Best Airshow to go to?

[Newbey]

Haven't been to one for years and wondered what is the best one to go to?

[Jonny671]

I asked a couple of months ago.. Farnborough vs. RIAT..

The consensus was Farnborough for a static show, or RIAT for a 'Air Display' show

[Elroy Blue]

Are there any 'good' modern airshows these days. I went to RIAT last year and it was very disappointing. But then I haven't been to one since the great days of the late 80's early 90's.

[CatherineJ]

I would have said Fairford.

[aeropilot]

Flying Legends at Duxford if you like big pistons.

RIAT if you like parafin burners.

[The real Apache]

Duxford has been a let down of late, last airshow was decimated because of the 'ash cloud' no refunds, prior to that there has been little of interest either

[anonymous-user]

RIAT is going to be a monster this year.

F-22 Raptor flying.
F/A-18 Flying
B-52 Flying
C-17 Flying
A400M Transport flying
Mig 21 flying

Plus the usual RAF stuff and static display highlights for me:

Nimrod MRA4
VC-10
German F-4 Phantom
SU22 (If I remember correctly).

Plus loads of other aircraft, looks like being the best one for years.

Also on the list is EADS' BF109, proper Daimler Benz powered one I believe, and not the Spanish Merlin engined "Buchon."

[aeropilot]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Still not sure whether this is going to be static or flying....as it's not currently airworthy....? And it is actually a Spanish Buchon, but has been re-engined with a DB605.

[anonymous-user]

O.k, wasn't sure, thanks for clearing that up

[thatone1967]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

We ever likely to see the B2 there again?

[anonymous-user]

It could happen, however I think the US tend to treat it more like a training mission, so it is usually a round flight straight from American then back again.

The last time it was over was quite a few years ago now and I think it nightstopped at Mildenhall.

IIRC it has only been on the ground at Fairford for a show once, and once at Mildenhall airefete in the late 1990's.

Usualy it does a couple of passes accompanied by a pair of F-15s and that is it.

[davepoth]

Fairford is just up the road from here...it's always an interesting few days watching crazy stuff fly over.

[JJM]

Eastborne is pretty good. And free.

[thatone1967]

JJM said:

Eastborne is pretty good. And free.

Have been to this a couple of times, usually watch from Beachy Head, less crowds, and rather cool being "above" the aircraft, does not seem to be much flying this year, but it's still a couple of months away I guess.

[thatone1967]

davepoth said:

Fairford is just up the road from here...it's always an interesting few days watching crazy stuff fly over.

Expensive... But "The Daddy" of Military Airshows!

Had a quick search on Flickr and found several thousand images to give an idea...

Edited by thatone1967 on Tuesday 1st June 00:10

Edited by thatone1967 on Tuesday 1st June 00:10

[speedtwelve]

More votes for RIAT and Flying Legends. If you want a full-fat aeroplane overdose, either will do.

RIAT is the world's biggest mil airshow; you'll see so many fast-jet display sequences in a day you'll go cock-eyed and deaf.

Flying Legends at Duxford is the biggest piston-warbird event outside of the US; it's just fantastic. Expect to see set-pieces such as 10x P51 Mustangs doing co-ordinated airfield attacks, 20000hp of RR Merlins at 0'6" from different directions at 300 knots, superchargers and gun ports screaming. 6-8 aircraft Spitfire scrambles, multiple A1 Skyraiders, B17s, 40+ aircraft launched for the finale flypast, usually only limited by the number of pilots they can find to man-up for the final launch at the end of the day. On the ground, there're tents full of WW2 fighter legends to chat to, not to mention what I reckon is pretty much the best aircraft museum anywhere to wander round.

You won't be disappointed. Who needs jets?

[MonkeyBusiness]

Sunderland Airshow lineup has just been announced.

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Sunderland-Airs...

Includes a B52.

[itsnotarace]

Sorry for thread hijack but wanted a little more info on RIAT

Has anyone used Horcott Farm /Totterdown campsite to watch the display, it's just to the north of the runways so looks like a decent view of the air display itself

I have a group of friends coming over that weekend and it would be nice to get away with £5 per person instead of £37.50 per person. I don't really care about the static ground display or overpriced and undercooked burgers that you have to queue for an hour to get.

Any other nearby alternatives offering better views?

Thanks muchly

[aeropilot]

itsnotarace said:

Sorry for thread hijack but wanted a little more info on RIAT

Has anyone used Horcott Farm /Totterdown campsite to watch the display, it's just to the north of the runways so looks like a decent view of the air display itself

Yes, if I do RIAT, this is where I go, and I can definately recommend it, but it is getting VERY popular. I first used back in the early 90's when it was still a bit of a secret. Last time I went was probably 2006(?) and it was a LOT busy than when I'd used it previously back in 1999.

[Penguinracer]

Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden for low-speed hedge-hoppers. It's like going to a small intimate airshow of the '20's! A small grass aerodrome, with a number of hangars with really interesting aircraft from the pioneering days up until the late '30's. I've been to Flying Legends & Farnborough - but for its atmosphere & serenity this one is very special. Many airshows become very repetitive with the usual suspects year in year out - with few surprises. This little gem harks back to the golden age of flying - when it was still romantic, adventurous & glamorous.