Went on Saturday...
Traffic / Parking - excellent!
Queue and Security Checks - good (maybe RIAT took note of my e-mail from last year - the checks then were shamefully inadequate - and poorly planned).
Static - both good and bad. Bad for the likes of the Helis (stalls, flags and banners all over the place) but excellent positioning of the Tiger Meet aircraft.
Flying Aprons - good at Eastern end but poor in the west. All those nice Hunters - and not a good shot to be had.
Flying Display - left at five - but what I saw till then was very good. I have seen moans on here about not re-jigging the programme. As en ex RIAT volunteer (1985 to 1997 inclusive) I know it's just not that simple.
The crews (and support crews) have to be bussed in from their accommodation at pre-arranged times - drumming up transport at the click of a finger doesn't work!
Checklist - I know this takes some compiling - but can we have it in some sort of semblance of an order.
The Spanish Casa 101's for example - these are not in order of serial, 79 code or tail code!
Surely a breakdown by type, then model, then serial...? And maybe a gap for additions and visitors rather than the photos?
Yes I would love to have seen the Italian Tonka and C-27 and the Saudi Hawks - but life is not that simple!
Will I be returning next year? Yes (and not just because I took advantage of the buy now get next year's ticket free promotion offer over the Fathers Day weekend).
Was it worth £40 - probably.
Was it worth £20 - most definitely!
Arthur