RIAT - any good (free) vantage points to see some action?

[Hyperion]

Does anyone know any good outside perimeter vantage points around Fairford?
I'll be on a motorbike so parking up and getting there isn't a problem.
(Can't afford the entrance fee this year unfortunately)

I sat on the hill to watch the Farnborough show last year and it was ace!

[clarkey]

There is a field on the north western side of the runway that is a great viewing spot. I think the farmer charges about £15 to enter, but it's not too bad, and there is usually a place to get a cuppa there. You are probably in a better viewing spot than most points within the base.

You could always camp, either at the big site next to it, or at Totterdown farm. Cheaper than entry, certainly at Totterdown.

I reckon anywhere else and you'll probably get moved on quite quickly.

[Nuclearsquash]

Probably not much help to you, but my work offices are here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&a...

so in the days proceeding RIAT i will get to see everything flying in, and subsequently flying out.

[Eric Mc]

Just remember, if you are outside the boundaries of the display site, you wil have no comeback if a plane lands on your head. It has happened.

[Hyperion]

clarkey said:

There is a field on the north western side of the runway that is a great viewing spot. I think the farmer charges about £15 to enter, but it's not too bad, and there is usually a place to get a cuppa there. You are probably in a better viewing spot than most points within the base.

Sounds good...
Can you be a bit more specific please - is it off Totterdown Lane somewhere?

[clarkey]

No, the next turning outside the village. As you leave Fairford on the A417 (heading west) you go past Horcroft Road (which goes towards Totterdown) then the first road on the left after you have left the village goes down to the north western perimter of the base. Follow that down, and next to a crash exit is an entrance to a field which will have plenty of people in it!

I've only been to this field on a friday, it was perfect. I've no idea what its like over the weekend, or even if the police allow access down the road.

[Hyperion]

Is this the place?
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=fairford...
(field in the middle pointing to the runway)

[clarkey]

If you follow the road down towards the base, it reaches a very sharp right hand bend. At this bend, you have the crash exit ahead, and the field to the left. So the field covers the bit directly north of the perimter road (as it bends down to the main runway, and goes eastwards, through a small patch of bushes that you can see on the map, and ends near the most westerly buildings on the base.

[tegwin]

Support the charity for gawds sake... buy a proper ticket and go inside..... a huge amount of work goes into organising this thing...

[clarkey]

I do agree to some extent. I've got 2 tickets this year, and even paid the extra to try to pick a dry day if possible. In the past if I've only intended to go for an hour or two an unofficial viewing area isn't so bad though.....

[anonymous-user]

Eric Mc said:

Just remember, if you are outside the boundaries of the display site, you wil have no comeback if a plane lands on your head. It has happened.

If a plane lands on your head you won't have much of anything!!

[Hyperion]

tegwin said:

Support the charity for gawds sake... buy a proper ticket and go inside..... a huge amount of work goes into organising this thing...

I'd love to mate, but money is tight this year

Thanks for the vantage point tips Clarkey.