I have just got back from flying legends today. In an earlier posting of some of my comments in this thread I mentioned that private airshows are better nowadays at displaying to the crowd inside the airfield.

Many aircraft did just that today. However, I was rather dissapointed at the Spitfires. Most of the so called ‘topside’ passes of the tailchaising was so shallow by the time they were inside the airfield that most of the time you had an edge on view of them. This even included the first group pass in from the north east. They also only started turning when they were already outside the airfield. I did not think the Corsairs were that that good in this respect either – the came in at the other end close together then each went their own way well before reaching the end where I and many other people were.

So whoever you are at displaying your aircraft please, please display to the whole crowd. The means the middle and either end of the crowdline.

And come on flying legends.

With some other aircraft please make sure everyone sees the action and please do no always turn away too soon or be too far away. Even my 30D with my 400mm lens was not enough for some of them.

I have no doubt some people may well have got great pictures of the Spitfires outside the fence!

The Mustangs were brilliant, the Sea Fury was brilliant etc etc but from the reaction arround me from others including photographers, the Spitfires did not have such a ‘wow’ factor.

I am going back to Duxford tomorrow and hoping for something better.

There appears to be a lot of dissatisfaction of airshows in this thread so I offer my own comments.

To me airshows are good if they offer a good mixed bag (Biggin Hill, Shoreham, Cosford) or if they have rely on their history and concentrate on paticuler eras of aviation (Flying Legends, Shuttleworth) or mostly modern military airshows (RIAT, Waddington) or those smaller airshows with a relaxed atmosphee ( Woodchurch, Little Gransden etc)

Large numbers of people go to airshows so they must be attractive. If you want a discussion of what is best for an airshow then every airshow would end up being the same whether you go to Waddintgon or Flying Legends. You may think I am being silly in this comment but it is an imposible task to satisfy everybody most the time. I am sure if something like the Flying Legends displays cease you will soon miss them inside the fence or outside the fence.

if you need more variation then you should go to at least 5 different type of shows each year.

Now if in any of the airshows does not live up to their expectation for the type of show it is meant to be, then I will be dissapointed and particularly if I am unable to get my ground to air photo opportunities. I am more of an airshow enthusiast rather than an aviation enthusiast.

Now as far as prime places in the croudline is concerned if you prefer ground to air photography, I find that so called enthusiast stands enclosures are rarely in prime positions at many airshows. You need to explore that croudline a bit more before you decide to locate yourself in a particuler position to get those taxi or flying shots.

If you find yourself in a good spot but then some biplane parks right in front of you then ensure you have a step ladder in reserve but be prepared to use it well behind the front of the croud. You may find you have more space around you as well.

If you want to use those enclosures or enthusiast stands be prepared to sit down all the time or be squashed like a sardine in a stand. I never use any stand or enclosure apart from the RIAT one where you can stand up front of the seated stand without hindering others.

I think private airshows today are much better at displaying to the crowd than they use to be. As far as staning outside the airfield and not paying to go in not every aircraft is going to pass close to you. I think it is rather hit or miss. Some aircraft turn more tightly whilst othr need wider turns. If you are inside the airfield at least you know that most of them will come close to you.

As far as the lighting conditions is concerned most airshows either have the sun behind the croudline all the day ot at least half the day. So if you are outside the airfield the other side you may have long walk to get the sun behind you again an some of the aircraft will be to far away. I think at most shows you can get better photos inside the airfield than outside.

As far as improvements are concerned perhaps RAF jet display acts could taylor their displays a bit to suit the size of the airfield i/e come round the corner. Perhaps it is with these acts that you might get better pics outside the airfield providing you are sure you are in the right place to get them.

As far as the cost is concened I think they offer good value for money compared to other type of events in the UK (some higher profile horse racing events can cost between £40 to £50 just to get in with an ordinary ticket)

However, compared to airshows in the rest of Europe then airshow ticket prices in the UK are a rip off. I do not think this is the organizers fault it is more a sympton of the overburdoned regulations that operators and origanisers have to bear and then be charged for their so called ‘benefit’. There is also the matter of policing and insurance requiremnts

Please do not get me wrong some regulations are vital but perhaps to get a proper comparison of the costs born by airshows and operators in the UK then compare them with the costs faced with organising a show in the rest of Europe then we will know who the real culprits are.

I have been to airshows and have been outside the airfield but only at Yeovilton where I had brought a ticket anyway as I was inside before the display started. Also I was outside Farnborough airfield on the trade only days so I did not have to worry about depriving anyone of any money.

The ony airshow I felt let down with was inside on the public show days of Farnborough 2004. With the exception of the take off shots ground to air photography was cr-p and not worth the price due to the display hight restrictions (600ft)

Nice shots Teej. Like the 6th Tornado pic – better than your Cosford pic.