July 30, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Although a little late and better late than never,my take on the F/Bro show.My only two main complaints that caused horendous problems on the first public day was the fact the organisers forced a lot of people to enter the show through one gate only.When the show was finished the crowd headed back for the same gate and it frightened a lot of people including myself as the organisers had managed to coral thousands of people in a very small area,gateB as the exit.
If there had been the slightest problem such as a small fire from one of the many simulators close by there would have been mass panic and am certain people would have got trampled to death in the panic to get away.Listening to the radio on the way home one of the news flashes highlighted a pop concert in Duisberg West Germany where 15 to 20 people were killed after the organisera coralled the crowd through a tunnel where panic was created from somewhere and many people suffered because of this and bad bad planning.
It was just sheer luck nothing created a panic on similar grounds at the end of the show or the event would have been on the news for the wrong reasons.lastly it is sheer madness to get thousands of cars in one area,”Queens parade” car park and leave the motorists to fight it out amongst themselves who will leave first and last with only 3 police to man the exit gate while pandemonium ensued as it felt like the world had gone mad trying to make an orderly line with at times about thirty cars all jostling just to join a massive queue.It is highly irresponseible to just turn your back on the public knowing the trouble they will face getting on the roads without some proper marshalling to aid the exit from the massive car park.
I for one was knocked about on the day as the organisers had filled the crowd line area to mass capacity and sometimes it was sheer hard work just to keep upright never mind take photographs.While its all fine and well as the VIPs and “Special” people at the show enjoy the event from the high rise ivory towers and must have found it funny what they wittnessed,people like me were regretting going to the show and being treated in such a way.The organisers could have provided more separation fences for the crowd and provided info on the day what to do should an emergency event arise.My first thought while there was to knock the main fence down should it be neccassary to go to a safe area.
Anyway rant over I hope you like the photos as I dont think I will return to this event untill they change the way they handle the public. 


















By: The"Eh"Team - 2nd August 2010 at 14:15
Hi stangman,
Thanks for remarks and I do suppose the 380 looks as if it’s overdosed on the old steroids.I wonder if the genisis was from a cross of types ranging between the fuselage of the Beluga and designers looking at the 747-300 which as you’ll know has quite a large upper deck.
Also the nose area on the 380 is’nt as shapely as your 747 but as life goes looks are’nt everything.I can only think what a nightmare it must be when boarding and alighting these big machines and can only think chaos must occur if two arrive close together at some small airport:confused:.
As for heads testing I think I’ll check mine soon as I’ve never spent so long on the compy in one session.Dont forget “Anyone who see’s a phyciatrist need’s their head tested”.Ha,Ha.:):):rolleyes::rolleyes:
By: stangman - 2nd August 2010 at 13:51
Great shots thanks for posting,and probably more important putting up with the event in the first place.
Last time i went to Farnborough was the early Seventies not tempted to go again!
As for that A380 no matter how well or from what angle it is photographed, i cant help feeling what an ugly machine. Sorry but the good ol Boeing 747 in all its incarnations just looks a hundred times better.:D
By: The"Eh"Team - 2nd August 2010 at 13:04
Glad you liked the photos slicer and also that you have appreciated first hand what I was moaning about.The very last crowd photo was included to show how shoulder to shoulder the crowd line was at its max.
There must have been 40 to 50 people from front to back and this must have gone the whole way down the runway for half a mile at least,X’s this amount of people with the cost of £20 pound @ ticket and even take away a third on corporate hospitality and you still have a massive amount.So from this day alone they could afford to organise things a little better.
Its alright having little whizz kids telling them how to cut their cloth but you only need a “North Sea Ferry” moment where turnaround time was speeded up by someones bright idea to close the doors on the move and its curtains.I dont understand how companies can bang on about health and safety and chuck out the common sense life saving issues for cost,all a bit like putting new wallpaper on a rotting wall.
