Biggin

Increase in visitors

The increase has alot to do with the number of hard-core enthusiasts who travel further afield to a show – as many local smaller shows have since disappeared. I spoke with one family who left at 5am from the other side of Yeovil to get to Biggin!!!

An increase in fuel costs (despite the aviation industry being quite resilient to any economic slowdown) and greater number of retailers hit hard does not bode well for show organisers. If people don’t buy space for a stall, then the organisers have less budget for a good show and many have disappeared because of it. Plus (and quite rightfully) many vintage types charge more for appearances, so again putting a show on is jolly hard work.

Secondly air traffic is almost twice as busy than it was 10 years ago and many smaller airfields have too many restrictions to carry on each year. Not to mention the growing desire from locals to ban all airshows for fear of accidents.

Jock and his team at Biggin are absolutely fantastic people. Their commitment to the show is truely outstanding and they deserve 200,000 next year – might have to move the crowdline foward again – thats no bad thing.

Maybe they should should put pilots/press and hospitality over by the control tower – I am sure they did one year because I got my best Biggin photos with the sun on my back!!!!

Here is to Biggin – the best show by far.

3 B17’s at Legends is also pretty cool!

Biggin Hill attendance figures

Just seen in my local News Shopper the figures for the show last weekend

Around 120,000 attended over the two days with 70,000 squeezed in on the Sunday. This compares with 95,000 in 2007 and 70,000 in 2006.

The weather has been kind since around 2004 from memory so this obviously helps, but this is a dramatic increase in numbers over two years.

Maybe it is just down to wider publicity than in previous years. Has to help having a TV channel and local radio station as sponsors

I arrived just after 8am and, perhaps unsurprisingly, experienced no problems – BUT, space at the crowdline was almost all gone, certainly left of the commentary tower which amazed me (especially as the gates weren’t even supposed to open until 8.30am). I hung around until about 6.45 before leaving, and got out fairly cleanly. Makes for a pretty long day though. It’s certainly been getting busier for the last three years. I may give it a miss next time and find a quieter show. Probably not though.

As far as the display was concerned, I thought it was pretty packed. The major disappointment for me was the Vimy – there didn’t seem to be a word about why it wasn’t there. That said, I enjoyed the variety (when I want warbirds, warbirds and more warbirds I go to Duxford). The Blades get better every year, the Breitlings were good as ever, and the RAF role demonstration was I thought much improved on last year. The vintage stuff was fairly varied, the DC6 being a highlight. The Hunter and Meteor were good too, not a mix I’ve seen before and different to your parade of Spits and Stangs. The Bleriot was delightful. I have a new admiration for anyone who would willingly fly across the Channel in something so delicate and obviously at the whim of every zephyr!

It’s nice to have the freedom to do what you want, but not all of us can just set off whenever suits us best or have the time to hang about for hours afterwards as there are family, business and many other obligations that intrude! As the last posting points out there were considerable differences in the experience this year compared with previous years.

I’ve been attending airshows since the late 1960s and this one had traffic problems as bad as any I’ve ever attended and it was compounded by some of the organisational factors that have been mentioned. One expects a degree of traffic congestion at any large public event and if you can get there in good time to avoid it then you do, but sometimes you just can’t and you do expect that organisers will do their best to reduce the foreseeable problems, but this was not always in evidence at Biggin. As I pointed out some of this was “built in” – ticket pricing that removes as far as possible the faff of giving or running out of change might only make a small difference but little things such as that help immensely in making things run more smoothly.

I can only say if you’ve never experienced traffic problems then you have been exceedingly lucky!

For those of you moaning about getting in all I can say is you should get there earlier. I have never had a problem getting in to any airshow (and I’ve been to well over 100 all around the country in the last 20 years) as I leave early.
A massive well done to the organisers for a cracking display. Best since ’94 and I’ve been going since late 80’s.

That’s fair comment, I agree. In my bachelor/pre-family days I used to do just that, but circumstances this year meant a later morning start. I have laid it on the line that if we go next year, we will arrive for breakfast! On the other hand, we set off at more-or-less the same time last year, and got in no problem, so travel to the event doesn’t have to be a traumatic nightmare if the planning and traffic management goes properly.

As for the quality of the display, I have always thought Biggin offered a good variety, and, despite some key “no-shows” this year, managed to maintain the tradition. With such a broad crowd, including many who reasonably don’t know their elevators from their undercarriage it has to be that way. Anyway, I feel a visit to Old Warden coming on, as the perfect antidote to “big show” syndrome!

I had no problem getting in or out on Saturday. Sunday, no problem getting in although gate entrance through golf course was opened later on the Sunday. As for leaving on Sunday, I just chilled out for about 1.5 hours after show, looked around stalls chatted to pilots and groundcrew. On leaving it took approx 1 hour to reach M25 but was easy going from then on.
For those of you moaning about getting in all I can say is you should get there earlier. I have never had a problem getting in to any airshow (and I’ve been to well over 100 all around the country in the last 20 years) as I leave early.
A massive well done to the organisers for a cracking display. Best since ’94 and I’ve been going since late 80’s.

