Farnborough Air Show or Royal International Air Tattoo

[mrmr96]

I'm organising a day out for my extended family, 12 people over 3 generations.
Which event would be best in terms of spectacle?

Cheers

[Eric Mc]

Neither

(Not one of your options).

I think both shows are pale shadows of what they once were. I would suggest a trip to one of the Duxford shows for historic warbirds or perhaps Waddington or Yeovilton if you want a bit of fast jet action.

[Z06George]

100% what Eric said.

[pdrake007]

There is some truth in what Eric says but they are both still good days out.

Generally Farnborough is commercial aircraft and companies are there to sell aircraft, the Air Tattoo is military and pretty much a big social gathering of the forces, so there's a lot more fast jets, acrobatics and big transporters at the Air Tattoo which may cater a bit more for the whole family.

[Bisonhead]

To be fair EricMc, you are right. I have watched a lot of documentaries and readup on the history of Farnborough and the RIAT. I have done a couple of stints at the RIAT when I was in the RAF (mainlysearching peoples bags...) and have to say that it was still pretty enjoyable. A lot of US metal that you wouldnt normally see at any other airshow in the UK.

OP - if I had the choice I would go to RIAT. Much less formal than Farnborough and plenty of fun things to do apart from have your ears smashed!

[Eric Mc]

I live in Farnborough and attend the air show every time it's on - as well as seeing all the air displays - every day - from my house.

One of the major changes in recent years is the utter difference between the trade days and the public days. From Monday to Thursday, you will get displays of the latest and greatest (or at least, those that bother to turn up).

However, increasingly, on the public days, there is an almost completely different flying programme with a much greater emphasis on historic, privately owned warbirds etc taking part. In that respect, the public day flying displays are often not a whole lot better than what you might get at Dunsfold Wings and Wheels, for example.

In more recent years, for me, the big attraction were the display chalets and halls where all the companies and aerospace organisations display their wares. I was finding that side of the airshow more interesting. For instance, getting to talk to somebody like Alan Bond on his Skylon project, or the guys who convert DC-10s and 747s into fire fighting tankers has to be quite cool.

Sadly, in 2012, the organisers decided that the halls would close up on Friday and would not be open to the public on the Saturday and Sunday (the main public days). In 2012, Friday was designated as a a "semi-public" day so you could get a ticket and you COULD get into the halls. But not many people can get to an airshow on a weekday.

So, as long as the public are allowed in on Friday and have access to the halls and chalets, I will keep going. But if they stop that access completely, then Farnborough will, to me, become an expensive and second rate airshow.

[Ali Chappussy]

I'd give both a miss to be fair, very same old, same old.

Now me, I would consider Goodwood. Not planes I know but I know someone who went last year and it blew him away and he's a madcap aviationist!!

[ecsrobin]

Ok so here's my background, for the last 4/5 years I have attended a large proportion of airshows and car events with the RAF BBMF.

For the best static lineup and a wide variety of aircraft it has to be RIAT be aware though that last year the US cut their display teams and budget for any static aircraft (I don't know if this season is any different) however the cost can be quite expensive especially as you say its quite a few of you.

Waddington is good but traffic is always a complete nightmare, I enjoy working Cosford but again traffic is a nightmare and feels more like a car boot.

Eastbourne is a great free airshow generally with some European involvement a great sight seeing a Belgian F16 firing flares along the sea front.

But for a family day out I would recommend bournemouth airshow, it's 4 days worth of flying, it has a good flying lineup and the side attractions are the best there is. You also have an opportunity to get out onto an RFA ship moored in the bay and you get a sandy beach.

Oh and did I mention its free??

[lufbramatt]

I've done most of the big air shows over the last couple of years with work. Best day by far was Yeovilton Air Day. In 2011 the display was superb- Sea Vixen, Vulcan, a Polish MiG 29, Rafale, a random An-124 (massive) plus the usual selction of WW2 warbirds, tons of helicopters, the mental Dutch Apache display and the marines role demo (lots of explosions and guys jumping out of sea kings/Merlins. Weather was a bit pants last year so some of the more interesting stuff was grounded- but that could happen anywhere.

Agree that Goodwood Revival trumps all of them though, but that's down to personal taste