The demise of major airshows

[scotavia]

2015...four public access air displays,no access to fly ins,no aircraft over 10 years old allowed to display,no free seaside shows.

Go on moan, winge, yes that is a glum future.The way some of you carry on you could think the present situation is that bad !

I realise that not every show is perfect but do be thankful that my prediction is very unlikey to come true. And enjoy what you are offered.

[NevH]

Self and family went to Shoreham for the first time last year, and came away thinking what a great venue and show it was. Not as big (or crowded) as the Late Biggin Hill Show, but similar in terms of content, with a good range of warbirds, civil types plus gliders and one or two novelty acts. Plus classic vehicles and the usual family rides away from the crowdline. We took the train down from East Croydon, and a courtesy bus got us as close to the entrance as possible (access over a footbridge over the river). So no traffic queues - but even if we had used the car I don't think there were any problems as far as i could see. I miss Biggin which was just 20 mins away (or 1 and a half hours, depending on traffic..) but Shoreham is certainly worth a visit, and you even get some sea air mixed in with the avgas. I'm aiming to go back this year.

[Paul F]

- but even if we had used the car I don't think there were any problems as far as i could see

It is often a bit of a bun-fight getting off the airfield as flows within the parking areas are left to the motorists themsleves (never enough marshals), and you always find some idiots who ignore those forming orderly queues and try to force their way in as close to the exit gate as possible .

However, once through the gate and onto the perimeter road, traffic flows are very good - no doubt the policy of only allowing left-turns onto the dual carriageway A27 helps as there is no need to stop the flow to allow "right turns" across the A27 passing traffic. Likewise people parked in the offsite carparks to the south of the railway have a controlled "left turn only" exit, which also stops them trying to turn left (across the single carriageway A259). Fortunately positioning of traffic roundabouts on A27 and A259 facilitates a better exit flow than might otherwise be the case if traffic had to turn right across passing traffic on both roads.

(I seem to remember airshows at Boscombe down had similarly good exit flows due to "left turn only" exit onto the A303 dual carriageway?)

Although some people have to head in the wrong direction initially as they leave Shoreham (myself included), it is clear that the benefit of good traffic flow out of the venue is worth the mile or so "long way round" via the next roundabout.



Back onto the subject of "lost aishows" as per thread title, in the 70's (and perhaps 80's?) a number of relatively small airfields also had pretty impressive annual airshows - Fairoaks ran shows for a few years, and Goodwood likewise.

The Goodwood shows usually attracted the RAF display acts of the period (Jet Provost team - Red Pelicans, Macaws etc, Phantom, Lightning) as "non landing" items, with a mix of historic and GA types in the program too. They even used to attract the Red Arrows some years. In some ways the Shoreham show reminds me of the Goodwood shows.

Fairoaks was perhaps more constrained by the proximity of Heathrow airspace, and I don't remember any fast jets appearing, usually historic pistons, GA/aerobatic types and the Tiger Club type acts.

Booker (aka Wycombe Airpark) also held a few shows, "Sally B" was a surprise appearence at one of them just after she had first arrived in UK.

As has been mentioned, ever longer displays, and the move towards ever larger "family focussed" events (aka funfairs, double glazng, car sales etc) were once seen as the way forward by organisers and smaller events fell by the wayside. But perhaps some headline events simply grew so large as to be unmanageable, and as ever more legislation tended to impact upon their approach. Poor visitor experience (esp. traffic chaos and security "bag checks") and the contraction of many Western airforces (none more so than the RAF!)has perhaps seen the public start to get fed up with the mega-long approach given the lack of variety of aircraft types now available for booking?

Personally, shows like (R)IAT seemed to focus more on the length of their flying display rather than the "quality" of the display - six hour flying displays are fine, but there are only so many times I want to watch F16s perform in one day! Especially if I know I am going to have to face a two hour traffic jam to get out afterwards.

In recent years some of the new(er) show venues seem to have spotted the niche, and have started to meet the need - Breighton, Rougham, Woodchurch, Damyns Hall etc

Fewer, but "more varied", acts and easier entry and exit win every time for me these days. I haven't been to RIAT for years, and to be honest I don't really miss it even though I've never seen an F22.

Shoreham is perhaps running the risk of outgrowing itself too I fear, the flying display has got a little predictable, though the unique backdrop does give it a unique flavour, and crowd size seems to be self limiting due to parking space. Maybe Shoreham has taken on some of the mantle of the Biggin Hill shows?

Personally I'd rather see more smaller shows as candidates for my entrance fee than fewer "mega-shows", but yes I agree, some of the former shows with unique atmospheres such as Mildenhall are much missed.

Paul F

[piston power!]

Am I a bit weird that I just turn up and enjoy whatever is on display? Mildenhall allways was the highlight of my year, and Waddington is cheap and easy to get too. (plus I know one of the organisers)

It's even cheaper when you tell them your a rafars memeber when your not.

Good to sneak in to the enclosure had free sandwiches and a seat with a cover when it had a small shower, that year was a great bonus sadly didn't get away with all of it the year after.

But one must try............

[~Alan~]

Personally I'd rather see more smaller shows as candidates for my entrance fee than fewer "mega-shows", but yes I agree, some of the former shows with unique atmospheres such as Mildenhall are much missed.

Paul F

The thing I liked about Mildenhall was, I never felt that I was being ripped off.

