RIAT 2005

This is a copy of my recent letter to the organisers of RIAT 2005

so far I have not received a response only a receipt — any one got any comments or similar thoughts???????

I was present at the Air Tattoo many years ago (the year when the Russians crashed), and I vowed at that show never to return due to the severe traffic problems.

The reason for this is I sat in a traffic queue that year from 9AM to 2PM even though I had purchased several advanced tickets and heard on the radio that the car park had been closed after waiting so many hours in the queue!
What made it more frustrating was the fact that I was passed on numerous occasions my car loads of VIPS in the right hand lane travelling at good speed!!!

Thankfully, these traffic problems have been sorted out in recent years as far as I can see, but there are still many things that could be done to improve the show and prevent the kind of needless frustration seen at this years show.

As you are aware the RIAT is the only place in the UK to see American flying participation these days and as such in order to get a good vantage point, I arrived really early in order to pitch a good spot on the flight line.

I was situated centrally, with a good view of the runway just past the point of rotation which would enable some great photo opportunities.

After waiting most of the day to see the B1 and B52 take off, just prior to their departure for display a blue Ford Focus car was driven along the flight line and parked right in my line of sight!

Asking some or the AT Cadets patrolling the flight line whose car it was they said, “I think it belongs to the guy doing the videoing at the front of the flight line, but I’m not sure”

Bloody great was my thoughts—see attached photographs to see what I mean.

This totally ruined mine and numerous other people’s views of the flight line, and I felt totally frustrated as to what to do. Numerous requests to the ATC people fell on deaf ears, and as such, I ended up missing the take off of the B1 and B52.

(Thanks to whoever owns the car—NOT!)

Also, I appreciate the need to have flight line patrols by the ATC, but I feel that whilst major show items are taking off and landing then these people should sit down out of peoples view! After all we have paid to SEE the show not just to be there.

This did not happen and again, I was found having my view blocked by numerous people just standing around for ages right on front of me.

I started asking myself the question “Why bother paying for a Travel Lodge, the night before, getting up early to get a good view, only to have it blocked by other totally inconsiderate people?”

Do the ATC receive strict instructions on this?

I even saw the person “in charge” of the cadets standing for long periods of time just to my left, blocking many peoples view. (See attached photos)

Another point for the organisers to ponder is the positioning and quality of the toilet arrangements.

As stated before I was sitting nearly display centre and each time I required to use the toilet, it required a round trip of walking nearly 30-40 minutes!

Not only that, the condition of the toilets were, as usual inexcusable.

Most of the sinks had no water or soap at all, and posed a considerable health risk when considering the temperatures encountered on the weekend in question.

The physical size of the toilets was also a problem.

I am six feet tall and consider the toilets you provided to be totally inadequate for a show of this size and quality.

When entering the cubicle;

There was nowhere to hang any bags you were carrying (in my case a small rucksack containing food etc… and a camera bag.
When trying to actually get into these cubicles, I found it very difficult to even have the space to close the door behind me because the damn thing was so small!
There was no toilet paper on one occasion also.

Why select this kind of cubicle? There is hardly a need to save space on an airbase of this size and with the cost of getting into the show, the organisation is hardly in a position whereby an upgrade to the toileting facilities would make much of a dent in the purse strings.

I have visited numerous shows this year, namely Waddington, Duxford and the Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate and found the arrangements at Waddington adequate, but at Duxford and The GYS fantastic and very clean and spacious.

Why do the RIAT organisers not contact these shows for advice regarding their suppliers/providers?

I felt like a second class person despite the fact the show these days, with transport, accommodation, food and entry costs me around £200.00p for the weekend.

(Show entry: £30, programme: £7, fuel: £60, accommodation and food: £90)

These funds are not spent lightly and I expect an uninterrupted view if I am going to all the trouble to bother. (See a typical photo below)

Why don’t the show organisers take a leaf out of the book of the now defunct Mildenhall Air Fete, whose opening statement in their FREE programme, said:

“we consider the person who pays at the door to be the VIP” and as such provide them with the best view and facilities around, making sure that such things as public address system posts, dignitaries tents and fairgrounds etc… are all set back from the flight line, to enable the people who have paid to actually get what they have

paid for—a good entertaining day out!

I hope things are sorted as I am seriously considering not bothering coming to the show any more and attending other shows instead, due to the cost and poor service at this years show. I know I have thought this before after the traffic problems, but I really do hope things will change for the better; otherwise you will have lost the support of a seasoned air show attendee forever.