http://www.a-26invader.co.uk/id893.html

With guys like Matt Jones, Richard Verrall, Willy Hackett, Phill O’Dell, Al Pinner, Cliff Spink, Pete Kynsey, Ian Smith and Bill Dean in the front seat it wont get any better.

I am in no doubt that the sole reason for the RAFA show at Shoreham is to make money for its charity and I consider it honourable to contribute to that cause.
I am also full aware that the large majority of labour at the Shoreham airshow as with many charitable events is donated free of charge, I’m not completely stupid.
However, eventhough I not only contribute to RAFA as with many other charities there are the big guns at the top who do earn “considerable ” income at part of that charity which I have always found abhorrent
My argument is not with subject, but the idea that if you make something more affordable then more people will attend and thus more revenue will be made, surely you can understand that basic principle.
I have many friends who donate their time AND money in undertaking work for RAFA and other charities alike, surely those that display their aircraft are in a position to contribute freely their time and machines for these charity events.
And on the subject of safety, that is what my company does, so I do not need a lecture on it and although we endeavour to allow for idiots there are always percentages.

What on earth has that got to do with it. I’m a spectator, I’m a contributor, I’m an enthusiast. Have you read anything I’ve said about wanting to make these events more affordable or are you confusing this thread with one about a completely different topic.

So what you’re saying is that airshows these days are all about fat warbird owners, and having your view blocked by company-owning noblemen? 🙂

Not at all, what I’m saying is that because there is so much money associated with warbirds today and so much money changes hands at these events, it precludes the ordinary man in the street from taking his little boy for a fun day out due to objective of these shows being financial and not social.

You sound like a person who has the means to afford these days out and in that ilk I too am lucky enough to attends these meets and come home with £3 change out of £100, but there are those who cant.

I live in the country and in the Summer months, my son and daughter were brought up on steam rallies and craft fairs, unfortunately it doesnt happen anymore because the people who organise these fairs ask so much money from the exhibitors they can no longer afford to show their wares, so everyone suffers.

If organisers used their common sense and made these days affordable then more people i.e. families could experience the magic.

Would these guys rather sell 100 tickets at £20 a head or a 1000 at £10 per head, surely you have to see the logic.

If an event is largely corpoate funded as many are, then why not subsidise the public.

I support general and vintage aviation throughout the year, but I see the logic in making it available to EVERYONE

Freeloaders

In that case everyone watching the show was a ‘freeloader’ – it was a FREE air show!!

There will “ALWAYS” be those who “FREELOAD” events, be they at a motor sport event, an air show or a wedding.
To lose sleep over it is futile.
I boycotted the RAFA show at Shoreham for 5 years not only because of the sheer cost of attending but also the total lack of organisation at the main gate.
I sat in traffic for 2 hours and when I finally got to the entrance gate, there was some 50 year old boy scout casually chatting to various members of the public, while we all sat there like idiots ready to pay our �20 entrance fee, �5 for a program and �6 for a beer etc etc, even though half of the air show had already gone.

If you look at the Sussex Pad pub on air show day, you will see hundreds of people camped on the pub verge and car park watching the show, but I gather the landlord has cottoned on and even he now charges a fee.

For a family of 4 a day at an air show usually equates to �100 which can put it out of many families reach, so I have no issues in these people lining the banks to get a free glimpse of what flies overhead as the view outside the crowd line is usually poor and a glimpse is all they will get.

As for risking injury during an air show whilst “FREELOADING” it could happen at any time and any where, be it an air show or a motor sport event.

Us enthusiasts who go to these air shows are generally avid supporters of aviation and thus feel obligated to support these events, but for those who don�t want to be fecked by the organisers, don�t criticise them, as us supporters do benefit from the close proximity of the show and an obvious love of our hobby.

The RAFA bosses and their �250K salaries obviously know what they are doing but I feel they should visit the occasional US air show and see how its done, both financially and logistically.

P.S. Does the word FREELOADER also apply to the corporate fat cats who get their free gold pass and Lobster dinner courtesy of a free day out at the expense of the companies they use.

Provisional list

13 July – 14 July 2013 – Flying Legends Air Show provisional list so far

The Bremont Horsemen Flight Team (3x Spitfires) (F)
The Flying Bulls (Lockheed P-38L, and Vought F4U-4 Corsair) (F)
BBMF Lancaster – Sunday (F)
BBMF – Hurricane, Spitfire (F)
B-17 ‘Sally B’ (F)
Dakota DC3 – Dakota Norway (F)
RNHF Swordfish (F)
RNHF Sea Fury (F)
Gloster Gladiator TFC (F)
Gloster Gladiator Shuttleworth (F)
Hawker Nimrod (F)
Hawker Nimrod (F)
Hawker Demon (F)
Hawker Hind (F)
Hurricane Mk.I P3351 (F)
Spitfires (F)
Hispano Buchon (F)
P-51 Mustang Moonbeam McSwine (F)
P-51 Mustang Princess Elizabeth (F)
P-51 Mustang Nooky Booky IV (F)
Curtiss P-40B Warhawk TFC (F)
Curtiss P-40F Warhawk TFC (F)
Junkers Ju 52 (F)
Messerschmitt 108 (F)