Air Fete to rise from the ashes?

It’s not particularly special the rest of the time :rolleyes:

Moggy

Very true but Friday I utterly hate mind you I finish early enough for it not to be rush hour most of the time…

God Brandon on Friday afternoons – terrible!!!

It’s not particularly special the rest of the time :rolleyes:

Moggy

God Brandon on Friday afternoons – terrible!!!
It would be good to have an event back at either here or the Hall…

I’m on that stretch every morning (Wangford Fen > Eriswell) – what do you drive?

Moggy

1.6 Escort (However I only use that route when the A11 through Thetford Forest is jammed out (then cut back on the Brandon Thetford road), which seems to be every time I use it (Which is mainly on Fridays and Sundays evenings)). Of course the main gate at Lakenheath has traffic lights on the 1065, which where never there in the 1980’s when I used that road to get up to West Raynham.

An increase in accidents and fatalities during recent years has led to two more roads in the local area being added to the local no-passing policy.

“The roads have been added because of several recent accidents along these ‘new’ roads,” said Lt. Col. Gary Slack, 100th Air Refueling Wing Safety Office chief. “In two cases, we had accidents where cars driven by members from RAF Mildenhall and Lakenheath were driven off the road by people trying to pass. The roads are really too narrow, and have been identified as being too dangerous to be passing on.”

The policy itself was put in place in 2003, after the base suffered a number of fatalities along the A-1101.

“Wing leadership is convinced that it has saved lives, and believes we would have had significantly more accidents if the no-passing policy was not in place,” said Colonel Slack, adding that he advises people to slow down rather than risk an accident.

“If you pass, you’re not going get to your destination any quicker,” he said. “When you’re coming onto base, you’ve still got to go through the traffic lights and ID check point. It’s simply not worth risking your life, or the lives of the people you’re overtaking. If you feel like you’re going to be late, call your office and let them know. And try leaving a little earlier next time.”

The no-passing policy applies to everyone assigned to the 100th ARW, partner units on RAF Mildenhall (and RAF Lakenheath and Feltwell), and their dependents who hold a U.S. Air Forces in Europe Form 374 Driving Permit.

The only exception is for slow-moving vehicles. A slow-moving vehicle is defined as any vehicle traveling less than 30 mph. When passing slow-moving vehicles, drivers have the responsibility to do so, only where passing is safe and authorized by British traffic laws.

“My wife and I have been assigned at RAF Mildenhall for more than two years,” said Capt. Aaron Brooks, 100th ARW executive officer. “At first, getting used to the narrow, winding roads prevalent in the local area naturally made us more careful in our driving habits.

“Because we all eventually get more used to the differing road conditions here in the United Kingdom, it’s important for us to remember that most accidents occur amongst those who’ve been driving in the area for a while,” he added. “The no-passing policy is meant to keep those of us in check, who think we’ve got the United Kingdom’s roads figured out.”

If other base members see people passing on any of the roads, they can use the safety-spotter program, which can be found on both the RAF Mildenhall and Lakenheath Intranet Web site.

The report initially goes to the wing safety office, which checks the license plates with the 100th Security Forces Squadron. The information is then referred to the commander of the identified person for action.

Any driver who violates the no-passing policy faces appropriate action under Mildenhall Instruction 31-204, Installation Traffic Code, Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, or other lawful authority. This may include revocation of USAFE Form 374 driving privileges.

Moggy

That must explain how slow it is to get from Brandon to Barton Mills on the A1065 nowadays, Loads of slow moving Yanks out of Lakenheath. 😮

I’m on that stretch every morning (Wangford Fen > Eriswell) – what do you drive?

Moggy

By coincidence I just found this as a bookmark in my copy of ‘The Encyclopedia of Modern Warplanes’, how did we cope with the boredom of it all.
I was interested to note the ban on roller skating, I seem to remember the base kids and some of the US personel bombing about on roller blades all the time, perhaps someone went out of control and ended up in one of those dustbins full of iced Bud.
Wasn’t that the year when the F-117 got stuck in the mud when it was being towed from the static park to the hangar on the Saturday evening.

