I am appalled by the poor attendance of military hardware this year.
If you look at the last few years it has become evident that this trend has continued and will probably go further now.
Why oh WHY does Fairford get multiples of EVERY aircraft just about and the RAFs “Premier event” can muster only a Typhoon—JUST ONE why?????
I wholly appreciate that commitments can stretch the RAF but is wholly UNACCEPTABLE the level of participation this year.
There is not even the common site of an F16, yet Fairford has several, no F18, yet Fairford has several, zero American hardware–just like last year (oh no I forgot, the B52 was going to fly last year, but there was some bull problem about turning it around!!). No F15s despite the fact they are BASED JUST DOWN THE ROAD—EVEN A DAMN FLYPAST WOULD BE SOMETHING TO SEE.
I am tired of being short changed just because I live in the Northern UK. I can’t afford to go to Fairford every year (it usually costs me £200+ to get there etc…) and I go to Waddington because it is my “local” show at only 2 hours drive away.
Either it improves next year or that is me done with the show altogether—it reminds me of the old “Teesside Air shows, where people would be lured in with an impressive list of things on the flying list, only to find nothing flew “because of serviceability issues”
The organisers of Waddington need to be replaced or enhanced with someone who can entice other nations to visit here or it will die like so many other shows already have.
I read on this site that “we cannot force other nations to attend” and “we have written to them” etc…. well frankly it is not good enough—I want, no deserve, more from my armed forces—I would like to see where my tax pound is going without being ripped off by being forced to go to RIAT every year.
Now we hear even the Vulcan has cancelled, not due to technical issues, but getting its permit to fly issued—again this is not good enough—I am sorry but it isn’t—I like many people have committed considerable donations to the VTS team and I expect to see it in the air if it is obviously airworthy and not just grounded due to paperwork etc…That means another year will go by without me getting to see it—mmm—right after I renewed my club membership as well.
Let me see, I wonder if it will be on at Fairford??–mmmmm
In my opinion, Fairford needs to be split up into two air shows, one to be held at Fairford as normal, the other to be held at Waddington later in the year—that was people would have the chance to see both shows if they so wish and can afford it but it would give a more fair distribution of attendances for both shows. How many people can actually see Fairford in one day anyway???—it is so big it is hard to do this.
Waddington is a good venue, with good access and the potential to be a great show, but sadly this just is NOT HAPPENING ANYMORE.
PLEASE SORT THIS OUT FOR NEXT YEAR SO WE DONT WASTE ANY MORE MONEY TRAVELLING TO SEE NOTHING AGAIN
Mat, please post your comments on the Waddington thread, the organisers will appreciate your honesty.
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