RIAT in decline.

[Mayfly]

Pleased to be of help..

Being married to an ex-display pilot it's one of my pet interests, I do try to give an overall view of the training they need to do so without being biased. Not all pilots are cut out to be diplay pilots - I even know of some pilots who would give up flying rather than do displays

[Thumper]

In reply to thumpers diatribe, I have added my comments in RED!

I don't have a problem with the price of RIAT, I think it is justified for 8 hours of flying when you consider that Legends is only £8 less for 4 hours of flying. It wasn't an 8 hour flying display, there were far too many long gaps!

That's how it is, so watch from outside where you ONLY get surrounded by fellow enthusiasts!

So buy a car, or don't drink Pimms!So view RIAT from outside the wire, either on the approach or even better from the hill at Huncott!

With regards to the long gaps I can only go on the year I went which was 2009 and there weren't any gaps of more than 20 minutes which I thought was perfectly fine as it allowed coffee and pee breaks... unfortunately the whole world (which was there) also had coffee and pee breaks which led to toilet and coffee stand congestion. When I say 8 hours of flying what I mean is that it's a whole day whereas Legends starts around 2pm and the volume of displays is twice as much as Legends, so with a price tag of only a few quid more than say Legends I think it is justified.

This year I was precisely going to do what you suggested. I was set to stay at Townsend Farm and was going to Rhymes Farm for Park and View, this is also what I plan to do if I fancy going another year... but if something special IS appearing then I don't have a problem with the price tag.

I'm not spending £2,000 on driving lessons, buying a car, insuring and taxing a car JUST so I can turn up to the Pimms enclosure suitably dressed

[Mayfly]

I don't have a problem with the price either, not even sure what it is, £37? - for a day out that's not a lot even tho' it is more expensive than many other all day flying venues.

What are cost of Grandstand seats at RIAT? [can't check they are already reconstructing the site for next year]. Leuchars & Waddington are both in the same price bracket of £18 advance ticket & Grandstand seats of £17-£18

[IanM]

I don't have a problem with the price either, not even sure what it is, £37? - for a day out that's not a lot even tho' it is more expensive than many other all day flying venues.

What are cost of Grandstand seats at RIAT? [can't check they are already reconstructing the site for next year]. Leuchars & Waddington are both in the same price bracket of £18 advance ticket & Grandstand seats of £17-£18

I think they were £20... or £26, can't remember now.

[Thumper]

£37 for RIAT ticket, Grandstand £20.95, £40 for Pimms enclosure just to sit on a deck chair.... no thanks

I'll dig my 2010 brochure out later and get exact prices. All I do know is in 2009 the only extra thing I bought was a programme for £8 and the whole thing cost me around £250 which includes petrol, food and drink, entry and camping.

Here is my August weekender

1 day camping at Apple Acre Farm - £8
Duxford American Air Day - £18.50
Food & Drink - £20
Petrol - £20
Petrol to get to Silverstone - £10
Watching 558 - £0.00
Petrol to get to Shuttleworth - £10
Shuttleworth Evening Flying Display & proms - £25
Food & Drink - £20
1 nights camping at Apple Acre Farm - £8
Petrol to get to and from Sywell - £12
Sywell Airshow - £12
Food & Drink - £20

3 and a half Air Events

Total Price for EVERYTHING: £183.50p

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[SnailRFC]

Survey filled in. Pulled no punches. Expect to see no comments from Brian in Coleford appearing on a website near you soon!!

[10680]

Pleased to be of help..

Being married to an ex-display pilot it's one of my pet interests, I do try to give an overall view of the training they need to do so without being biased. Not all pilots are cut out to be diplay pilots - I even know of some pilots who would give up flying rather than do displays

What would be the situation for take-off, fly down the crowd line, land? Any approvals/training required?
Although there would be the problem of getting them to the static park.

[Mayfly]

Flying in front of the paying public with that sole intent is I believe classed as a display, Arrival or departure is not. However I'm sure if airshow organisers were to push the boundaries the CAA would soon step in - airshows are monitored.

There are 2 sides to the airfield, live side where display a/c are kept & the static - for H&S reasons they won't under normal circumstances tow A/C on & off the static line. So it's not feasible to have one a/c do both - sometimes it's not feasible to get 2 A/C either hence you often won't see a static version of an display item.

558 [VTST] is lucky in that the organisers at some shows can position her where the public get to see to her, and she displays - it takes a bit of juggling to do and really is a privilege ...