International Air Tattoo
 

Have just received tickets for this years show - bit of a novice having never been before.

Any hints or tips on how to get the most out of this event? (apart from fingers in ears and looking up !).

many thanks

Leave plenty of time to get there. The M5 doesn't exactly run all the way to the gates of Fairford, so expect big queues.

Get yourself to Swindon and make use of the park and ride service from there, by far the best way to get there.

I'm chuffin' working the entire weekend :{
Hope it goes well for All concerned
we aim to please, it keeps the cleaners happy

Thanks guys - will let the train take the strain as you recommend!
Sorry if you have to work, only just managed the Sunday off myself! - oh the joys of summer flying :-)

Take a bike, its a lot easier getting around. Have always parked in one of the surrounding villages and cycled in, missing the traffic. Everyone looks mighty irritated as you scoot through the queues! Its also great for touring the static displays!

Tigg

Never again I'm afraid - last year was shambolic to say the least, and I'm not spending that length of time in a queue again.

TonyT,

Tigg's advice is spot on. If you don't want to spend 3 to 4 hours in a traffic jam on the way in and at least the same if not more on the way out then park some way off and cycle. The car parking and single lane roads that get you to Fairford are a nightmare at this time andshould be avoided at all cost.

Wilco83

To echo everyone else - if you can find a way to dump the car and do the last 10 miles by bike or what ever, you will save hours; oh and take good walking shoes, the static line is incredible but very long.

There is a book about the organisation of the show worth reading. I'll dig out the name later

John

phnuff :

If you've got a bike, surely the static line's length isn't a problem ?

(Sorry, couldn't resist that !)

ItsIf you've got a bike, surely the static line's length isn't a problem

duhhhhhhh

Well, mine currently has a puncture

That sounds like far too much exercise to me!

Just to the north there are a bunch of villages, about 3/4mls away. Park up there and its an easy ride in, no main roads and you can even dodge round the 1 way system!!

However, i havent done it for a few years and rumour has it they've been painting little yellow lines in these villages, as to what a traffic warden would be doing there i dont know, but still, watch out!

Oh, and if i find you've taken all the parking spaces i'll hunt you down:mad:

Tigg;)

Do you mean three quarters of a mile away or 3 to 4 miles away? Map link doesn't work so not sure.

Last year the traffic jam almost reached back to Swindon big queues onnthe A419 both ways and from elsewhere. Almost everywhere close by is no parking without permits (some no access) as they try and filter you into Fairford from quite a distance away now. You could try using the old A417 from Cirencester to Lechlade and Fairford and stopping in one of the villages on the way and cycling the rest.

International Air Tattoo
 

Fairford is undoubtedly one of the truly great shows.... but last time I finally got out of there at midnight.... and this weekend's event coincides with the 40,000+ cars heading for the Brit GP at Silverstone. Mmmmmmmm think I'll mow the lawn again! bm

Sorry Wilco, i mean 3 - 4 miles away. Look on a map at the villages around Quenington, cycle due south, over the main road, until you hit the airfield.

What a weekend tho, Fairford and Silverstone, i'm fortunate enough to be going to both. No worries about queues tho, cycle to one, fly into the other(and get paid for the privilege)!! I just hope the weather holds!!


:hmm:Just thought, if i tell enough people about this cycling trick, then they'll all do it and the roads'll be clear:E

Tigg

HeliTigg :

The roads won't be clear, they'll be clogged with cyclists. :D

In my opinion of travelling to RIAT Greenham Common/Fairford/Cottesmore for over 20 years, I think if you ain't at the gate by 7am, then don't bother.

I also believe flying in is a good option - either from Coventry or from Heathrow with BA. I'm sure I heard they were laying on a charter..

Bear

Heathrow charter is full - we tried that option.

Alternatives are DC3 from Kemble for £70 or Dove from Biggin Hill at £240 - not sure if they have places as not really value for money in our opinion...

From what I saw over the weekend, traffic flow was excellent. I believe a private company was used this year to plan the routes and control parking and this appears to have been a great success.

The only long queue I saw was on the dual carriageway running north from the M4 at Swindon but even that was moving at a steady rate. The situation might have been helped by numbers being down on previous years, partially due to Silverstone and problems last year putting people off.

The Park and Ride was under used and looked like a good option.

If you didn't go this year because of transport fears then you missed out, the show was excellent. Don't miss the next one!

Cheers

TeeS

The book I mentioned before is

AIRSHOW, by Graham Hurley

Damned good read (or so I though)