patbThe airshows probably dont!, I bet the outside caterers at Duxfords airshows do though!, £1.60 for a cup of hot water and a teabag, and you still have to stand there and wind it up yerself!
Don’t forget that the caterers pay a hefty price for their pitch and usually, the prices are agreed by the event organiser. So Duxford are complicit with the pricing structure. But every sip of tea is a fraction of a penny going towards some rivet or drop of paint so it’s a worthy cup of tea after all. As for the quality, thats another question, one donkey burger per season is usually enough for me.
Decent catering at airshows died with Mildenhall, but I am going off topic
patbwell profit is not really a vague issue, an event either makes a profit or it does not. But, I suppose, to make something worth doing, it would be measured against the investment both in terms of time, risk and cash so yes, then it does become vague.
The fact that airshows do come back, year after year, is great (especially for us enthusiasts) but I just wanted to know if RIAT for example, publish financial reports to see how much they make and then donate some to charity (not much this year for sure).
Also, I would think that many receive some form of subsidy. For example, I would assume (perhap wrongly) that The Fighter Collection do not have to pay the market rate to hire Duxford as a venue or that the RAF events make use of the infrastructure at a reduced rate.
The Dunsfold show as a great example of a new kid on the block which has quickly established itself as a regular event so it must be possible, but I can easily see the massive effort that goes into putting on a decent airshow.
As someone who runs their own business, it’s tempting to think of an airshow just like any other business plan. The revenue streams:
tickets
sponsorship
sale of pitches
memorabelia
extras (posh marque for posh people etc)
any other ideas?
as for costs, well almost too many to mention
patbI was meaning to try the pub but ran out of time at the Museum and also got sidetracked by the scones and jam in the cafe:D
PS with a very original Sea Harrier and a Pucara that they are working on, thats a potential Falklands display/exhibit if ever I saw one
patbAll together, an outstanding day. Thanks to all those invloved apart from…
Like others have said, the commentary is the weakest link in the whole day. All morning repeating themselves about the DVD and the joyrides (thats not commentary, it’s advertising that you can’t ignore), the in jokes were pretty pathetic and childish (woof, woof) and the lady doing the wingwalkers was truely embarrassing and unproffesional and not a good advertismanet for the brand she is trying to promote. I find it hard to beleive that there are not better people around to do this? Or do they simply not pay enough to get anyone decent?
The French guy was a little better and would be good as a sidekick to bring in a different perspective but a decent leading man is needed for next year.
Any suggestions?
patbCracking day out at Halton, this is how the RAF can get top class PR,
any more free airshows out there (excluding the ones over the sea)
patbI did not even know about the hotel!!. What a sad state of affairs where such a sight soaked in history is being squeezed by the corporates greed for land (and , to be fair, the consumers greed for all the 21st century rubbish),
The Mecedez Benz building is the ugliest thing I have seen for a long time and it’s presense is certainly ironic to say the least when one considers the fabulous war effort that Brooklands put in.
patbI had a very interesting chat with a couple of volunteers who were showing people around the Wellington Hanger. There was an agreement when Mercedes moved in that there would be a grass airstrip to enable small airshows to take place but that simply has not come into being. I sensed some frustration from these 2 gents that the focus at Brooklands is inreasingly on the motoring side, possibly to the neglect of the flying.
Anyone have more info?
patbcan anyone tell me which Hurricane it was. I was too far away from the commentary and was distracted by my 2 year old son doing a very good impression of the devil.
Mustang display was lovely
patbwell the weather was pretty poor on the Sunday morning so my wife and kids decided to stay at home, Their loss as the weather during the afternoon was pretty stunning with some superb displays from the Hunter, Spitfire, Harvard amd Pilatus P2. Goodwood is a great venue with some real class and history behind it, similar feeling to Brooklands or Old Warden. Such a shame about the weather on the Monday, no justice for the team putting the show together. I do hope they do not give up and have an even better event next year.
patbIf nothing unique was allowed to fly, then no human would ever fly.
We choose to accept risk for gain in all walks of life on a daily basis. And if the owner of any aircraft wants to fly it and does so responsibly and within the law, who are we to object?
