Discussion
Lancaster and 2 spitfires just flew nice and low over the house, it's at this time of year I love living so close to Biggin Hill 
The look and sound of those 3 planes is just amazing 
Shame I can't make it this year but will hopefully be there again next year, anyone going this weekend?
The look and sound of those 3 planes is just amazing Shame I can't make it this year but will hopefully be there again next year, anyone going this weekend?
Nope, and will never go to Biggin Hill again.
Yes, it always seems to be great weather, it's local, it's steeped in history and they put on a good show, but it's an absolutely huge chav fest and the traffic management is utterly awful.
I used to go every year, but 2 years ago I got stuck in a traffic jam several miles long up tiny one way lanes. Engine off, people milling around job. Walked most of the way there and back to the car to find out what was going on. Basically there were more people than expected as it was sunny. Was queuing for over 4 hours, and missed half of the show. There was no question of a partial refund.
Never got anything out of the organisers either.
I'm working anyway, but would probably watch a few bits from the garden, and go to a smaller show elsewhere.
Yes, it always seems to be great weather, it's local, it's steeped in history and they put on a good show, but it's an absolutely huge chav fest and the traffic management is utterly awful.
I used to go every year, but 2 years ago I got stuck in a traffic jam several miles long up tiny one way lanes. Engine off, people milling around job. Walked most of the way there and back to the car to find out what was going on. Basically there were more people than expected as it was sunny. Was queuing for over 4 hours, and missed half of the show. There was no question of a partial refund.
Never got anything out of the organisers either.
I'm working anyway, but would probably watch a few bits from the garden, and go to a smaller show elsewhere.
Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Friday 25th June 12:05
I remember the traffic carnage a couple of years ago, was all over the local papers. They were supposed to have sorted it out but the roads are narrow round there. I guess they only thing they can try and do to limit numbers is make it advanced ticket only. I also recall some disquite between the organisers and those displaying or with locally based aircraft over access arrangements and tickets etc. There always seems to be issues. Shame because the flying side is usually quite good but the static displays have been a bit crap.
NiceCupOfTea said:
it's an absolutely huge chav fest
Last year's Duxford Flying Legends, my pal and I took a couple of chairs to sit on for the flying display. We set up about 2' from the flightline fence. Fantastic. Out of nowhere, a random, middle aged, white-legged, running short & white sock wearing 
pushed between our chairs and stood *directly* in front of me and started taking pictures of the display. I stood up, grabbed him by the arm and chucked him back behind me. Unbelievable, but increasingly typical of the day trip brigade.dr_gn said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
it's an absolutely huge chav fest
Last year's Duxford Flying Legends, my pal and I took a couple of chairs to sit on for the flying display. We set up about 2' from the flightline fence. Fantastic. Out of nowhere, a random, middle aged, white-legged, running short & white sock wearing pushed between our chairs and stood *directly* in front of me and started taking pictures of the display. I stood up, grabbed him by the arm and chucked him back behind me. Unbelievable, but increasingly typical of the day trip brigade.dr_gn said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
it's an absolutely huge chav fest
Last year's Duxford Flying Legends, my pal and I took a couple of chairs to sit on for the flying display. We set up about 2' from the flightline fence. Fantastic. Out of nowhere, a random, middle aged, white-legged, running short & white sock wearing pushed between our chairs and stood *directly* in front of me and started taking pictures of the display. I stood up, grabbed him by the arm and chucked him back behind me. Unbelievable, but increasingly typical of the day trip brigade.
although a guy at a small display I went to last year at Headcorn told me that Flying Legends was a good one. I was considering it this year...NiceCupOfTea said:
dr_gn said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
it's an absolutely huge chav fest
Last year's Duxford Flying Legends, my pal and I took a couple of chairs to sit on for the flying display. We set up about 2' from the flightline fence. Fantastic. Out of nowhere, a random, middle aged, white-legged, running short & white sock wearing pushed between our chairs and stood *directly* in front of me and started taking pictures of the display. I stood up, grabbed him by the arm and chucked him back behind me. Unbelievable, but increasingly typical of the day trip brigade. although a guy at a small display I went to last year at Headcorn told me that Flying Legends was a good one. I was considering it this year...Eric Mc said:
dr_gn said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
it's an absolutely huge chav fest
Last year's Duxford Flying Legends, my pal and I took a couple of chairs to sit on for the flying display. We set up about 2' from the flightline fence. Fantastic. Out of nowhere, a random, middle aged, white-legged, running short & white sock wearing pushed between our chairs and stood *directly* in front of me and started taking pictures of the display. I stood up, grabbed him by the arm and chucked him back behind me. Unbelievable, but increasingly typical of the day trip brigade.
mattdaniels said:
Headcorn is a nice place to go to even when there is not a display on.
