‘AEROBILIA’ 28 Mar & 14 Sept / Aeroboot Future Pt.1

There is no doubt that Aeroboots in recent years have diminished somewhat and the 2012 October NAM aeroboot was worriedly described as a ‘dealer convention’ by many as far as buyers attendances were concerned. The boot is brought forward by NAM to (hopefully) a better attended one this year although a number of dealers failed to show last year also. Good to see those who attended ‘Aerobilia’ though we were clearly short on public attendance as AM notes. There are many reasons for this and I hope we can all produce some positive debate to get them better attended. We all need aeroboots and have to support them where we can, many of us have been attending for 20 years or more. If one is flagging or struggling to establish itself, then people might begin to leave them and try elsewhere (or not at all) as well as online.

There have been many public comments already this year and last, after some poorly attended aeroboots by both sellers and buyers including the comparatively reduced aeroboot at ‘Cockpit Fest’ 2013 besides the two ‘Aerobilia’ aeroboots to date, as to whether the events are advertised properly (or if at all) in the national press, besides other considerations like conflicting shows/time of year etc.

From what I understand from some online chat earlier this year it seems that the ordinary aeroboots at NAM and the weekend one attached to Cockpit Fest are not advertised nationally, with a concentration on networking, own website, Twitter/Facebook and local newspapers for raising awareness. Though all valid routes to use sellers feel it isn’t working well enough from comments I’ve heard at events. With the end of season aeroboot at NAM being helpfully brought forward this year (a bit too late in the season last year and cold and wet), I’ve heard a number of sellers and buyers say that they are unsure whether to come to certain events in the future as they feel the events seem to be:

1. Under promoted in major aviation/military publication(s), or for too short a period of time in such publication(s), prior to an event, aside from the other mediums given above.
2. They feel this results in the public being fewer in number to make the seller and museum efforts worthwhile, despite online publicity, etc.
3. This is not helped by sellers pulling out of an event also, which as mentioned happened at NAM last October – but the weather may have caused this – some of the problems we face just can’t be helped!

I heard that ‘Aerobilia’ II HAD been promoted in the aviation press but for how long or in what publication(s) I don’t know, but Tony will be looking at promotion again and I’ll do my best to attend again and have designed some promos attached which will hopefully help.

Both NAM & Old Sarum aeroboots alone are well-priced to sellers and in excellent buildings with good amenities and accommodating helpful staff. Both are a long distance to travel for some, but die-hards will always try their best to support such events, whether it is a new one seeking to establish itself as at BDAC or one of the established events at NAM that many of us have long attended. Declining numbers of the general public and buyers/sellers at NAM events in the last few years may also be tied in to a degree with the reduction of Flypasts’ former support for Cockpit Fest despite great sponsorship efforts by NAM management to overcome this, while Old Sarum is obviously still trying to get itself on the map.

As mentioned the main reason I invariably hear on seller’s lips for poor attendance at a boot is that the event is under-publicized. There are undoubtedly other major issues such as fuel costs to such events for some people and the decline in kit generally, but without making more people aware of an event in the first place the public have reduced opportunity to weigh up the pro’s and cons of attending. Without these events however, no one wants to go exclusively to the chancing concerns of eBay wolves and private deals solely – and the major loss of social and face-to-face networking. Having said this so far, museums crucially can only spend so much on promoting an event and budgets are always tight.

Poor signage is an issue also, as being allowed posters to pre-advertise could be a big help – more networking might help here. But planning/bye-law issues with the local council have been a problem at NAM, while it may be the same at ‘Sarum – one seller said that NAM could however, ask to have some space on the roadside front gates where the collector fairs “post no end of posters, as clearly seen by passers-by”. Word of mouth would then help further. Also, newspaper/shopping outlets could be targeted and asked to take a free poster as listed in Pt.2.

Another contact has said that as museums are charities they have to be careful what they spend on advertising as its not ‘their’ event, even though its on their premises – its regarded as being for other people who pay money for pitches and it can’t be seen to be making too much to retain charitable status. While another responder however has said ‘That’s a load of rubbish’, I am assured that a museum isn’t allowed to trade and has to have strict aims and a charitable purpose or a very strong charitable element to it’s activities. Rules & regs and online chat aside, I think a lot of ‘regulars’ to these events might discuss face-to-face with organisers to see what might be done to improve things, if possible after a boot.

