Personally I would rather hear a Merlin that what ever engines these RV6/Europa/Long Eze have? As for homebuilts my interest dissapeared when the above became prevelant. You could see the workmanship in a Taylor mono/Isacs Fury/Luton Minor these new kitplanes all look the same.
From year to year FL varies very little . Personally if they parked the interesting visitors( German ex SAAF Harvards, Swiss P2/3’s, Norweigan DC3) crowd side I would go to FL every time. The PFA had the Ok- Morava and LY- An2 this year plus loads of Yaks and it wins over FL every time for sheer numbers.
Personally I do not go to airshows. I went to RIAT this year(first since 1998) and that was it. I go to flyins because I love vintage British aircraft. I go to every Popham event becuase I love the atmosphere. If I go to an event and if any aircraft is miles away I get annoyed.
I did try a few years ago to get limited genuine enthusiast access to the visiting flightline at Duxford. This wold have been between the last visiting aircraft landing and the start of the flying. Sadlly the HSE has taken care of that.
A spotter always has diffrent requirements that the avid warbird/miljets person. I loved Biggin Hill in the late 70’s/early 80’s. All the visiting aircraft crowd side and the hangars open. Sadly this has gone and I will not return to Biggin.
My perfect airshow? Somewhere like Hurn or Southend. All hangars open, a 200+ flyin in the morning with full access. A flying display 12 til 5 with lots of aircraft doing flybys only so I have to stay to get the regs!!!