If it hadn’t been for my Dad spotting a leak on a water main on the S bends near Keston then you would have had even longer tail backs. He got a team out fixing it that Friday afternoon and evening so that the road would be open for the traffic on Saturday morning!

I must admit that the number of cars parking on the roads outside the airfield was really bad this year – I drove through as the BBMF were displaying on Sunday at 2pm (on the way back from racing at Tonbridge) and it was difficult to get through in places. Very little police present, in fact it was two motor bikes and a patrol car! There were also people still going into the airfield at that point.

Regards,

Dan

i went to biggin both days,got in at 10 on saturday but yesterday got stuck on a bus for almost 3 hours!,as for content i thought it was an excellent mix of displays,most enthusiasts would have known that the b-17,swordfish and vulcan would not be there.for me the mirage was the best jet and the dc-6 the best historic display,but plenty of contenders.

Try moving to the UK if you want to see more UK shows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was hardly my point but thanks for the tip. :p

Some very good points.

Biggin is generally a very good display with a nice mix of civil, vintage and modern heavy metal and we are lucky to have such displays here in the UK.

During the 80s/early 90s the traffic used to get very bad and I would generally go on my motorbike to circumvent the worst of it. In recent years however it’s been an easy journey in and out by car, and I generally do come in through the less busy Cudham side. Last year we motored in in our 68 Morris Traveller with a picnic in the back and had a very civilised day and we tried the same again this year but it was not to be! Maybe I should enter in the historic car display!

I was told that there were just 4 exits from the field for all the cars and there was little marshalling of traffic flows. Cars parked haphazardly on the peri track that is used as an access road caused problems when an elderly gentleman became overheated in a car ahead of my brothers and had an angina attack – the ambulance coming to his aid had great difficulty in getting through.

It’s back to the bike for next year for me.

Not to be an ass, but me personally coming from another country, you British does not know how lucky you are when it comes to airshows and all the different a/c types usually attending these shows. So even though the traffic may be a little bit bad on a Sunday afternoon and some of the vintage aircrafts didn’t appear, you should try having one or no airshow a year and see what that’s like. Maybe you will be a little bit more happy with what you get, traffic, parking and no Vulcan included. :rolleyes::D

Rather than reflecting on how lucky we are to have a show – its far better to focus on the waste of kit sitting around and not attending a show. Good examples of crowd pullers: –
Switzerland have a Connie – I have seen it once at a show in the UK! Last at Biggin in 98.
TFC Hawk – yet to appear at Biggin
Gladiator – not been at Biggin for years!
Spitfire gathering – last at Biggin – September show in 2000

Why should we be manipulated to attending one show where we can see these types – Biggin is the longest standing privately run airshow in the UK and we need to make more of the content in the show!

I agree with someone else on the forum – who suggested ‘unexpected fly ins’ rather than hyping over the Vulcan – which was obvious to all NOT READY.
Where did the Vulcan budget get spent on or was is saved on the bottem line!!!?????

Try moving to the UK if you want to see more UK shows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They did seem to struggle with the traffic on both days this year, maybe not surprising on the Sunday as it was a ‘full house’ for apparently the first time in the events history(?) and the gates had to be closed. Last year saw record crowds over the 2 days and I had no issues at all getting in or out but there were some changes to traffic flow this year – no idea why

Went by bus Saturday and ended up walking from Keston Ponds to the show as nowt moving on the road. Took the nephews Sunday, so took the car and left earlier. Clear all the way until the Kings Arms at Leaves Green and then from there an hour and a half to park up. The traffic looked terrible trying to exit around 6pm back onto the Leaves Green /Keston route so looked for alterative and ended up exiting out to Westerham and then along the A25 to via Brasted. No bad queuing and very nice scenery, just the long way round for me – but stress free.

Regards the show I thought it was great and the content was just about spot on, something for everyone along with plenty of great flying. I thought the Mirage 2000 and the OFMC Spit/Mustang duo with Nigel Lamb and Paul Bonhomme thoroughly deserved their display awards. The DC6 also stood out for me, looked and sounded great and I like the British Eagle scheme.

One final point – as MH434 was in attendance it would have been nice see her close the show – it is tradition after all

Chris

Well my first time and I came in from J4 on the M25 so was caught in the flow system set up which guided us down country lanes some only wide enough for 1 vehicle which was fair enough except some parts had vehicles coming the other way.From arriving at the flow system at 9.15 am to getting in took one and a half hours but we still had plenty of time for a good day and I do feel very sorry for the people that were turned away(heard the event manager on LBC on the way out apologising).We also made a sharp exit before Euro fighter displayed and were thankful we did but for a first time experience I thought the show was fantastic and will definitely return if it is of this standard.I am unaware of the road layout in the surrounding areas but I felt that there was going to be trouble ahead with people leaving at the same time.
My opinion of the entrance fee is pretty much the same maybe £25 should have been charged and children get in free or maybe £20 and children £5.

