Death of the Airshow

Has anyone visited the airshows at Shuttleworth recently? Not all the airshows are in massive decline, just show your support for the shows and keep attending with a bit of luck and time after a safe season the CAA may actually talk with the airshow organisers and some changes may be able to be negotiated, please don’t write things off yet.

Steve

M11 To Stansted ,M25,London etc to Gatwick/Heathrow.Mustn’t forget the Korean plane at Stansted ,Kegworth but hey ,money talks.

The proximity of the airfield to both the M11 and Stansted makes it difficult for North Weald to host a full on airshow sadly.

And the proximity to Duxford and the M11?

North Weald probably has some very valid reason why they don’t have one anymore – I am sure I have seen some reason somewhere but it escapes me at the moment

The proximity of the airfield to both the M11 and Stansted makes it difficult for North Weald to host a full on airshow sadly.

I think most miss Mildenhall, but my favourite was Bentwaters. There always seemed to be a friendly atmosphere there.
Even my local show at Southend was better than most seaside shows today. Probably because of the RAF content, as well
as aircraft flying in from Mildenhall’s show to perform on the seafront.

RIAT was at Cottesmore two years running due to resurfacing at Fairford. 10 – 15 years ago?

Regarding loss of venues:
Wasn’t Boscombe – the ATI – a replacement for the IAT due to change of venue for one year only (Fairford runway resurfacing?),

Yes: I think (from memory) the Air Tattoo went from Greenham to Fairford to Bournemouth to Boscombe and then Fairford (or combination of the above)?

But loads of airshows have both come and gone: Bassingbourn I recall as only ever a one-off and those ‘At Home’ or ‘BoB’ Days were only going to stay as long as the airfields which supported them. Ditto the Armed Forces Day displays at USAFE stations. None of these are really any big surprise.

I do however miss GVFWE and Kemble.

Ignoring Shoreham for a moment haven’t airshows been slowly dying out anyway?
We have lost Boscombe Down, Abingdon, Mildenhall, North Weald, Biggin Hill (to some extent), West Malling, Middle Wallop, not to mention Seaside Venues.
I bet we could add quite a few more to the list.
Mostly due to costs I suspect.

The airshow scene has been dying out for many reasons, not least the draw down of our military services, closure of military airfields and civil ones alike. Increase in insurance/liabilities too. Gone are the days of numerous squadrons of one type or another, let alone the loss of the variety of types now flown by our military. Overseas forces are experiencing similar budgetary pressures as ours are.

Regarding loss of venues:
Wasn’t Boscombe -the ATI – a replacement for the IAT due to change of venue for one year only (Fairford runway resurfacing?),
Abingdon closed as an RAF station and although not of the same size or stature it DOES still have a show every year – mostly due to one man’s desire to keep something there alive,
West Malling was closed and destroyed as an airfield,
North Weald probably has some very valid reason why they don’t have one anymore – I am sure I have seen some reason somewhere but it escapes me at the moment,
Biggin still has a show – albeit in a slightly different form than days of old – I believe there was talk of it being abandoned years ago but somefolks banded together to keep it going and…
Middle Wallop I should think is also due to shrinkage of armed forces and budgetary restraints – isn’t helicopter training now a PFI/contracted out thing these days placing extra financial burdens on the station/squadrons?

Ignoring Shoreham for a moment haven’t airshows been slowly dying out anyway?
We have lost Boscombe Down, Abingdon, Mildenhall, North Weald, Biggin Hill (to some extent), West Malling, Middle Wallop, not to mention Seaside Venues.
I bet we could add quite a few more to the list.
Mostly due to costs I suspect.

Interesting and valid point in my opinion with regards to modern Military Aircraft and the scale of airshows. The world was very much a different place in the 80’s/90’s when NATO was larger and we were in the latter stages of the cold war. I remember going to Fairford and seeing rows of Hercs and KC135’s. Modern warfare/cost cuts etc have certainly reduced Airshow scale as i see it.

However on a positive there are certainly more warbirds flying now then back then (which ofcourse on the whole bar sponsors are operated by passionate private operators). The new CAA changes challenge these operators due to the rising costs/regulations which inevitably will reduce the number of private operators i predict.

We all love aviation and im sure most of you like me appreciate the mere sight of a Jet or Warbird regardless of aerobatics or numbers of aircraft. However the world is now a different place so i guess we must accept the above, but continue to attend and support our Airshow community to ensure it does not reduce…reduce die forever. I will stay positive and hope that the CAA will see common sense after a season of exposure of the new regs and reduce costs/regs to support the operators and environment.

Some of the smaller ,fly in types are usually fund raisers for various charities.They are being hit hard by the CAA rules.I believe alot of the sea side displays are funded by local councils and businesses ,tourism etc.

Most airshows in the UK are private operators mainly,very little RAF participation now 🙁 mostly warbird owners.

