Seafront Airshows query

The problem is the 230m has to be from the nearest point the public can get to so is often taken from the low tide line. Piers can throw some variables into the equation.

Agree with the comment about Shepway – a truely unique event that’s sorely missed.

Lowestoft show is a reasonable display, i’ll st some pics later from a few years ago later.

And it’s free too.

I would say Margate has to be one of the farthest. Not a bad show considering the ticket price but the display line is too far out for any decent photography unless you have a drainpipe lens for your camera. At a rough guess 300mm would be the minimum suitable for that venue.

I think the main problem with the margate show was the fact that just to the right of the display area there have been building works going on for some years, so since the airshow started the flightline has been further out to compensate for cranes etc. I have found it interesting that no-one is allowed on the beach during the display. But what really annoys me is the way the cliffs are lined with various rides and food stalls, seriously ruining views. Bring back shepway airshow in folkstone, a great vantage point and always was finished off with F-3’s

That would have been a sight worth seeing.

The Red Arrows always perform at Cromer Carnival and they use the end of the pier as their aiming point, I was on the cliffs the last time I saw them strut their stuff and they were very close, I was sure that at some stage they actually overflew the pier.
PS, when they had finished that year and the public dispersed, no-one seemed to notice the incredible sight of a Polish Su19 chased by 2 Jags go screaming by the end of the pier at very low level, they must have flown under the Reds formation on it’s way back to Scampton.

I would say Margate has to be one of the farthest. Not a bad show considering the ticket price but the display line is too far out for any decent photography unless you have a drainpipe lens for your camera. At a rough guess 300mm would be the minimum suitable for that venue.

Jersey was always a good one for “variable” crowdline…….:rolleyes:

Have been on the beach at low tide to see some aircraft come a bit close overhead, and then been up on the roadside to see a Harrier display along the water’s edge at high tide, much to the obvious delight of Ken Ellis who carried on commentating whilst knowing that the seafront crowds were going to get dowsed in water by the Harrier as it bowed before them…. 😀 😀

Technically, ALL civvie displays should have the same crowd to display line distance, it’s just that with some sites, due to local terrain and shape and the local low water mark, the line appears further out.

The maximum line is 230m out from the furthest spectator..

The CAA determine the distance, and the speed of the aircraft and what it’s doing at the time further determines it up to a max of 230 metres

Southend is pretty good and Eastbourne has a flightline just set off the end of the pier so for me its a good one to attend.

I would have said Sunderland is the furthest out, Southend’s not too bad even better if you get the high spots on the cliffs as they fly below you at some points.