I know it wasn't a WW2 base but it has a nice atmosphere. I did an open air concert there last year with a small display, got some nice snaps. Think I posted up the pics on here...ETA:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/xforums/topic.asp?h=0...
Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Friday 25th June 13:25
There has always been a certain "class" of airshow atendee - even in the 70s when I started attending UK airshows on a regular basis.
I try not to let other people put me off the main reason I go to such events - the aircraft. To be fair, Farnborough tends not to have too much of this type of element attending.
I try not to let other people put me off the main reason I go to such events - the aircraft. To be fair, Farnborough tends not to have too much of this type of element attending.
Eric Mc said:
There has always been a certain "class" of airshow atendee - even in the 70s when I started attending UK airshows on a regular basis.
I try not to let other people put me off the main reason I go to such events - the aircraft. To be fair, Farnborough tends not to have too much of this type of element attending.
Positive Duxford story to redress the balance a bit:I try not to let other people put me off the main reason I go to such events - the aircraft. To be fair, Farnborough tends not to have too much of this type of element attending.
I went to the Spitfire Anniversary airshow with my Mum and Dad a few years back. Unfortunately my Dad's disabled and can't walk far, so we 'hired' a wheelchair (free) from the ticket office. We decided to go on the flightline walkabout, so got in the very long queue to pay our £15 for the privelege. Almost immediately a Duxford staff member came and ushered us to the front of the queue, and straight through the gate. I told him we'd not paid yet, but he just said it's not necessary and wished us a good day.
Nobody in the queue made any comment at all (there's usually one). Contributed to a great day out and several return trips since.
Agree about the disproportionately large chav presence at Biggin nowadays. Last time I went was a couple of years ago also, and the place was festooned with sunburned tattooed plebs and their shaven-headed ear-ringed offspring. TBH it wasn't a problem, but the crowd did seem unlike your usual RIAT, Farnborough types.
Flying Legends at Duxford is fantastic. Go! A complete overdose of 2000 hp V12 piston engined fighters being given very big, fast, low-level stick. The flight line and taxiway is right in front of the crowd line giving a rare opportunity to be very close to the action. There's the bonus of having one of the World's best aviation museums to wander round into the bargain.
Flying Legends at Duxford is fantastic. Go! A complete overdose of 2000 hp V12 piston engined fighters being given very big, fast, low-level stick. The flight line and taxiway is right in front of the crowd line giving a rare opportunity to be very close to the action. There's the bonus of having one of the World's best aviation museums to wander round into the bargain.
speedtwelve said:
Agree about the disproportionately large chav presence at Biggin nowadays. Last time I went was a couple of years ago also, and the place was festooned with sunburned tattooed plebs and their shaven-headed ear-ringed offspring. TBH it wasn't a problem, but the crowd did seem unlike your usual RIAT, Farnborough types.
Flying Legends at Duxford is fantastic. Go! A complete overdose of 2000 hp V12 piston engined fighters being given very big, fast, low-level stick. The flight line and taxiway is right in front of the crowd line giving a rare opportunity to be very close to the action. There's the bonus of having one of the World's best aviation museums to wander round into the bargain.
One of my favourite bits is when the 'Joker' does his routine of high speed passess and rolls while the 'Balbo' of all participating aircraft formates at the end of the show. It's usually a big fighter like a Sea Fury or Bearcat...great!Flying Legends at Duxford is fantastic. Go! A complete overdose of 2000 hp V12 piston engined fighters being given very big, fast, low-level stick. The flight line and taxiway is right in front of the crowd line giving a rare opportunity to be very close to the action. There's the bonus of having one of the World's best aviation museums to wander round into the bargain.
Of course the unbroken afternoon of flying is amazing too.
Edited by dr_gn on Saturday 26th June 08:18
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