This year, apart from my Local Southend show, I intend going to Stow Maries
on the same May Bank Holiday weekend, then to Damyns Hall in August

[beurling]

Then of course security would be a major concern at military airfields.

I would suggest that the start of the decline began when we started
getting "event organisers" running the airshows, rather than being run by
people involved with the airfield. Necessary I know when shows
started getting really big, but then they started being run for profit rather than
as entertainment for the public. Perhaps we were just spoilt in the past ?

Then of course when the oil runs out, it will all be history.

Ahh this really burns me when I hear this as people on this forum should know better. The cost to run a show is huge between all the logistical items to bring the public on site and then the costs for aircraft and crew. To think that this should not be run for profit so as to fund a show for the next year is insane. Hence comes up the Not for Profit issue - Please give your head a shake because not for profit just means the board of directors paid themselves the lions share of the profits and then go begging for public money to fund the next years event. Ie. you pay for it in tax money. If you really enjoy going to a particular show pay the admission and thank the people who put it on.

[hampden98]

I don't have a problem with airshows being run for profit in fact I always thought they were, as long as they are entertaining.
Old Warden is my favourite as you can watch the Falcons, visit the Gardens and see the show which is great for mum.

[~Alan~]

Ahh this really burns me when I hear this as people on this forum should know better. The cost to run a show is huge between all the logistical items to bring the public on site and then the costs for aircraft and crew. To think that this should not be run for profit so as to fund a show for the next year is insane. Hence comes up the Not for Profit issue - Please give your head a shake because not for profit just means the board of directors paid themselves the lions share of the profits and then go begging for public money to fund the next years event. Ie. you pay for it in tax money. If you really enjoy going to a particular show pay the admission and thank the people who put it on.

I don't think there's anyone who post here who doesn't realize that (most) airshows are run for profit. It's just that most of us can remember going to the "at home days" either RAF or USAF, where profit wasn't a major concern. Of course with some of the smaller venues, it's their annual airshows which help to pay the bills, we are I hope well aware of that.

It's just that many of the organizers, in attempting to maximise their profits, have priced many aviation enthusiasts out of the market. Especially those with families.

[SADSACK]

how many shows are run for charity, or give a hefty donation? I know Wickenby and East Kirkby do.

[WJ244]

I have no problem with airshows being run for profit. I will happily part with my entrance fee for Old Warden knowing that the profit goes back into maintaining the collection. The problem for me is that partly due to an increase in running costs airshow prices have risen sharply in recent years but my wages have remained pretty static.
I actually have significantly less take home pay now than I did 10 years ago when it was about £12 - £15 to get in to a display at Old Warden!
The increased admission charges combined with huge increases in petrol costs mean that I simply can't afford to visit so many shows now and unfortunately I don't see this changing in the forseeable future.

[The Blue Max]

I have no problem with airshows being run for profit. I will happily part with my entrance fee for Old Warden knowing that the profit goes back into maintaining the collection. The problem for me is that partly due to an increase in running costs airshow prices have risen sharply in recent years but my wages have remained pretty static.
I actually have significantly less take home pay now than I did 10 years ago when it was about £12 - £15 to get in to a display at Old Warden!
The increased admission charges combined with huge increases in petrol costs mean that I simply can't afford to visit so many shows now and unfortunately I don't see this changing in the forseeable future.

This years Sywell Show is £15 if you buy your ticket early, and thats for a three and a half hrs display including the Red Arrows. Non profit making as all the profits go to the local Air Ambulance.
Although to be perfectly honest reading most of the posts here I wonder why we bother!!
If you are not happy with whats on offer then try running your own, maybe then you will understand the costs and hard work and hasell that is involved in putting a show on.

[Andy in Beds]

I don't have a problem with airshows being run for profit in fact I always thought they were, as long as they are entertaining.
Old Warden is my favourite as you can watch the Falcons, visit the Gardens and see the show which is great for mum.

You'll make a lot of people happy making statements like that--Me included.
You also get one of the World's leading collections of working Edwardian motor vehicles.

Having said that though--don't miss Sywell.
Mr B. is right--it's a great show, and those lads do work very hard to make it happen.

Andy

[WJ244]

This years Sywell Show is £15 if you buy your ticket early, and thats for a three and a half hrs display including the Red Arrows. Non profit making as all the profits go to the local Air Ambulance.
Although to be perfectly honest reading most of the posts here I wonder why we bother!!
If you are not happy with whats on offer then try running your own, maybe then you will understand the costs and hard work and hasell that is involved in putting a show on.

You seem to have misunderstood. I would prefer to visit Sywell than one of the massive shows like RIAT. Sywell is about 220 miles for the round trip - roughly the same as Old Warden - which means that the admission, petrol and something to eat for my other half and I isn't going to leave much change from £100 and that is £100 that I simply don't have.
In the past I have been involved in running motorcycle events so I am well aware of the costs, work and hassle in running any event but with the current financial squeeze I am sure many others, like myself, get left with little spare money at the end of each month. If I don't have the money in the first place I can't spend it.
One option is to join those who stand outside and watch from the boundary hedge but there is no way I would join the freeloaders out there. If I ever take photos from outside the airfield at Old Warden or any other show I ALWAYS pay my admission and make my way back to a good spot for photos simply because I want to do my bit to make sure that displays continue and that goes for all displays regardless of the airfield.