As much as I too would like the Fete to return…. It just ain’t gonna happen, Sorry. Paul

Good to see another jaded realist, (same as me good self ! :diablo: ).

Bentwaters, Alconbury, Lakenheath, Weathersfield & Chicksands are all U.S.A.F. shows that I used to regularly ride to on my beloved Jap ‘Classic’ bikes with various mates, on similar machinery…… all of them lament the passing of these events.
And, like me, they realise you’ve got more chance of being bitten by Adolf’s Alsatian ‘Blondie’, then attending another ‘Yank’ event like ‘the good old days’.

Dream on 😎 .

It is better since they’ve been banned from overtaking anything other than agricultural vehicles within x miles of the base.

Moggy

That must explain how slow it is to get from Brandon to Barton Mills on the A1065 nowadays, Loads of slow moving Yanks out of Lakenheath. 😮

As much as I too would like the Fete to return I see more chance of ME winning the Loto on a Triple Rollover!
It just ain’t gonna happen, Sorry.

Paul

Seriously though, what are the chances of this really happening, am I allowed to hold my breath for a brief or long period. I have to say that Air Fete was one of the few airshows that were really good fun for both enthusiasts and Mr and Mrs Family, apart from the dogs, always a ridiculous situation allowing them in, I have 2 myself, but however brave my Jack Russell is, (and he has Rotties for breakfast), I wouldn’t dream of forcing the poor little sod to experience a B-1 wing back flyby.
I recall on an earlier thread by Moggy, that he was concerned, as the organisers carry on by almost Royal accesion, that the will to put the thing on would go out of the window.
C’mon chaps lets get on down and make this thing happen, book the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels for next May and start shipping in the Polish sausage, you know the public will respond.
There must be someone from the Hall tuned into this site, lets hear what they have to say, wer’e missing a great Anglo-American institution here and we need to get back to normality, stuff the terrorists, you’re letting them win, I’ll volunteer to search the cars and give suspicious looking people a good kicking.
I hope that your information has substance Moggy, as I’m cleaning my lenses in anticipation already.

It is better since they’ve been banned from overtaking anything other than agricultural vehicles within x miles of the base.

Moggy

When they’re not killing themselves and the locals on the roads, that is.

This used to be a common Headline on BBC Look East when I was at West Raynham back in the 1980s ‘Another American airman has been killed on the A45’ 😮

I bet the display would be welcomed by the locals again,or would it?

Yes.

By and large the locals around here welcome the American presence, both for the inflow of business, and because they are mostly great people and an asset to the area.

Moggy

I look forward to it ,but having every car searched could take a while getting everyone in.
Roll on the burgers and beer,i bet the display would be welcomed by the locals again,or would it LOL.

There will be hordes of freeloaders down the farm tracks at Beck Row….
Gotta put a ‘Yank in the Tank’ though….I can taste the burgers now..

I look forward to it ,but having every car searched could take a while getting everyone in.
Roll on the burgers and beer,i bet the display would be welcomed by the locals again,or would it LOL.

but none of these terrorist scum have stopped Waddington or Leuchars

They most likely don’t known where Waddington or Leuchars are located or even care :rolleyes: , However the chance to put some explosive egg in the face of the Yanks is most likely a very different matter (got to remember the Yanks are not as accustomed to the Terrorist Threat as we were in the UK).

Won’t Concorde be line astern?

Followed by a EE Lightning or two :diablo: :diablo: :diablo:

Won’t Concorde be line astern?

Sorry, I’ll get my coat 😉

Please, bring it back (the Air Fete, I mean)

Can’t find anything on the Radio Suffolk website, however rumour has it that headlining the first show will be the B-2 Spirit flying in formation with the Vulcan.

Dont think that’s going to happen anyway, even if there is a return of the Air Fete :diablo: