No access to the "Tank Bank"?

Discuss airshows and other aviation events at the Imperial War Museum
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Dan O'Hagan
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No access to the "Tank Bank"?

Post by Dan O'Hagan »

Strong rumours doing the rounds from numerous sources at Shuttleworth and again today on Twitter that in order to have a non-curving crowdline, spectators will not have access to the "Tank Bank" and perhaps the extreme M11 end at Duxford shows this year.

My conjecture would be that the £5 parking fee is to recoup some of the lost revenue from the reduced capacity.

I have contacted Duxford in recent days to get confirmation, but have not been given a reply. Surely they MUST make this public, if true, before people turn up on the day to get a rude awakening?

[tweet]https://twitter.com/manonthefence/status/729629786381881344[/tweet]
Last edited by Dan O'Hagan on Mon 09 May 2016, 3:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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WG655
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank"?

Post by WG655 »

Had an awful suspicion this could happen, but it would be nice to get an official statement from Duxford on the matter either way. Shuttleworth must be commended for responding within 24 hours to our request for comment regarding the (false) rumour about the paddock-end crowdline being altered. Anyone willing to comment from IWM? Pretty damaging rumour to have in the public domain otherwise, surely.

jon93
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank"?

Post by jon93 »

Forget the reasons for photography and distances, the middle of Duxford is going to be absolutely rammed and if it's warm that's going to be unbelievably uncomfortable.

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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank"?

Post by Maisie »

They might not make it public so it doesn't put people off!
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Dan O'Hagan
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank"?

Post by Dan O'Hagan »

Delighted to say Duxford have been in touch to quash this rumour and to clarify a few other issues:

Will the distance between the crowdline and the aircraft both on the ground and in the flying display have changed from previous seasons at Duxford? What are the "new" distances to be?

The distances for flying aircraft at IWM air shows have not changed this year. Revised CAA legislation has required that the 50 and 100 metre distances are not utilised, meaning that pilots fly to the 150, 230 and 450 metre lines.

2. Will any roads be closed during the displays this season?

IWM Duxford takes great care to ensure its air shows are as safe as possible for everyone involved.
It is not safe to occupy the fields immediately south of the runway during the air show. In support of this, Grange Road will be closed during air show days. There are no plans to close any other roads around IWM Duxford.


3. Will there be any reduction in crowd capacity inside the airfield this year?

There will be no reduction in audience capacity at IWM Duxford this year.

4. Will the two extreme ends of the crowdline, the popular "Tank Bank" at the Land Warfare Hall end, and the far "M11 End" be accessible to spectators as before?

There are no changes to the east end of the IWM Duxford site or to the tank bank area for the American Air Show.

5. What do any changes do to make "secondary crowdlines" off-site less appealling?

Following the recent CAA review, further enhanced safety measures will be employed to ensure that IWM Duxford air shows are as safe as possible for everyone involved.

jon93
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank"?

Post by jon93 »

Dan O'Hagan wrote:Delighted to say Duxford have been in touch to quash this rumour and to clarify a few other issues:

Will the distance between the crowdline and the aircraft both on the ground and in the flying display have changed from previous seasons at Duxford? What are the "new" distances to be?

The distances for flying aircraft at IWM air shows have not changed this year. Revised CAA legislation has required that the 50 and 100 metre distances are not utilised, meaning that pilots fly to the 150, 230 and 450 metre lines.

2. Will any roads be closed during the displays this season?

IWM Duxford takes great care to ensure its air shows are as safe as possible for everyone involved.
It is not safe to occupy the fields immediately south of the runway during the air show. In support of this, Grange Road will be closed during air show days. There are no plans to close any other roads around IWM Duxford.


3. Will there be any reduction in crowd capacity inside the airfield this year?

There will be no reduction in audience capacity at IWM Duxford this year.

4. Will the two extreme ends of the crowdline, the popular "Tank Bank" at the Land Warfare Hall end, and the far "M11 End" be accessible to spectators as before?

There are no changes to the east end of the IWM Duxford site or to the tank bank area for the American Air Show.

5. What do any changes do to make "secondary crowdlines" off-site less appealling?

Following the recent CAA review, further enhanced safety measures will be employed to ensure that IWM Duxford air shows are as safe as possible for everyone involved.


Well that's a relief. Wonder what "enhanced safety measures" includes?

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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by Rob Leigh »

"There are no changes to the east end of the IWM Duxford site or to the tank bank area for the American Air Show."

It's interesting that they've qualified this response. Does this suggest that things will be different for Legends?

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Dan O'Hagan
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by Dan O'Hagan »

Indeed, Rob.

Legends far more reliant on the grass runway, of course.

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keithjs
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by keithjs »

That's good to know anyway. Thanks for going to the trouble to find out Dan.. :up: .if you don't ask you don't get as Dad used to say.
So, I assume barring any unforeseen problems the policy should stay in place all season?
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by austinp »

Wonder what "enhanced safety measures" includes?


Crash helmets?

;-)

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Nwalch
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank"?

Post by Nwalch »

jon93 wrote:
Dan O'Hagan wrote:Delighted to say Duxford have been in touch to quash this rumour and to clarify a few other issues:

Will the distance between the crowdline and the aircraft both on the ground and in the flying display have changed from previous seasons at Duxford? What are the "new" distances to be?

