Biggin Hill Airport have released the following Press Release this afternoon. I remained to be convinced this will actually happen – a clash with RAF Leuchars Airshow certainly won’t help any aspirations of military participation and there are other factors I believe will have to be resolved before this event could happen.
A new format of an Open House Air Day at Biggin Hill Airport is to replace the traditional International Air Fair with a date set for the first event on Saturday 10th September 2011.
The change will modernise the purpose and performance of the annual air show to reflect the emerging role of Biggin Hill as a Business & General Aviation Aerospace Centre with an increasingly global reach. A special Youth Day activity is also planned, linking with the projected Aerospace Academy and focussing on the range of new jobs available with the growing number of specialist companies based at the airport.
The world-renowned heritage of RAF Biggin Hill will be fully recognised and symbolised with displays by WWII aircraft and appropriate military participation. The outline programme, still in the early planning stages, will incorporate the best of 21st century aviation by putting the daily life of the airport on show balanced with music, heritage flying and special performances by the flying Services. The occasion will be fully open to the public.
In the longer term, airport management are planning the establishment of a WWII Heritage Centre alongside the 1940 blast pens that provided protection for Hurricane and Spitfire fighters when the airfield was under enemy attack. An original WWII pilot’s crew room at the site is to be refurbished with the help of RAF volunteers and this, together with other historic items, is planned for launch in September 2012 at the Open House Air Day that will follow the London Olympics of that year.
Air Days at Biggin Hill will be managed by the airport team with external contractors providing specialist services such as public enclosure facilities and traffic management.
Andrew Walters, Chairman of Biggin Hill Airport, says that the new format will enable a more direct relationship with the local community on an annual basis while at the same time sustaining the valued heritage of RAF Biggin Hill that is known and recognised around the world.
“Jock Maitland, his son Jim and Colin Hitchins in more recent years, have promoted and presided over a magnificent air show for almost half a century. But now is time for change, putting the community first and giving us the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to them” he says.
“An Open House Air Day will enhance the fellowship of companies working at the airport and provide an opportunity for them to project to the public. It is also planned to attract young people to the airport as a source of recruitment for worthwhile careers in the exciting and rewarding business of aviation” Mr Walters adds.
Detailed arrangements for the first of the new series of Air Days, now set for September 2011, will be worked up during this autumn and further announcements made as plans develop.
By: The Bump - 9th October 2010 at 16:43
There is a fair chance that the majority of Biggins typical airshow crowd ie, the families will know nothing about this ditching of the airshow proper, this group far outnumber the enthusiast portion of BH’s crowd and maybe don’t access the aviation websites.
Big mistake by the bosses at Biggin, in my opinion the Air Fair was the best show of the year if variety of display items was the judging criteria.
I typically attend about 8 shows a year, and Biggin is there with Flying Legends and RIAT in my ‘absolutely must book hols from work’ list.
I know us enthusiasts can be stubborn and resistant to change, but we arent talking about an event that was making a loss, there was a lock out a couple of years back due to the huge crowds, and the same would have happened this year but for the World Cup.
Think I’m in denial about this , it hasnt quite sunk in yet…….I effing hate businessmen:mad:
By: NevH - 9th October 2010 at 09:33
I have to say I agree with the foregoing posts here; there’s nothing wrong with the idea of an Open Day on its own, showcasing the work of the airport on a day-to-day basis, including an air element (?the Red Bizjets?), and perhaps allowing tours of the historic parts of the airfield, concluded with a Spitfire solo display (Kent Spitfire perhaps). The timing would sync with the “Heritage Open House” weekend that is held annually around that time.
But how you would combine that with an air show in the traditional sense (and as we have thought of it at Biggin for the past 35 years or so), I’m not so sure. I think there’s a risk that masses of people would turn up expecting something like the usual event and leaving disappointed…unless admission was free?
Which all leaves a bit of a hole in the calendar around late May/early June. What about something elsewhere – you could call it “Fighter Meet” or something….
By: 34053 - 9th October 2010 at 00:09
This is a spectacularly bad idea – I always look forward to this in its current June slot. I think the current format is an excellent one with its mix of old and new and slightly old. Its bound to clash with Goodwood Revival – and I havn’t missed one of those ever!
Messing with something that doesn’t need fixing.
By: Dan Hamblin - 8th October 2010 at 18:56
I think we all know that it is because the current owners (actually it is on lease from the London Borough of Bromley) don’t want to inconvenience their ultra rich business jet customers.
I think the plan to restore the E-Pens and huts on the east side of the airfield are long overdue, but I question how easy it will be to visit them because at the moment there is no public access to that side of the airfield. You can’t even access the old South Camp any more, so it will be interesting to see how they let people visit the east side and when.
I note in one of the local papers the shopowners in the area are saying it is a bad idea because it will reduce their trade.
Regards,
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th October 2010 at 09:36
Hmmmm… could we hire a jet from Biggin Hill on that day to fly to a proper airshow – RAF Leuchars??? :diablo:
By: scotavia - 8th October 2010 at 09:34
I think the reference to RAF volunteers is suspect, these days there is little time available to volunteer although the word is very popular at the moment.
The former organisers of the air fair had made a very very difficult task look easy and any newcomers will have a big challenge to organise a reasonable show.
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th October 2010 at 09:10
I remember seeing private jets and the like at airshows at Biggin Hill in the early 70’s so I don’t see that as too much of a problem. Just so long as there won’t be NO airshow at all.
Tony
Tony, I would not put your shirt on that one…..!!
Agree the press statement is certainly a wonderful example of “management speak” cobbled together by some graduate in public relations.
Planemike
By: Tony at BH - 7th October 2010 at 21:57
I remember seeing private jets and the like at airshows at Biggin Hill in the early 70’s so I don’t see that as too much of a problem. Just so long as there won’t be NO airshow at all.
Tony
By: The Bump - 7th October 2010 at 20:45
Translated by Babble-fish this means:
“Come and see how brilliantly we manage South London Interstellar Airport (formerly Biggin-something -or-other). Oh, and you pathetic lot interested in historic aircraft go and sit in that hut we’ve saved for you at great expense and we’ll see if we can get something to fly past should there be a gap in our fantastic business traffic”.
🙁
That about sums it up.
Biz jets???…….wow exciting:rolleyes:
By: forester - 7th October 2010 at 19:31
Translated by Babble-fish this means:
“Come and see how brilliantly we manage South London Interstellar Airport (formerly Biggin-something -or-other). Oh, and you pathetic lot interested in historic aircraft go and sit in that hut we’ve saved for you at great expense and we’ll see if we can get something to fly past should there be a gap in our fantastic business traffic”.
🙁
Sign In
October 7, 2010 at 3:49 pm