Disappointing distant airshows 2016
Join Date: Apr 2008
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I was at Eastbourne on Saturday sitting on the beach and was thoroughly entertained. Looking at my photos taken with the same lens, I cannot tell the difference in size or framing of subject between two years ago and this year. The show is a free show and does wonders for our local economy. The point of airshows is to entertain and also promote aviation it is not there primarily as a photography subject. The show is targeted at the centre line and not the surrounding hillsides which do however provide another perspective to watch from.
From the official site, the places to watch from:
Seafront & Beach
Watch from prime position on the seafront at the frontline of all the flying action, with a host of trade stands and the huge beach as the ideal location to catch all the flying action. Alternatively reserve your place and avoid the crowds with the Bandstand's exclusive seating for ticket holders. Excellent, uninterrupted views across the display line.
Western Lawns & Wish Tower
Join the front row and watch all the Airbourne action on the Western Lawns amongst the military tri-service exhibition. For an elevated view take a walk up the Wish Tower Slopes offering great views along the whole seafront.
Beachy Head Viewing Airbourne
For somewhere a bit different and unique, head to the Park n' View car park for at Dencher, Beachy Head (near the pub), with excellent views of flying displays over Eastbourne*. Toilets and refreshments available. Warren Hill pay and display, normal charges apply/Warren Hill Field and Dencher, £5 daily charge.
* Please note all displays will take place on the display line between the Western Lawns and the Pier.
You can see that the Beachy Head is described as 'different and unique' but the note does indicate that the prime location is on the seafront.
For what it is worth I parked in town for £3:50 and in addition made a generous donation to furthering the cause for future years. I do not know whether at the Beachy Head car parks there was an opportunity to contribute or not. For interest several years ago there was a move to enclose the event and charge for viewing, perhaps best just to say it returned to being free for all the very next year. When son was small I did one year picnic on Beachy Head for ease (the day of the Delphin accident) but the experience prior to the accident was different, have been to the seafront every visit since.
I enjoyed the show on Saturday which I think is the main point.
From the official site, the places to watch from:
Seafront & Beach
Watch from prime position on the seafront at the frontline of all the flying action, with a host of trade stands and the huge beach as the ideal location to catch all the flying action. Alternatively reserve your place and avoid the crowds with the Bandstand's exclusive seating for ticket holders. Excellent, uninterrupted views across the display line.
Western Lawns & Wish Tower
Join the front row and watch all the Airbourne action on the Western Lawns amongst the military tri-service exhibition. For an elevated view take a walk up the Wish Tower Slopes offering great views along the whole seafront.
Beachy Head Viewing Airbourne
For somewhere a bit different and unique, head to the Park n' View car park for at Dencher, Beachy Head (near the pub), with excellent views of flying displays over Eastbourne*. Toilets and refreshments available. Warren Hill pay and display, normal charges apply/Warren Hill Field and Dencher, £5 daily charge.
* Please note all displays will take place on the display line between the Western Lawns and the Pier.
You can see that the Beachy Head is described as 'different and unique' but the note does indicate that the prime location is on the seafront.
For what it is worth I parked in town for £3:50 and in addition made a generous donation to furthering the cause for future years. I do not know whether at the Beachy Head car parks there was an opportunity to contribute or not. For interest several years ago there was a move to enclose the event and charge for viewing, perhaps best just to say it returned to being free for all the very next year. When son was small I did one year picnic on Beachy Head for ease (the day of the Delphin accident) but the experience prior to the accident was different, have been to the seafront every visit since.
I enjoyed the show on Saturday which I think is the main point.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Farnborough hants UK (eglf)
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The arrows flybys continued with All types B727 F35 A400M etc etc
And not onlylocal roads closed but Dog walkers and cyclists were prevented
from usingthe common , canal boats were banned from moving past the runway
end and Towpath closed someone got there revenge by conjuring up that cloudburst
And not onlylocal roads closed but Dog walkers and cyclists were prevented
from usingthe common , canal boats were banned from moving past the runway
end and Towpath closed someone got there revenge by conjuring up that cloudburst
Beachy Head is part of Eastbourne, at least Eastbourne council parking meters are there, and has until now been part of the display.
The RAF display aircraft do operate under different rules as they are still on the military register and not on the civilian register. The CAA are not their masters in the same way that they are to a civilian pilot.
Yup I went to Beachy Head, I never suggested it was the wrong place to go. I went there, like you, because in previous years the aircraft flew quite closely along the shoreline when arriving/clearing and some nice topside photos could be taken. Disappointing that times have changed but then my dad misses the days of RAF Hendon and the Gloster Gamecocks displaying whilst tied together wing to wing, and I miss the days of the fast jets arriving low and fast over the crowd from behind.
Each generation is left with never to be repeated memories, enjoy today because the future is getting more mundane with every invention.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Victory Show Cosby
I do not want to say this but if you pay to go to air shows, this is now one you need to miss, content was good, BUT the new display line is nowhere near the show, so you end up watching it in the distance, and I am talking using a 500MM lens with a 1.4 convertor on and the only way I could get anywhere near a full screen shot was to do a 100% zoom on the camera.
I and a lot of people left early because it was totally pointless staying, after the ground battle had finished, the only chance you had of getting a decent shot or indeed seeing the aircraft flying was during take off or landing, and I wasn't the only person being vocal in that they would never attend again in the current format, that in itself is sad as the profit's go to charity.
I know Shoreham happened and the CAA got anal and had to react, BUT the main crux of the matter of Shoreham was those killed were not involved in the show which by purchasing a ticket you accept the risks, I understand that and see what they are trying to fix, but the sheer fact that they have moved the display line actually increases that risk as it no longer falls within the boundary of the display site the public pay for,
As with everything you get freeloaders, and I watched the show supervisors clear them for them to reappear again the minute the vehicle's left. these were none paying members of the public which are then UNDER the display line, so those that except the risk by purchasing entry are now in effect not being able to enjoy a show at a realistic display format, whilst those that haven't accepted that risk by purchasing a ticket have a full show, call me old fashioned, but isn't that doing exactly what the lessons of Shoreham were supposed to prevent, injury to those outside the show?????
Leaving early I saw more, and was closer to the Spitfire display driving through the uncontrolled environment of the village, than I was in the controlled and paid for show ground.
And in that, there is something fundamentally wrong in this new ethos!
I do not want to say this but if you pay to go to air shows, this is now one you need to miss, content was good, BUT the new display line is nowhere near the show, so you end up watching it in the distance, and I am talking using a 500MM lens with a 1.4 convertor on and the only way I could get anywhere near a full screen shot was to do a 100% zoom on the camera.
I and a lot of people left early because it was totally pointless staying, after the ground battle had finished, the only chance you had of getting a decent shot or indeed seeing the aircraft flying was during take off or landing, and I wasn't the only person being vocal in that they would never attend again in the current format, that in itself is sad as the profit's go to charity.
I know Shoreham happened and the CAA got anal and had to react, BUT the main crux of the matter of Shoreham was those killed were not involved in the show which by purchasing a ticket you accept the risks, I understand that and see what they are trying to fix, but the sheer fact that they have moved the display line actually increases that risk as it no longer falls within the boundary of the display site the public pay for,
As with everything you get freeloaders, and I watched the show supervisors clear them for them to reappear again the minute the vehicle's left. these were none paying members of the public which are then UNDER the display line, so those that except the risk by purchasing entry are now in effect not being able to enjoy a show at a realistic display format, whilst those that haven't accepted that risk by purchasing a ticket have a full show, call me old fashioned, but isn't that doing exactly what the lessons of Shoreham were supposed to prevent, injury to those outside the show?????
Leaving early I saw more, and was closer to the Spitfire display driving through the uncontrolled environment of the village, than I was in the controlled and paid for show ground.
And in that, there is something fundamentally wrong in this new ethos!