I know I go on but I dread to think if some old car making that crowded exit had set alight for one reason or another as there would have been no way a fire engine could have got to it as the place on Saturday was pandemonium and this scenario would have affected other cars.!!!Thanks anyway for pos feedback.:)
By: slicer - 2nd August 2010 at 12:07
Very nice set of pictures. The last time I attended Farnborough was years ago..the last visit of the SR71, and I recall the same problem with egress from the car park then..a massive wedge of stationary cars making for one exit. The management of crowds leaving events like this is more critical than the entry, after all, most people all make a dash for the exit after the last item…that’s when the marshalls are needed, but of course the parking company has pocketed the money and run by then.
The first shot is remarkable. The A340 captain must feel as if he’s flying a small town.
By: The"Eh"Team - 2nd August 2010 at 11:37
Add ons
More from my trip to F.I on Saturday and some looking a little samey but thats what you get with time on your hands when youve been back heeled from work for a day.Ha,ha.:).Something totaly different from aircraft and maybe a controversial talking point and it also deals with taking photographs or not being able to take photographs.
If the police think people who are in London taking photos of various sites around the city think this is an “iffy”situation then why dont they close all the photographic shops in london as they are supplying all potentail photographers with equipment that they dont want them to use.I read a lot about photographers rights in the A.P magazine and we are struggling in our society to carry out our hobby.We seem to be losing freedom to a demorcratic dictatorship whose political descisions will be handed over to the courts.Rant over I hope you like the photos especially while its legal to supply them.:rolleyes::) 













By: steve rowell - 2nd August 2010 at 11:18
Just sensational shots..looks like you had great day..love the Vulcan shot
By: The"Eh"Team - 1st August 2010 at 09:24
Thanks Anna,did you attend one of the public days by any chance?.
By: Flygirl - 1st August 2010 at 08:39
Nice shots.
By: The"Eh"Team - 31st July 2010 at 16:53
Grumpy gang
Thanks for looking and sending back some kind feedback,its a problem when youre bitten by the photo bug as the main mission for me anyway is to try and get something that I and other people like yourself will like.I’ve got a couple more but will sort them out when I get more time to myself.
Nothing too exciting though just some add ons.Cheers.John.B…..New member to the the “Grumpy Club” since 1951.Ha,Ha.:):rolleyes::rolleyes:
By: davecurnock - 31st July 2010 at 15:29
Did read some bluurb about this but still went in glass half full mode.Once bitten twice shy though.:eek::).cheers John.B.
Join the ‘glass half-empty’ club – I won’t go near the place now!
Fortunately, sturdy souls like you are prepared to run the gauntlet and provide some excellent photos for us ‘stay-at-homes’.
Great shots, thanks for uploading them:)
By: The"Eh"Team - 31st July 2010 at 12:16
Did read some bluurb about this but still went in glass half full mode.Once bitten twice shy though.:eek::).cheers John.B.
By: johnr - 31st July 2010 at 09:55
It has seemed to me on the last couple of occasions that I attended that the organisers seem to think of the public days as more of a nuisance. As you say there are masses of people but, according to the programme published the day before, some of the newer stuff would not be displayed.
John
By: The"Eh"Team - 30th July 2010 at 21:28
Hello Keith,
Thanks for the moral support I was begining to think my rant sent everyone in the opposite direction.It was great to see the A380 close up as I’ve not seen this aircraft that near.
Believe it or not I tried to get the catalina above those roof shapes that look like waves which were the natural surround for a flying boat.I did try and get a lot of other shots but was knocked about that much that I took your advice keith about shots that dont work out and spent most of the week when I had a chance to sort out the good from the bad and deleted about half my shots.
For me the show has lost its magic and appeal to the mundane and mechanichal world of health and safety where one trick after the other is released to do its thing,shame they hadnt got the same interest for the massive crowd “paying” public.:eek::)
By: keithnewsome - 30th July 2010 at 20:57
Very Very Nice ! I like the first one the A380 crew wave ! And the Catalina fits so well between those buildings !! with a good contrast of types …. Thanks Keith.