Where are you going to watch departures from?

[parabola50]

Where's the best place to go on Monday? Is park & view the only decent option or are there alternatives? I'm going to be camping but I haven't decided where yet, but it will probably be either Kempsford or Totterdown. For all I know people might think the best views are from one of the camp sites so I wanted to check before blowing almost £40 on two park & view tickets. Any advice is appreciated. I'm not much of a photographer so that aspect of it isn't important to me.

Thanks.

[davers]

i haven't done departures but for camping kempsford or rhymes would be better for depatures as there next to the airfield.

[DanH]

As someone who has stayed at Totterdown 4 times I would say that its not the best place for viewing departures, especially if you have photography in mind. When taking off, aircraft don't come into view until they're about 1/3 of the way down the runway and many are already airbourne at this point. On top of that it is also rather far away. What it does have going for it though is that most of the other campers have left by late morning on the monday so watching the departures quite nice entertainment while you pack your own tent away. For viewing arrivals and the display days though, Totterdown is hard to beat. On arrival days aircraft often fly directly over the campsite after breaking to land, and also the displays are often directly over your head which is an unforgettable experience.

[frank]

Dan would you post a few photos of arrivals as seen from Totterdown - preferably without cropping so we can see what its like. Also can you just pop in for the day or do you have to stay overnight - you know where I am going with this

[stuart n]

I usually go to Rhymes farm for departures. Best advised to take something to stand on so you don't get the fence in your photos. You do face the sun though (if it ever comes out!)

[parabola50]

Is it easy to move between the East and West P&V or do you have to leave the premises and use a different entrance?

[DanH]

Dan would you post a few photos of arrivals as seen from Totterdown - preferably without cropping so we can see what its like. Also can you just pop in for the day or do you have to stay overnight - you know where I am going with this

I'm afraid I don't actually have any photographs as I am more into filming (very unusual on this website I know). I'd be more than happy to have a look to see if I have any decent videos I could upload to youtube and link to which should give you a good idea of how close they get. And yes they do have a park and view facility at Totterdown on show days but I can't remember if it is available for arrivals and departures, perhaps someone else might be able to confirm that for you.

[stuart n]

Is it easy to move between the East and West P&V or do you have to leave the premises and use a different entrance?

You have to leave the airfield and enter at a different entrance.

[Domvickery]

I was at P&V for the first & possibly last time this year, the amount of ****holes was unreal, one bloke got a spot at the front, had a hardcase, rucksack & step ladders all in a row the stood to the right of all of his stuff & if anyone got near he was moaning at them shaking his head when an aircraft was stopped dead in front. If I do go gain this year I'll be the first at the gate to get a decent spot!

[SkyDave]

I'm a volunteer in P&V at RIAT. If you choose to use P&V you have two options, each has it's own merits. In P&V East it is the most popular area, and I would agree that space at the fence is at a premium. Having said that the Management are always looking for ways to increase the frontline fence space without compromising security or safety. For East I would suggest getting here very, very early as the queue has been known to start at around 5.30 - 6am.

Some would say that for the more descerning pallet, P&V West would be better. Here you need a reasonable telephoto, but you also have the passing traffic from the West Ramps as well. One of the big advantages of P&V West, is that almost everyone gets a spot at the fence and by 8.30am, there is no queue and the carparking is located right beside the P&V area.

As to cost, unless the ticket rules change, the one ticket will do you for both East and West sites, just make sure you get your stamp on the way out. There is no internal transport between both sites, so you need to travel out with the airfield perimeter.

[BDL]

It'll be my first time at departures, so a simple question. What time do the aircraft start departing and what time would they all have left by?

[Traveller]

About 0830-1330 I would say. And with respect to the guy above who is a volunteer I agree about a***holes. The main one being the guy in a hiviz telling me to get off my campchair for H&S reasons. Pathetic. I was stood in the middle of the field I should add with nobody around me to fall onto.

[BDL]

About 0830-1330 I would say. And with respect to the guy above who is a volunteer I agree about a***holes. The main one being the guy in a hiviz telling me to get off my campchair for H&S reasons. Pathetic. I was stood in the middle of the field I should add with nobody around me to fall onto.

Thanks, so up early then

As for a***holes, they are every where you go unfortunately!

[jaymer15]

I will be watching arrivals and departures from the P&V west a lot more relaxed, lots of room to sit down, scanner going in the back round and no a**holes with ladders. All it needs is the sun to shine.

[DutchCougarSpotter]

Maybe a strange question, but is there a map with places (and there names) where you can stand during departure day? Cant locate the P&V West for example... Thanks in advance

[ILoveLightnings]

West is Best for me. East end (Runway 27 ) is just ridiculous. Full of rude people who fence off "their" territory and in some cases, push, shove and physically harass anyone who gets in their space. West gets the stuff on the ground for the big stuff crossing at 09 and also a lot of the fighter jocks stay low and waggle wings. Except Typhoons who, as others have said, head for the moon at the soonest.

One note of caution, bring your own food and drink as even though the ticket price is the same, RIAT don't offer any refreshments at the West end.
Hopefully if they park the B52 up there, it won't depart on Monday because that noise really grates after it's been running for 45 minutes

[Traveller]

Interesting to see how others view it. Im not into photographing the same thing a million times then spending a day looking at it for it then to be never viewed again in my lifetime! Being close, very close in fact, to the taxying aircraft that go out to 27 is good for me. I sit back from the fence away from the crowd and enjoy. Also you can't beat a helicopter hover taxying 20m from you.