Sundays might be better also, as I assumed many people are busy shopping on Saturdays, someone else however says ‘No they can shop weekdays’, but I’m just going by the queues I see in supermarkets on Saturdays. Then again, Sunday is a special family day for many (including wives & girlfriends), while “Some Sundays are wife-sacred”.

Pricing – another suggestion has been to reduce ‘Aerobilia’ public aeroboot/museum admission on the day further to encourage more people through the door – a seller said to me that while he bought some good items at the boot himself, his prime objective was to sell – though plenty of staff were on hand to assist, there was simply minimal public attendance through the door. The seller remarked that due to the variety of items he had for sale, ‘If I’m not selling then something is wrong’. I heard that local newspapers advertising ‘Aerobilia’ had reached approx 170,000 readers, but unfortunately, our side of the collecting sphere is a niche interest, while sadly the majority of local people may simply not be into aircraft and military aviation – hence the need for reaching a wider audience.

Another contact feels that despite websites, magazines and shows etc, “we’re too insular and don’t tell the world about what we do”.

Part 2 to follow.

*be

**ps, speaking of engine oil, I don’t know if this kindness has ever been publicly recognised but I feel it should be. We wouldn’t be able to oil the engines at all had it not been for Risbridger’s kindness in replacing equipment misappropriated several years ago by a ne’er-do-well formerly associated with the team…

***pps current advice from Rolls Royce is that it is perfectly fine to do what we have done. As the manufacturer of the Conway, I’d tend to trust that.

Sorry to hear about the items that went AWOL, last thing you need when you’re making such great strides at the airfield and needing to make every penny count on running and maintaining Lindy, it must have been very disappointing being let down like that. Risbridger were indeed kind to supply a replacement set while Andre’s repaint of the T-Bird Hunter looks lovely. Great shot of the Dak with the jeep, and marvellous to see the Halifax outside – if only the sun had been shining!

TACTILE TREAT

Your Harrier stick display, GOKONE. A tactile treat.

And there was me thinking you two boys were hard at work today. Thx for the kind words and to Tony D for the info on the Harrier Phase 6 stick shortly before I finalised my captions for the Fest – I found that making a display with a ‘paddle’ wood drill (32mm I think) into blocks on a base rather than messing around with broom handles was easier, plus at the block backs you can screw in a hoop for running some chain round them all if you’re ever at a venue you don’t trust.

Plus, the blocks form a vertical facia that you can spray-mount some wording onto card and then Blue-Tac onto the block fronts. I varnished over the grey paint finish first. NB: GLUE the blocks in place first AND nail them later when set from underneath, BEFORE drilling! I agree with Mark re silly Tonka grip prices, I recall at least 5 years ago e-mailing one eBay concern renowned for high prices as to what was being asked for a complete column/loom and was told that an offer of over £600 had been proffered – but it was felt that ‘it was worth more’.

I left it at that point as I had bought an identical stick with loom attached for £120 a month or so before. If some sellers carry on like this then I hope many collectors will continue feeling obliged to leave said wares rotating monthly on eBay ‘shops’ as some sellers also do on their own sites as they clearly aim for new buyers who think such prices are normal. I have a Phantom main canopy in excellent condition and original protective green polythene coating for a Shar 2 column swop if anyone has one but the here’s the display at the ‘Fest in July anyway, can’t find my file with final lettering on it but here’s the info as compiled shortly before the Fest with some amendments due to having more space which I think are correct.

HARRIER GR1
Early grip of the type used in the first flying Harrier of the six development aircraft, XV276.

HARRIER GR3
From Harrier XV790, made redundant on embodiment of mod 1222D.

SEA HARRIER FRS1
Control column of the type used during the Falklands War in 1982. Cable loom runs out of a ‘pipe’ outlet at the rear of the column curve as opposed to an angled hole flush with the column side as on the Phase 6 GR3, or direct from the grip base as on the standard GR3.

HARRIER GR3 (PHASE 6)
Post-Falklands War. Based on grip FRS1 pilots used on their Shars, which the GR3 pilots preferred (no ICO guard at the front).

Farewell, aerobooters & collectors of the Empire, will try to post some more items when I can get at them.

WAR & PEE 2013

The last time I looked it was £13 admission some years ago at the Beltring location and I don’t care how many stalls in a field that allows you access to, I thought that was enough even then – but a single adult entry is now a whopping £18.50 and it seems that organizers feel that they can charge what they like. I can’t recommend that fee to anyone in these times myself.

THE USUAL
I think all the vehicles turn up for free too and a breakdown of turnover and outgoings would be good to see. A major concern is that based on some of the events I’ve been to (and many others I’m sure) we often don’t do big events very well in terms of amenities and certainly not without high prices for some basics usually. I just don’t want to go and see silly prices for food yet again, as at Marham Families Day last year after the RAF were compelled to use a privatized concern who were just too expensive – £7.50 for fish n chips. it makes me very cynical I’m afraid.

I don’t know what the toilet arrangements are like for the public, but based on previous Beltring ‘War and Pee’ experiences as we came to call it and the admission and fuel costs (no way I’ll let the ‘train take the strain” as suggested thank you, bearing in mind our over-priced privatized rip off merchants) I don’t think I’ll ever be going back to this particular show again. Yes you might find something aviation and make it worthwhile but the effort and expense is enough to deter some people at least it seems.

COSTS
One chap in Norfolk said it would be £50-£60 in fuel then the admission cost and then food and drink before he even started thinking about buying, I think these days more people will be conscious of their financial limitations but the real die-hards will still go I’m sure – and good luck to them.

Other costs if agreeable are a jive and swing band live in the V Marquee evening for £15 or a John Miller and his orchestra swing evening with wartime rations for £25.00 – day visitors of course will be heading home while its up to people staying over as to what else they want to fork out more money on.

As an exercise I’ve had one test rail quote of £29.90 from London Bridge (it will almost certainly be more) leaving 05.45am and returning at 19.45pm – just no way in the current hot weather for me thanks. Say £2.10 to get to London Bridge, then the £29.50, then £18.50 admission = £50.10 minimum. Though I need throttles for my Vulcan project I couldn’t justify that just for the hassle of the trains alone and getting up at the time needed let alone traipsing around in extreme heat looking for any treasured bits that might get snapped up beforehand anyway or are too dear to purchase.

Some dealers are staying for a fortnight and paying £150 for private toilets (imagine just 1 week of using public portaloos in hot weather!) and with the high temps we have at present it will be pegs on noses time again if the toilets at Folkestone fail to be emptied when needed as at Beltring in the past. This was especially offensive when downwind of the portaloos in the early 2000’s whilst trying to eat an evening meal, in the days when we did 4-5 days selling there.

Think I’ll do other more enjoyable things like watching the boats go by the panoramic Royal Naval College at Greenwich while sipping an iced ASDA GnT at non-extortionate prices, with a visit to the market and other free museum attractions with a walk in the park. I’ll certainly be keeping cooler and conserving some money (and energy) while not paying silly prices for food and bottled water and…………………

‘FEST-IVE FUN 2

[QUOTE=Yes i know there exists some bitterness (only a small amount) that the stuff in the hanger isn’t ‘cockpits’, and that distracts from the main aim of the event.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately detractors do occur, though not so much these days I think. I was most surprised and not a little cheesed-off at the Fest this year however, to meet an old acquaintance/hangar exhibitor who told me calmly of an unfortunate experience he had when he had last displayed almost a decade ago. He hadn’t come back since that time sadly, after being waylaid in the hangar by a group of cockpiters who had told him bluntly that he shouldn’t have been displaying, and that his exhibits were out of context to the event.