More power to his elbow!!
patbThats one of the great things about airshows and warbirds. Just when you think you have seen it all, something wonderful crops up on the horizon. Seeing the beast in the hanger was pretty good but flying on the UK airshow circuit? Best of luck to all involved, roll on 2008.
patbwhenever I attend a Shuttleworth show, I always look across to see if there is a for sale sign on any of the houses opposite the crowd line. Does anyonoe know if they are part of the estate?
patbRe: An Ungentlemanly Act:
You will have to look hard to find a better piece of TV drama. Much of it was shot on film rather than video so it really should be regarded as a full blown movie. Bob Peck for me stands out as a superb effort but the whole cast are very good. Try to get the DVD version with the Directors commentary – his utter respect for detail and accuracy shine through. A must for anyone interested in the Falklands/Malvinas conflict.
RIP Ian Richardson
patbCasting:
Brad “Panther” Curtiss – Ben Afflick
Veronica Barton – Scarlett Johansson
Commander Tom “Panther” Scott – Martin Sheen
Uncle Casper – Arnold Schwarzenegger
“Sharkey” Ward – Rhys Ifans
Sandy Woodward – Gene Hackman
patbTop Gun – The Prequal – Cobra’s War
The time: Early 1980s.
The place: California, USA.
Renagade A-4 Marine pilot, Brad Curtiss (call sign Cobra) is too hot to handle at his base in Mirimar. Too many girls, late nights and too much risky flying makes him a liablility but his family connections to the Whitehouse mean that he can’t be kicked out of the squadren.
So Commander Tom Scott (call sign “Panther”) places him on an exchange sabatical to a sleepy Royal Navy base in Yeovilton, Somerset, UK. Initially, his slick style and late nights conflict with the stiff upper lip culture of Royal Navy 800 Squadron, especially Naval Aviator “Sharkey” Ward.
Eventually, his showboating style and overuse of vertical landings to visit the local pubs gets him ejected from the squadron, just as he was starting to fit in and fall in love with a beautiful Wren from a Sea King Squadren.
Frustrated and with a heavy heart, he vists the quartermasters store to hand in is flying suite and book a flight home. As he walks out of the gates with the sun setting behind him, “Sharkey” Ward drives up and gives him the news. All qualified SHAR pilots must urgently report back and Brad’s experience on A4’s makes him a prime asset. It’s Operation Corporate – “Cobra” at War.
The next few days on Invincible are busy with briefings on how the A4 will fly against the SHAR and practice dogfights. Fears are expressed over beers in the evening that the Royal Navy does not have the best air to air missiles. So the next day, “Cobra” puts in a secret call to his Uncle Casper for the latest model and, sure enough, they are ready to collect at Accension. Also at Accesion is the pretty but feisty Wren, Veronica Barton, that Cobra had fallen for back at Yeovilton. She has volunteered as Winchman on a Hermes based Sea King. After one last night of passion, he returns to the carrier.
Weeks later, he is in the thick of battle, flying 3-4 sorties a day and quickly becoming the pilot with the highest kills.
His most challenging mission comes as he is directed to intercept a pair of Argentinian Etendard that are heading directly towards Invincible. With superb skill and courage, he lines himself up behind the pair and launches both Sidewinders at the same time. “Splash 2 Argies” he reports back to Commander Woodward. But his celebration is short lived as he realises that one of the Etendard managed to launch it’s deadly Excocet before being shot down. With no other SHARS in the area, Cobra has to think fast. He has a flashback to when his father, Brad Senior, told him about how he flew P-51s from RAF Heathrow in 1944 and used to splash Nazi V-1 rockets by tipping them into a spin using his own wingtip.
Cobra accelerates to maximum power. Sandy Woodward looks on hopelessly from the bridge on the Invincible as the Excocet gets ever closer. With seconds to spare, Cobra slips his port wing under the missile and sends it spinning wildly into the Atlantic. A cheers goes around the ship as everyone realises that Cobra has saved the day.
But Cobra has taken his eye off the fuel guage and he is running on vapour. Forced to eject, he is quickly spotted by a SeaKing from Hermes and lifted into the warm and safe haven of the chopper. The winchman takes off his helmet and unzips his flight suite. Cobra smiles as he realises its Veronica.
They embrace passionately as the Sea King flies into a perfect sunset.
The End.
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