Crowd barriers in airshow static parks

This recent thread, http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=119501 neatly illustrates the downside to not having barriers.

I would think that flight safety, personal safety, and security, coupled with the fact that there doesn’t seem to be an awful lot of respect for property these days is the reason for barriers, I think my only gripe with them is that they are often positioned too tightly to the displayed aircraft.

I like barriers especially when placed with the photographer in mind.
I’ve been to airshows in the USA where there were no barriers. Hell of a job to get a good clear photo with people milling around in front.

I’ve also been at a US fly in where aircraft taxied around the crowd, and a visit to a US Military Helicopter base where the helicopters hovered passed, just a few feet away. Was kind of special.

Until we have a common sense approach to injuries i.e. “it’s your fault you walked into the bright orange prop” then we have to have barriers or loose our flyins and shows to the lawyers.

Don’t forget flight safety! Would you feel happy getting into your aircraft knowing that joe public has been prodding it? What if they damaged it? Easy to miss on a pre-flight!

Exactly what happened to the RAF Merlin in Ireland……

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?114863-RAF-Merlin-helicopter-s-door-falls-on-airshow-crowd

Ken

Are people today clueless?

Any thoughts?

I think today’s attitude with a lot of people is that they can go and do what they like. I took an aircraft to a show a few months back for static display with no fences round it and was amazed to see a father putting his young son in the cockpit, quite openly. When challenged, he thought nothing of it.

IMHO Fences all round, you can blame society for the lack of picture opportunities. I think you can also blame ‘elf and safety for cosseting people so much that they are incapable of deciding whats right and whats wrong. :rolleyes:

I think I’ve mentioned it before but my most visceral airshow moment was at Farnborough 1962, standing at the crowd line while 16 Hunters of 92 sqn and 10 Lightnings of 74 Sqn were stood opposite us with engines screaming for about 5 min. before doing a streamed takeoff, with the Lightnings taking off with afterburners blazing over the Hunters. I can still feel it now! And there were press photographers right up at the side of the runway while this was going on; surely their ears must have been permanently damaged.
As regards barriers around the aircraft in the static park, I’ll post some (rotten!) photos in a separate thread of Farnborough 1957. As you’ll see it was practically possible to climb over some of the aircraft (but not the Meteor NF11!) then.
Jim

Then & Now….

One thing that is very noticable is that at Gaydon and Farnborough, during the 1950’s and early ’60’s, the crowdline fence was very close to the edge of the runway….I can remember the Jets doing low passes, very loud, very fast and very low. It was visceral, and – they were all British too….! The static and parked a/c all seemed to be behind, as I recall anyway.
Today, one tends to be much further from the action, added to which, lovely as the parked a/c are, they spoil some of the view of the display if they are out at the front, especially landings and take-offs.
One thing that is different now too, is with all the H&S etc, insurers have minimum requirements too. I also think that damage and tampering was less likely years ago. Today, even airshows can attract some odd types. I’d never dream of leaving an a/c on show without something to provide protection from numpties.

Don’t forget flight safety! Would you feel happy getting into your aircraft knowing that joe public has been prodding it? What if they damaged it? Easy to miss on a pre-flight!

I think it’s a combination of factors, security, Heath & Safety and cost:

1. Security – in the ’60s there was not the terrorsim threat there is today so there was little chance that someone would sabotage and aircraft, basically we were indeed trusted more.

2. The Heath & Safety Act has a lot to answer for! If anyone got injured examining an aircraft at close quarters, there would be claims going in right left and centre!

3. In the 60s, most aircraft were ‘roped off’ if there were operational, although at USAFE Armed Forces Days, they never seemed to have any barriers right up until they finished. The production and cost of hiring in metal barriers must be horrendous and they only really came in after the ’60s.

The best solution, although photographers hate them, is to use cones such as at RIAT and place security personal at strategic locations to ensure no one steps over them.

h&s gone mad with power,as you say a few years ago you just looked(perhaps a little touch) and that was it,but with the out-break of the compensation diesase no one dares the risk of a claim.Look at schools one flake of snow and they close because if anyone slips they are liable,at our school after 6ins of snow we made a slide about 30 odd ft long,and it lasted till it thawed.We had cross country runs about 5mls,unsupervised which was good as we went train-spotting,till half the runners had passed then rejoined the pack,so we would not have to go round again for being last.
Seriously,look at the LAA rally,you pay your fee and are treated as adults “don,t touch anything and use your senses”.

ah well rant over…regards
jack…