Strangely as I recall, his displays were all aviation related including ASR items along with a complete ejector seat. Additionally even though he had provided boards clearly captioning that some items on his seat weren’t quite correct but which helped in the overall presentation, an ejector aficionado also seized on them regardless and said he shouldn’t have used them in his display. After his experience which he clearly found unfriendly he did a few shows elsewhere but felt a bit deflated and affected by it all, subsequently selling his seats and other bits to enter a different branch of display in his aviation interests.

As one of the original people who first mooted the interior displays with Bill many years ago shortly before the first event, anyone trying that number on with me would have received very short shrift indeed and its a shame that the cockpiters concerned never entered into a one-to-one debate with me at that particular event. Interior displays show items that the pubic don’t always see or notice so well in a cockpit thanks to their easier access, being an advantage to view panels and other instrumentation quickly and in such an easier and uncluttered way. The disabled obviously benefit also.

Having access to types that the show cannot provide is also an advantage re equipment and instrumentation – Alan Hulme’s Lancaster panels/throttle boxes can’t be viewed in situ at most museums around the country because there obviously aren’t that many Lancaster airframes that the public can inspect – and it would be a bit difficult for many older people alone on the practical front as just one consideration. The B-17 & B-24 panel displays 8-9 years ago were also another welcome opportunity for the ordinary public to view and appreciate in detail what these bomber ‘front end’ interiors looked like, while enthusiasts were happy to take their own reference shots for their particular projects or general interest also.

Off-shoots from the original panels/equipment concept are all valid and the public often likes to just look at literature, photographs and other memorabilia rather than hard kit, which is where the hangar displays have grown in other areas over the years in educating and informing like sims, models, clothing and ASR – I’ve always been gladdened by the fact that in pursuing this particular interest you are actually preserving and conveying history. How you DO that is where the FUN comes in, as we have seen with Flying Saucers refreshing installation approach.

Yes its a Cockpit Fest but any related attractions are valid and if they assist in getting the public through the doors it can’t be an unwanted ‘distraction’. It has to be a good thing for both pure cockpiters (who have often benefited from mutual buys, swaps & info) and the paying public. A cockpiter mailed me recently saying that the non-cockpit element is always badly underrated but I think it is increasingly recognized more these days and acceptance of this is still changing. Certainly most hangar people I know are very amiable and friendly and see themselves as just as dedicated in what they do – remember as Scott says also, that many hangar people simply can’t have cockpits due to space issues alone.

As an enthusiast who has also displayed a cockpit at the Fest I enjoy devising my own hangar displays as much as ever though the lack of sleep in coming up from London these days can often mean a kip in the van later in the day after set-up. I was that Cyberman originally mike1275, and the sight of Bill’s increasingly disbelieving face as I approached staff at the Saturday entrance gate in the van was worth the fuel bill alone in working through the night to source and check-list everything off. The fact that it only cost £2 at a carboot and still did the cyber voices was a boon as I turned and glared mechanically at him on lowering my electric window. Priceless!

Thanks for the advertising update Howard, vandalism and red tape will always be issues and good to know that the museum has been on the case in the past on that one. Local advertising is always important and I know many museums use local advertising/websites with some including Twitter/Facebook usage etc. The main Q I have had put to me again at shows since last October however is whether traditional advertising in nationwide aviation magazines is employed for events also.

If it isn’t employed due to magazine advertising fees then some seller concern has been whether it would attract enough buyers and the public in general to events. We all want to make aeroboots as best as they can be for all concerned especially with fuel costs these days and ultimately I guess its a balance between spend and what you hope to get back in, for both organizers and sellers. Certainly other factors like the weather and competing events don’t help and hopefully the end of season boot will be better attended this year thanks to your making it an earlier date, as we also hope it won’t be so miserable and wet then. We may see more date changes in the future, as I read that we have a DECADE of lousy weather impending…

XL164 interior condition

crap

Actually it was very good indeed while crucially her internal trim and fittings were all intact, a real bonus when I saw her around 8 years ago. A lot of ours is missing but all upper roof panels and trim and side/crew-door trim etc was in place – if no rain has got into her then she will still be a very good project and ‘all’ that needs fitting back is her panels and instrumentation.