In France the Armée de L’Air shows are organised by a charitable organisation FOSA (La Fondation des Oeuvres Sociales de l’Air.) in conjunction with the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The profits go to support the work of the charity which deals principally with the civilian and military aviation communities.
I don’t know about the Netherlands, but I presume the state shoulders the cost of the RNAF principle airshow each year. Hence the free entry.

This is I think because they believe that the taxpayers have a right to see how their money is spent without having to pay a lot more money to do so!

Most airshows in the UK are private operators mainly,very little RAF participation now 🙁 mostly warbird owners.

Come to Europe.
Air shows in Europe have other advantages as well. Not only are they now more interesting, they are also cheaper. I drove from my home in France to Leeuwarden, Holland, last weekend. One of the best shows I’ve seen in spite of the weather; and it was FREE. Airshows in my native France are also relatively inexpensive. There are three Armée de L’Air shows per year where the price for adults is 10€ and for older youngsters, 5€. This is I think because they believe that the taxpayers have a right to see how their money is spent without having to pay a lot more money to do so!

At some stage the scales will fall from the unbelievers eyes. The writing – as they say – is well and truly on the walls. The “Air Show” – as such – will very soon replicate Monty Python’s Norwegian Blue Parrot!! I regret this (having done many of the early “Greenhams) but a significant number of those in the air, and/or those on the ground doing what they should (or should not) have done for those in the air, have – unfortunately – sealed the Air Show’s fate. It would probably have been so regardless of the increasing resort to M’learned Gents and their exceptionally renumerative litigation!
Sadly,
Resmoroh

Ignoring Shoreham for a moment haven’t airshows been slowly dying out anyway?
We have lost Boscombe Down, Abingdon, Mildenhall, North Weald, Biggin Hill (to some extent), West Malling, Middle Wallop, not to mention Seaside Venues.
I bet we could add quite a few more to the list.
Mostly due to costs I suspect.

I’m going to RIAT and camping on the site adjoining the perimeter fence.
There is normally a host of local fields occupied by camping or visitors opposite the official crowd line, in fact one of the usual official viewing areas is on the airfield site but opposite the grandstand crowd line.
I’m assuming that this area will now be clear, and that all local residents who rent out their fields will not be permitted to do so?

By the state of ticket availability, it looks like airshows are not dead just yet…..

One Day Tickets
Friday 8 July – AVAILABLE
Saturday 9 July – SOLD OUT
Sunday 10 July – AVAILABLE

2 Day Tickets
Friday 8 + Saturday 9 – SOLD OUT
Friday 8 + Sunday 10 – AVAILABLE
Saturday 9 + Sunday 10 – SOLD OUT

3 Day Ticket
Friday 8 + Saturday 9 + Sunday 10 – SOLD OUT

Yes , I’m having to go to RIAT on the Friday so I can make room for legends on the Sunday . One reason I am fed up with FIA bumping RIAT off its traditional weekend.

Airshows may not yet be dead, but civilian run shows are on Life Support.

Ignore the ‘Revised’ rules but the full Cost Increases applied by the CAA have yet to bite. A large show: £2000 to £20,000 ….!!

Seems Fairford is sold out as the enthusiasts have seen the Death Notice in Draft form!! (Although Military shows are run by the Military)

I’m going to RIAT and camping on the site adjoining the perimeter fence.
There is normally a host of local fields occupied by camping or visitors opposite the official crowd line, in fact one of the usual official viewing areas is on the airfield site but opposite the grandstand crowd line.
I’m assuming that this area will now be clear, and that all local residents who rent out their fields will not be permitted to do so?

By the state of ticket availability, it looks like airshows are not dead just yet…..

One Day Tickets
Friday 8 July – AVAILABLE
Saturday 9 July – SOLD OUT
Sunday 10 July – AVAILABLE

2 Day Tickets
Friday 8 + Saturday 9 – SOLD OUT
Friday 8 + Sunday 10 – AVAILABLE
Saturday 9 + Sunday 10 – SOLD OUT

3 Day Ticket
Friday 8 + Saturday 9 + Sunday 10 – SOLD OUT

Difference is with Shoreham those that died were not participating in the show, be it crowd or otherwise, your ticket waives your rights as it states at your own risk etc.. The TT they were participating, same with football crowds.

However you could argue the same when an airliner goes into a block of flats or a hotel, a helicopter into a night club, or a bin wagon takes out members of the public… You do not see added restrictions placed on them. Similar with the 737 rudder issues, after several crashes and deaths they should in my eyes have been grounded until redesigned and fixed….. Never happened

:applause:

T J

Not the death of the airshow , a review of rules and tightening up of existing ones. I have seen several accidents at shows which were avoidable and also several near misses where lives were nearly lost. Operating at low level and in some cases flying close to the edge of control increases risk. It will take time for aircrew and organisers to settle in to the changes and there is nothing to stop further reviews if flying has been in some cases been made riskier as claimed by some aircrew.Meanwhile most of the public will still attend.