Cockpit-Fest 2017 – 17th & 18th June 2017

I love that Rob!
Regarding Ken, I know how much he did and still does. His support for the independents and Shed Boyz and Galz is legendary!

As I think I have posted before we should not underestimate the huge level of support that Ken Ellis provided to Cockpit-Fest while editor of FlyPast, and also the support that he continues to provide. :eagerness:

Just for information, post-event I sent out a Cockpit-Fest report to 37 media contacts around the world. Some web-based reports have been published on various sites; but not many in print based titles. 🙁

Yep I’ll third that, p!ss poor were the words that sprang to my mind. Shame really!

Although looking on the bright side, Mr D, I think I’ve just found your Picasso replacement.

Rob[ATTACH=CONFIG]255207[/ATTACH]

Just read the ‘coverage’ of Cockpitfest 2017 in latest (sept) edition of Flypast. Disappointing is an understatement! A few words and one small photo. This ‘grass roots’ aviation heritage event used to be sponsored by Flypast and was also covered very well. Now it has slipped to just a small footnote.

Maybe I’m just getting old, but when Flypast first hit the scene in the 80s it catered for true aviation heritage from the big museums and operators down to shed guys and gals. Regular features on aviation archaeology, small museums, access to areas we did not normally get to see and coverage of grass roots aviation…the stuff the guys in the sheds did, small events. It was a breath of fresh air….something different to the more staid, word heavy times like Aeroplane used to be. I would go back to my copies time and time again. Now they come thru the door, are read in an hour and recycled via the museum. I have bought almost every copy from the first ever one. Hey ho, I guess time moves on, but I cannot be the only person who was fired by those early copies? I was in my late teens and the flames of my passion were fanned by Flypast.

Totally agree with you Tony on the Cockpit fest coverage.

Just read the ‘coverage’ of Cockpitfest 2017 in latest (sept) edition of Flypast. Disappointing is an understatement! A few words and one small photo. This ‘grass roots’ aviation heritage event used to be sponsored by Flypast and was also covered very well. Now it has slipped to just a small footnote.

Maybe I’m just getting old, but when Flypast first hit the scene in the 80s it catered for true aviation heritage from the big museums and operators down to shed guys and gals. Regular features on aviation archaeology, small museums, access to areas we did not normally get to see and coverage of grass roots aviation…the stuff the guys in the sheds did, small events. It was a breath of fresh air….something different to the more staid, word heavy times like Aeroplane used to be. I would go back to my copies time and time again. Now they come thru the door, are read in an hour and recycled via the museum. I have bought almost every copy from the first ever one. Hey ho, I guess time moves on, but I cannot be the only person who was fired by those early copies? I was in my late teens and the flames of my passion were fanned by Flypast.

FS, the poor old Picasso is having age related issues! She has done 175k now. Next year I will probably hire a van for the exhibits! Loved all the displays and pits….it was my 18th Cockpitfest in 17 years. Yep every one of them. I have taken to listing my exhibits for each year on a display. Some of the visitors I have chatted to every year. Great fun!

Any good aerojumble acquisitions anyone ?

We exhibited in hangar 2 as usual, and we really liked the new layout for Aeroboot etc. It was the hotest Cockpitfest ever! Aeroboot had some excellent bits on offer, we picked up 2 Helmets, a Sarbe beacon, Russian KM16 mask RAF MK4 grey suit (Tony, sorry you boiled over, reckon your car decides to throw a wobbly for this event like it did in 2016? Hope you sort it ok)

We had 3 days of wall to wall laughs, some very interesting conversations, and as ever, so nice to catch up with all of our buddies and the staff at NAM.

We would just like to say a massive thanks to all of you at NAM for all the hard work you put in to make it possible, the Saturday evening social was very much appreciated. Colin I thought you were going to melt on Sunday afternoon! Here’s to Cockpitfest 2018!

Newark…..:highly_amused::very_drunk: you are the best! xxx

Overall NAM was quite pleased with the new format and they are greatly appreciative of everyone’s support. They already have a few ideas themselves but will also be taking on board all feedback received.

Hopefully by the time of the 2018 Cockpit-Fest event the new cafe/toilets should be in operation adjacent to the new event location. As was advised during the prize giving NAM is dealing with a number of operational challenges and is actively engaged in addressing them. One positive was a much improved pack-up process that was much calmer and organised – thanks for helping with that.

Sorry to hear of your travel issues rocketeer.

Still having issues logging on here via pc so subsequent responses might be fragmented, not the best at working the family iPad!

Very very hot. The drive back with Lynx was eventful with the radiator boiling over.

Lots of people about, some interesting conversations, bought a bargain in the boot and was burnt to a crisp in the hottest ever Cockpitfest.

I liked the new layout, it was much easier to find all the cockpits. Heard a couple of sensible suggestions that will be emailed to Howard but these were only minor tweaks.

Not sure about any bargains, but it seemed to be quite busy; from NAM Twitter feed:

“A huge thank you to everyone involved today – our busiest #CockpitFest Saturday ever! 500+ visitors & we’re back again tomorrow http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/Cockpit–Fest_2017 “

Sadly couldn’t make today’s aero boot, any bargains??

The following Aeroboot item is being reported elsewhere for this weekend:

“Slightly later than anticipated, but the first Aeroboot sellers list item has just been added to our website it’s a Chipmunk cockpit from WK640 http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/Summer_Seller_List “

Footnote: further info to be added shortly following logging in here. My time on here is slightly reduced at present due to regular problems with advert content phising attacks! Too much hassle to sort out properly!!

NAM’s Twitter feed reporting a fresh increase in Aeroboot space enquiries and bookings for next weekend’s event that runs alongside Cockpit-Fest.

NAM added a further Cockpit-Fest update to its website yesterday – with more exhibitor bookings now listed!

More details in here.

Via Social Media and other fora, NAM is making the following offer regarding Aeroboot Sellers Listings:

“We are looking to add our traditional ‘Sellers Listing’ page to our website and if any Aeroboot sellers would like to add details you are asked to email them through via the usual contact methods.”

A new listing has just been added to the NAM website that provides a ‘Quick Guide to Cockpit-Fest – as ever details in here!

Another Cockpit-Fest update has just been added to the NAM website, which shows some additional exhibitor bookings have been received!

Full details in here.

All of the Aeroboot/Aerojumble participation passes for the summer sale have been posted out today – still time to book spaces!