I believe her side consoles were intact also, plus throttle boxes and all windows were again intact and not cracked, while her probe was all there – ours was missing when we found XL160 inverted and damaged at RAF Barnham around 18 years ago and ‘164 would have been more preferable but we had to take on what was going at the time as finding another one was unknown then.

If the main rear desk panels can be sourced and pilots panels found then she will start to come together again, though I know this is obviously harder so many years after retirement – but the bonus is certainly that all her trim is intact while some paneling is already in her and it is a cockpit with great potential and little repairing to do internally.

BOOTUS – BAYUS

Here’s a thing Gary – as a trader, I can get £25 for an instrument on ebay, but cant get more than a fiver at an aerojumble.
Market forces? You betcha.
That isn’t the reason I didn’t come, but it is a deciding factor for some.
Bruce

Hi Bruce, While Andy answered that one for me I mentioned when we were having the ‘Aeroboost V eBay’ debate some time ago that I understood your own position as a businessman.

Equally in these times there will also be market forces applied in favour of the cheaper boots and people who are prepared to wait until the next one that comes along however, especially if it means saving £80 across say four thrust guages, which makes their fuel situation a bit better – better still if they can share a vehicle.

You have to charge market forces from your end of things and that’s fair enough as those people who don’t want to wait for a boot or who are too old or unable to come for whatever reason, will hopefully enable you to make your margins as you have to – you’re needed in the mix of it all as well.

SHOREHAMUS POSTERUS

GOKONE

Thank you for your post! Great stuff, and I love the Churchill-esque element.

I think, too, that I ought to replace my rather ‘stale’ flyers (never quite know the value of ’em, anyhow!) with one based on your rather more enticing design!

I’ll e-mail you the bigger size originals so you can see them, they were all done in P’Shop and not high res but they may be big enough or might be adapted. If you pick one and specify copy though I can lay out a revise in Quark as per our V.A. newsletter as time allows and then send a high-res PDF later, just need to confirm format.

We used to run the Norwich Aeromart in the 90’s for 3 years and I had the b/w rules & regs pages with a wide margin and aviation kit running down them as cut-outs, just made it a bit more interesting and appealing, can look at stuff like that too if it helps things to carry on in a fresher way.

Not good on these private e-mails so I’ll see if I can find a general one from your own website and send to there hopefully, while I have the original individual high res that I can crop and lighten/darken as required or send if you need them separately.

I did an interesting one for Cockpit Fest about a year or so ago that can be similarly artworked along with a set of 6 for Popham at that time also, as an exercise after having a lot of 3-day fun there over the years (inc the infamous ‘Tim McSplurgle’ episode in 2011 that caused some merriment).
Thoughts do turn to Popham now as the next major boot which although not in its glory days now is still enjoyable and a chance for a townie to get some sun also (???).

Another dealer at Shoreham told me that Popham this year was ‘borderline’ for him after I asked him about his own thoughts on it, in the light of the doubled fees there last year (inc landing fees) which resulted in a row less of dealers who voted with their wallets in view of doubled pitch costs and the usual penal fuel duty considerations.

Its sobering to think that 2007 saw 23BN litres of fuel bought in the UK, but in 2012 only 17.4BN litres – another argument for lowering fuel prices and encouraging more drivers onto the roads.

Public admission fees doubled at Popham too and it may come about that it will become less viable for the public along with visiting microlights, though many dealers don’t understand why the bike event is much cheaper on fees. (Let’s hope the low-life who made three raids on the site this year are being investigated as I think there was some progress on ID’ing the culprits).

We appreciate its getting harder for you also to keep the Shoreham marquee viable with increased fees seemingly the only way forward which might make future shows unviable as you say, but we all enjoyed this year’s anyway and the weather certainly helped.

Only time will tell, but finances are hard for all that’s for sure. Here’s a single Popham poster I did late last year anyway that hopefully will be squeezed in on my red-lining image allocation!

(Just had to delete some old images to get the latest Popham poster to load – but no idea how to get back to the story after – luckily I cut it before going into previous images posted – I did click back at top of browser but I never got back to the original story so I’ve posted it again, IF 2 stories come up can an admin guy delete one for me plz, still not quite up on the techy side here).
😮