Not to be an ass, but me personally coming from another country, you British does not know how lucky you are when it comes to airshows and all the different a/c types usually attending these shows. So even though the traffic may be a little bit bad on a Sunday afternoon and some of the vintage aircrafts didn’t appear, you should try having one or no airshow a year and see what that’s like. Maybe you will be a little bit more happy with what you get, traffic, parking and no Vulcan included. :rolleyes::D

True but i feel we need to make the most of the airshows we have, make it a day to rember from the minute you get in the car to the minute you get out.

Better car parking facilities and maybe less promises! In another thread i read that 30 years ago it was a supprise what came up at an airshow and people go to biggin expecting the vulcan and others and bget disapointed. If the organisers didnt say the vulcan will be there etc and it turned up it would be a welcome supprise.

Less publicity about the content and more focuse on the car parking This goes for all airshows
________
WASHINGTON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Not to be an ass, but me personally coming from another country, you British does not know how lucky you are when it comes to airshows and all the different a/c types usually attending these shows. So even though the traffic may be a little bit bad on a Sunday afternoon and some of the vintage aircrafts didn’t appear, you should try having one or no airshow a year and see what that’s like. Maybe you will be a little bit more happy with what you get, traffic, parking and no Vulcan included. :rolleyes::D

Biggin Termoil and content

Hi
I have attended Biggin for around the same length of time and I must agree that it was pretty awful mess outside the gates at around 12 noon on Sunday.

I spoke to a jolly police officer who added that the air display organisers did NOT spend enough money on outside traffic marshalling this year. They did however invest money in a nice pointless ‘gateway’ as you drove into the airfield, but by that time, most motorists were simply thankful that they had arrived and were able to peel themselves out of their cars rather than be impressed by an entrance. Some never made the entrance!

I think Biggin has reduced the number of actual channels into the airfield (especially the walkin area at the main road) and the lanes were blocked because the police allowed cars to drive opposite way/outbound. I would understand it if people lived along those lanes, but some roads like Salt Box had very few houses down them. Even the bus routes should be altered because some lanes were blocked through sheer stupidity of buses trying to pass each other and therefore blocking in everyone for hours!

The organisers should arrange with police to have one-way traffic along the country lanes before the show starts (and like they do at the back of the airfield – Cudham, Downe when the show is over!!).
Silverstone has a oneway system at peak times and the locals don’t care. They accept it and go on holiday that weekend rather than complain.

London bound and Westerham bound traffic were filtering into one lane after the entrance roundabout – absolutely stupid!!!!!

As for the show – well lots of jets, BUT NOT ENOUGH VINTAGE TYPES and quite a few missing aircraft – Seafire, Swordfish, B17, Vulcan, Vimy -pretty much all the stars were not there!! Why do the organisers not have a contingency plan to meet with servicable issues that old aircraft have!
Swordfish, Vimy and Vulcan were almost certain NOT to attend for well over 1month prior to the show and yet many vintage aicraft were simply sitting around not booked but ready to FLY – what a waste!!!!! Let me see – that pointless gateway was the cost of one vintage aircraft to attend Biggin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel pretty cheated especially when I cannot see what the show stars were replaced with!!!? I mean what replaced the vulcan slot? Second appearance per day of the Chinnock???? Its pretty poor.

On a good note the DC-6 was REALLY fantastic, as was B-25, Lancaster, Mrage 2000 and Spity/Mustang duo, but Biggin has lacked really good warbird content since Harry Robins attended with Mosquito etc…
More needs to be done – beacuse everyone I talk to at Biggin – press, the public etc.. all want more vintage aircraft.
PLUS MIX IN the themes like they did years ago. The last hour was just jets, jets and more jets – its BORING AS HELL to group a/c together like this and then the Jet routines create less of an impact!!!!

I agree, the travel situation was totally chaotic. I live in Selsdon, normally 20mins to Biggin, took 2 hours to get inside the gate!! To be perfectly honest, it really soured the day, I was ready to blow my top by the time I got there, and started worrying about how to get out almost immediately.
Coming in from Keston, in the past there has always been a traffic Warden or two or police motorcyclist on duty to merge traffic at bottlenecks, but absolutely none in evidence this year, certainly from 10-Midday. Saw a couple of plods on motorcycles stooging around, but no attempt at traffic management. Apparently there was an accident somewhere “up the road” that caused the gridlock – and the sunny weather and record numbers caused the rest. Apparently they had to close the gates by early afternoon, so a good pay-day for Air Displays International at least (they will be able to afford XH558 next year:D).
As for the displays, yes, some good stuff. I always love the glider displays, and the B25 put on a very spirited display (as did the Mirage 2000). The kids loved the whizzes and bangs of the RAF display. The Vimy seemed to be absent, which was a big shame. At the end of the day, I was glad to get home for a cup of tea, and am in two minds about next year (but let’s face it, will probably go!!).