Discussion
Having attended the Southport Airshow for the last few years next year i'd like to take the kids to a 'proper' airshow.
Which are the best ones?
So far i've been looking at the International Air Tattoo at Fairford in Gloucestershire and also the Farnborough International Airshow.
Can anyone recommend any others. I live in Lancashire but would make a weekend out of it so willing to travel.
Cheers
Which are the best ones?
So far i've been looking at the International Air Tattoo at Fairford in Gloucestershire and also the Farnborough International Airshow.
Can anyone recommend any others. I live in Lancashire but would make a weekend out of it so willing to travel.
Cheers
Edited by ticmon on Tuesday 15th December 21:18
With cutbacks over the years the only major show of the year that pulls a number of aircraft is RIAT Fairford.
There are smaller military shows at Waddington, Leuchars (RAF) and Yeovilton & Culdrose (RNAS).
Farnborough is on next year aswell although this is more of a commercial/trade show with small military content, however you may get a few military aircraft from Farnborough that appear at RIAT. In previous years the F-22, Mig 29 OVT, Osprey, and Super Hornet have all appeared at Farnborough and RIAT, taking in both shows at the same time.
With the RAF cut backs I am not sure how much RAF content you will see at shows in 2010. Many smaller shows use RAF stuff as it is cheaper than privately owned jets & warbirds, i.e £1,700 for a Typhoon as opposed to £5k for a privately owned jet. So if RAF stuff isn't available, seaside shows like Southend end up cutting back on display items, and booking cheaper more uninteresting stuff. Remains to be seen how much the RAF cuts back its airshow commitments in 2010.
Get to RIAT Very early though, i.e by 7.30 in the morning. It could take you an hour to get from the parking area through security onto the airfield.
Don't forget it is ticket only, no admission/tickets on the gate.
There are smaller military shows at Waddington, Leuchars (RAF) and Yeovilton & Culdrose (RNAS).
Farnborough is on next year aswell although this is more of a commercial/trade show with small military content, however you may get a few military aircraft from Farnborough that appear at RIAT. In previous years the F-22, Mig 29 OVT, Osprey, and Super Hornet have all appeared at Farnborough and RIAT, taking in both shows at the same time.
With the RAF cut backs I am not sure how much RAF content you will see at shows in 2010. Many smaller shows use RAF stuff as it is cheaper than privately owned jets & warbirds, i.e £1,700 for a Typhoon as opposed to £5k for a privately owned jet. So if RAF stuff isn't available, seaside shows like Southend end up cutting back on display items, and booking cheaper more uninteresting stuff. Remains to be seen how much the RAF cuts back its airshow commitments in 2010.
Get to RIAT Very early though, i.e by 7.30 in the morning. It could take you an hour to get from the parking area through security onto the airfield.
Don't forget it is ticket only, no admission/tickets on the gate.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 15th December 22:43
Most of the really interesting military stuff (eg F22, B2, etc) tend to only do the week days (trade days) at Farnborough, rather than the public days at the weekend. I went to RIAT last year for the first time and reckon there was probably less top military stuff than Farnborough on a week days, but it's a full days show and well worth a visit. The queue getting in is a b
d though.
d though.ticmon said:
Cheers chaps. Thanks for your help. Is it worth going both days?
Could be, as you could spend a day walking around the static and stalls, and then a day watching the flying......or you could when I last went to RIAT, which was quite a while ago to be fair, but it may not be like that now.Where you are located, I'd definately add the last remaining RAF Battle of Britain display at RAF Leuchars as one to do as well as RIAT.
Eric Mc said:
Since I live in Farnborough, I usually get to see the trade-only stuff - usually from my back garden.
+1 Since i WORK at the airport id agree. The F22 last time was something else. it just wizzed in, showed up every other aircraft, then left with its F15 escort.Seeing the 2 mig 29's leave was interesting, the black smoke made me think they were broken.
aeropilot said:
S3_Graham said:
Seeing the 2 mig 29's leave was interesting, the black smoke made me think they were broken.
Other way around with a Mig......black smoke means it's still working, no smoke means the donks have stopped.... simples 
then the second went in the same fashion and panic was over!
ticmon said:
Cheers chaps. Thanks for your help. Is it worth going both days?
For the RIAT, what I tend to do is arrive early and grab a decent spot to watch the flying. Once the flying display ends I wander around the static aircraft while the crowds disperse. By the time I get back to the car the worst of the traffic is gone and I have a fairly straight forward drive home. Obviously helps that I only live an hour away! Worth mentioning that you now have to decide which day you visit in advance as tickets are no longer valid for both days, this follows the 2008 show when Saturday was rained off and there were worries that those who would have come on Saturday would try to come on Sunday instead. In the end the whole weekend was rained off!
I wouldnt go on both days because it would be very expensive and you wouldnt see anything you didnt see the day before. I have been tempted to go an arrivals/departure day as you'll see loads of cool aircraft which didnt fly during the show, C5 Galaxy etc...
I go to RIAT most years, and agree that arrivals day can be more enjoyable. I'd actually recommend smaller events like those at Duxford and Bruntingthorpe. A trip to Bruntingthorpe when their collection is taxiing is great fun for kids, especially as they can sit in various aircraft and are much closer to the action. And there are no queues, and it's a fraction of the cost....
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