefer Paris but probably more so because it is out of the UK and a breath of fresh air.
As for the displays I thought them excellent and will not be swayed!
That being said we have considered getting staff who are not involved in the day to day business but have a good knowledge of the industry to work the weekend. It would work well all round as a freebie for the staff and families plus a presence on the stand.
I still believe the infrastructure to be an issue at Farnborough, I stayed in Reading
and it took me nigh on two hours each way every day, it does wear you out particularly with all the Corporate hospitality and so on I much prefer Paris but probably more so because it is out of the UK and a breath of fresh air.
As for the displays I thought them excellent and will not be swayed!