Flying into airshows – still possible?

Speaking only as a visitor not a pilot surely it is difficult on many airfields to accommodate numbers of visiting private aircraft on the display side of the airfield because that is where the flying and static aircraft are located and manoeuvre. I suppose the larger the field the easier it might be, but even so I can accept that there will be complications.

When I pointed out that visiting pilots were effectively grounded once they had taken one sip of alcoholic beverage, all I got was a blank look.
No one had thought of that.

Possibly because it isn’t actually true? Though maybe the situation differs in NZ.

There are no official alcohol limits for the pilot of his own light aircraft. He/she is free to sip and fly if they wish. (UK)

Whether it is wise is a totally different matter.

Moggy

I regularly fly my own aircraft to various airshows.

I do have one major gripe. The shows organizers invariably locate the visiting aircraft park right underneath the flying display area. This means that you must park your aircraft away on the far distant side of the airfield and (even more irritating) carry everything you might possibly need during the day away with you when you leave the aircraft.
Those who drive their cars to the show can return to their vehicle during the day to drop off or pick up gear, shelter from the rain, or even leave whenever they desire. We poor muggins who fly-in are stranded from the time the show starts to the time the show finishes, as the aircraft park is out of bounds while the display is on.

I have complained about this ad nausem, but with no result.

To top it off, we had one airshow where the food section was fenced off. Due to some quirk in the liquor laws, you had to buy an empty wine glass to enter this area, as you could then get ‘free’ wine with your food (they could not charge for the wine, but could charge for the glass).
When I pointed out that visiting pilots were effectively grounded once they had taken one sip of alcoholic beverage, all I got was a blank look.
No one had thought of that.

Oshkosh is the answer! 🙂

Ah, that would explain it! Thanks Chris!

Will have to keep looking for a good aviation birthday present!

The main stumbling block, as Will J has said, is the A to B licence. I do a bit of loading with Classic Wings and we had to relinquish the A to B ticket as it was just too expensive. You would really need a scheduled or regular service to justify it and that ain’t going to happen. What is legitimate is to charter the aircraft from it’s base, fly it empty to your airfield, fly locally and then fly (empty) back to it’s base. Daft but there it is.

Yes, Tango Mike and I go back twenty-seven years!

Another Classic Flight aircraft is also very significant; I made my first flight in Prentice PJB in at Sywell in 1975!

Looks like my father and I might be attending Sywell 2012!

Thanks for responses so far!

Hi Dragon Rapide,

Air Atlantique still operate Rapides G-AIDL and G-AGTM (an old friend of yours?), a Prentice and a Chipmunk on everyday pleasure flying duties.

As things stand the aircraft are only available for A-A pleasure flights as opposed to A-B excursions, but in terms of such activities appearing on the schedule again, I am sure it is a case of ‘never say never’.

I’d recommend calling the office in Coventry on 02476 88 2616 and speak to Trevor Bailey. A wider range of flying opportunities are possible with Classic Flight Club membership.

Will (Air Atlantique/AIRBASE volunteer)

Still possible, Air Atlantique or Classic Wings with their Rapide’s will be the best bet. At the last Sywell show we had Air Atlantique there with the Rapide and I hope they will be with us again next year on August 19th, maybe you could do somthing then 🙂

I know Air Atlantique do still do this to some shows, and of course the Newcastle jet provost group does for its social members.

Neil