The distances for flying aircraft at IWM air shows have not changed this year. Revised CAA legislation has required that the 50 and 100 metre distances are not utilised, meaning that pilots fly to the 150, 230 and 450 metre lines.


So the distances havn't changed but has which ones are used by which aircraft?

What has to use the 450 metre line (that's just under half a Km!!) under the new rules (and which county does that fall in!) . Did anything previously use the 50 and 100 metre distances

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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank"?

Post by jalfrezi »

Nwalch wrote:
jon93 wrote:
Dan O'Hagan wrote:Delighted to say Duxford have been in touch to quash this rumour and to clarify a few other issues:

Will the distance between the crowdline and the aircraft both on the ground and in the flying display have changed from previous seasons at Duxford? What are the "new" distances to be?

The distances for flying aircraft at IWM air shows have not changed this year. Revised CAA legislation has required that the 50 and 100 metre distances are not utilised, meaning that pilots fly to the 150, 230 and 450 metre lines.


So the distances havn't changed but has which ones are used by which aircraft?

What has to use the 450 metre line (that's just under half a Km!!) under the new rules (and which county does that fall in!) . Did anything previously use the 50 and 100 metre distances


I believe most flypasts at Duxford would have previously used the 100/150m lines, now any aircraft with a max take off weight in excess of 1200kg (pretty much every military plane from the mid 1920's onwards), or flying in excess of 300kts has to use the 230m line. The 450m line is for any aircraft performing a manoeuvre towards the crowd.

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Nwalch
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank"?

Post by Nwalch »

jalfrezi wrote:I believe most flypasts at Duxford would have previously used the 100/150m lines, now any aircraft with a max take off weight in excess of 1200kg (pretty much every military plane from the mid 1920's onwards), or flying in excess of 300kts has to use the 230m line. The 450m line is for any aircraft performing a manoeuvre towards the crowd.


Thanks for clarifying.

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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by BDL »

Admin, can we remove Twitter feeds please? :biggrin:

Slappywag
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by Slappywag »

Dan O'Hagan wrote:Indeed, Rob.

Legends far more reliant on the grass runway, of course.

Legends will indeed have these restrictions.

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Exiler
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by Exiler »

Slappywag wrote:
Dan O'Hagan wrote:Indeed, Rob.

Legends far more reliant on the grass runway, of course.

Legends will indeed have these restrictions.


So no Tank Bank / M11 end for Legends?

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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by Slappywag »

Exiler wrote:
Slappywag wrote:
Dan O'Hagan wrote:Indeed, Rob.

Legends far more reliant on the grass runway, of course.

Legends will indeed have these restrictions.


So no Tank Bank / M11 end for Legends?

Correct.

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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by st24 »

Slappywag wrote:
Exiler wrote:
Slappywag wrote:
Dan O'Hagan wrote:Indeed, Rob.

Legends far more reliant on the grass runway, of course.

Legends will indeed have these restrictions.


So no Tank Bank / M11 end for Legends?

Correct.

Pointless then.
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by Thoughtful_Flyer »

Slappywag wrote:
Exiler wrote:
Slappywag wrote:
Dan O'Hagan wrote:Indeed, Rob.

Legends far more reliant on the grass runway, of course.

Legends will indeed have these restrictions.


So no Tank Bank / M11 end for Legends?

Correct.


Is this fact or speculation?

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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by capercaillie »

st24 wrote:
Slappywag wrote:
Exiler wrote:
Slappywag wrote:
Dan O'Hagan wrote:Indeed, Rob.

Legends far more reliant on the grass runway, of course.

Legends will indeed have these restrictions.


So no Tank Bank / M11 end for Legends?

Correct.

Pointless then.


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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by Talldan76 »

I can see the ticket sales for Duxford shows dropping massively now.

I've stood on the Tank Bank for a couple of shows, and never felt in any danger there. This country is going mad.

If you buy a ticket, then you are accepting the "danger" that comes with attending.

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Dan O'Hagan
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by Dan O'Hagan »

Talldan76 wrote:I can see the ticket sales for Duxford shows dropping massively now.

I've stood on the Tank Bank for a couple of shows, and never felt in any danger there. This country is going mad.

If you buy a ticket, then you are accepting the "danger" that comes with attending.


Not confirmed officially, of course.

But having witnessed first hand the behaviour of some who frequent the TB on Legends weekend, and their fierce fighting for a position, Duxford will be a tinderbox that day. Not a wild claim to suggest fisticuffs a possibility in the inevitable bunfight. Probably best certain American visitors are kept away...

And, again, this does NOTHING to make watching outside less appealing. Everything the CAA rules have changed almost runs counter to what was learned at Shoreham, but nothing more than this. If Duxford already had a "problem" with "freeloading", that's going to multiply not decrease.

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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by rob68 »

I emailed Duxford and asked if the rumours were true for all airshows last week. I have not had a response.

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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by Harvo266 »

Would anyone be able to advise me on if the Tank Bank is good for the Red Arrows and Typhoon?
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Re: No access to the "Tank Bank" rumour - NOT TRUE

Post by CJS »

Harvo266 wrote:Would anyone be able to advise me on if the Tank Bank is good for the Red Arrows and Typhoon?


It's better for spectators to be honest.
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