I still feel that this is a slightly unfair moan about OW, maybe because I am stuggling to see what it is that people are looking for in the way of catering.
I, as I said earlier, often use the cafe for some form of breakfast as my visits usually start after parking up by wandering across for a ‘natural break’ then into the cafe. I do take a picnic lunch however, so come 12.30 /1.00 ish I sit by my car and tuck in, and probably don’t notice queues at the kiosk and cafe.
I could understand that if I took my family, which I do from time to time, we might want to go for a lunch together and that the cafe might not be offering want we wanted, or indeed have the room to seat us.That does not however make it bad quality as was first suggested in this thread, it makes it ‘not what we really wanted’ which is quality of choice.
I dont think I can think of any venue that has regular airshows that does have a ‘quality catering service’.
The toilets at OW I think are acceptable, they are not the Hilton nor will they ever be. What should be remembered about public toilets that are used intensively ,as these are at cetain time of the day, is that much of it is down to the user and the way he/she treats the facility. Clearly I cannot vouch for the ladies, but I fail to see why so many apparently normal people manage to make such a mess of mens toilets. I know that there are many jokes about male aim but often it is beyond a joke, do these people do this at home ?.
Anyhow, however messy the loos are I don’t think you will find me trying to record the event with my camera as I dont fancy a 400mm lens being inserted.
Seriously though ,as I said earlier what you get for your money pretty much depends on what money you put in to start with and for say £12 to get into OW I think we get excellent value.
If you would rather that more of that £12 went on catering than preserving this unique collectioin then so beit, but I know where I want my contribution spent.Thats why I have chosen to Join the SVAS to give more to the preservation of OW and its collection.
How many others here are members out of interest?

Done,
This is what I wrote:

Whilst I appreciate that housing needs have to be addressed, it cannot be ‘at any cost’. North Weald Bassett airfield is a vitally important part of our history,it was a key station in the deployment of aircraft and crew in this country’s struggle against a potentially invading force.These people, many of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice, helped to ensure the freedom that you and I enjoy today.
That aside for a moment, the airfield is still very active in a number of areas of aviation, none more so that the preservation of aviation history. There is good and expanding employment on the site, the various commercial activities that take place on site bring both employment and finnance to the local area.
There are still many inner city/town areas to be developed/redeveloped before we even consider taking parts of our heritage and history away.
The North Weald devlopment plan seems to have evolved out of convenience rather than consideration, ie, ‘There’s a large open space lets build on it’.
I’m sorry but North Weald is an institution that must be preserved.

Now then Flood you have nudged my memory a bit there, some fantastic artists. In particular the Roger Waters ‘Amused to death’ what a phenominal piece of work that is, I must find my copy and play again.
Somebody mentioned ‘I drove all night’ by Cyndi Lauper, Umm whilst she did cover it I believe the original and superb version was by the god Orbison. I am a firm believer that poor old Roy would have been named the ‘king’ had not some other southern GI type had a bit of a sing song. He is so much better (IMHO) than Elvis.

Its easier for me to list the types i don’t like:-
I hate Regae, country, Rap, pop, girlie band,boys band, dance.

My taste ranges from Elgar to Eagles, Listz to Led Zep, Gorecki to grunge, Beethoven , Bach, Hadel, Neil Young,Stones, T-rex, The Enid, Anything late60’s 70’s early 80’s rock, Hawkwind.
New(ish) bands I like are Stereophonics, Cold play, Starsailor(v-good) and the list goes on.

Whats a Spaghetti jar ?

Many things, hers just a few.

1. Ripped around the IOM TT course at some ridiculous speed 9/10

2. Slept with a very famous and very attractive female (25 years ago but she will still remain anonymous……at any cost!!)8/10

3.Got drunk with Phil Linnott (ex of Thin Lizzy and this earth)

3. Saw Led Zeppelin live 8/10

4. Owned one of the first Kawasaki 900’s in this country, then rode it flat out (C.135mph) on the open road without crash helmet. 9/10

5. Went naked with a gang of folks I had never met before in front of thousands at a rock festival (Watchfield 1975), excellent feeling of freedom 8/10. I must admit though the ‘golden virginia’ that they smoked tasted a bit different to mine!

6. Watching the birth of both of my daughters 9/10.

7. Becoming a Grandad this last weekend by my son from my first marriage. I missed his birth because I was too drunk somewhere.
Yet to see my grandaughter but I’m sure it will be a 8+/10.

8.Winning £58,000 on the lottery a couple of years ago 9/10

9. Flying backward facing in a Cessena Citation biz jet to Sweden guzzling champagne, excellent buzz 8/10

10. Sitting in the pilots seat of PA474. 8/10

Still waiting for a 10/10

I’m sure Air Atlantique will tell you if you ask.
The DC6’s are used for Ad hoc freight work, often for the local car industry in Coventry. Sounds af it was going Scandinavia, Denmark or maybe Scotland.
They come over me in Oxfordshire every now and then, but no set time or pattern, as I say its Ad hoc work so thats understandable.
Whereas the L188’s come over most evenings going due south and probably return the next morning, although I’m not often around to see them and it tends to be noisey with Brize air traffic anyway.
Long may the DC6’s keep flying, she makes a lovely noise and sight.I particulary like listening to a DC6 with all four chunttering away on the deck it sounds so meaty and business like.