On base parking

[lambo17841]

What is the situation for on base parking,is it just pot luck or is it being filled first.Reading reports it sounds like early arrivals were put in the mud and on base was opened up for later arrivals.

John

[DeltaPapa]

That is what happen to me 2 years ago - early arrivals were put on the grass as the Red on base car park doesn't [or didn't] open until 7.30am

[AlexC]

That is what happen to me 2 years ago - early arrivals were put on the grass as the Red on base car park doesn't [or didn't] open until 7.30am

That's what happened to me too. I deliberately got into the right hand lane expecting to be directed onto the on base parking area but was then forced to the left by a marshall and eventually into the grass field. While I was still in the queue on the road for the field the on base parking was opened and cars were quickly getting in and the people were getting out and making their way to the entrance. I was not best pleased!

[speedbird2639]

This appears to be one of the major 'peevs' remaining - and RIAT dont appear to have addressed it in any shape or form. I seriously considered not going to RIAT this year for this reason alone - but now the e- ticket sales have been stopped thats my decision made for me. Other shows on live air force bases dont have this nonsense - why does RIAT? Just get it sorted - either reduce the number of checks or if you insist on looking in everyone's cool box have sufficient personnel to do it in a timely manner - the current chaos will just incentivise people to not go to RIAT/ go to other attractions/ days out.

[DeltaPapa]

That is what happen to me 2 years ago - early arrivals were put on the grass as the Red on base car park doesn't [or didn't] open until 7.30am

That's what happened to me too. I deliberately got into the right hand lane expecting to be directed onto the on base parking area but was then forced to the left by a marshall and eventually into the grass field. While I was still in the queue on the road for the field the on base parking was opened and cars were quickly getting in and the people were getting out and making their way to the entrance. I was not best pleased!

Ditto we were queuing and I mean in the queue long before they opened the on base car park but those people were allowed in and allowed to go to the head of the queue and it took us another 1.5hrs to get through the barriers. The other thing that happpend was our security booth had at least 30 people in the queue and they were scanning everyone and turning out all bags but other booths were allowing them through without checking. I said then I wouldn't go again and have no intention of doing so.

[pbeardmore]

Managing the queing system has always been a weak point a RIAT to say the least and one of the reasons I stopped going in. Made worse by the fact that, as a country, we are renound for fairness and not pushing in. The is no relationship between the time you arrive in your car and the time you find your position on base and take a seat. Have lost count of how many times I have seen new queues forming with people the getting in over an hour ahead of me etc etc etc.
And it does not get any better. I know there will be similar tails of injustice this year.
They should go and take advice from the AELTC, they have been effectively managing queues for years and are always completely fair

[Markie]

Came in on red route, I figured if I arrived a bit later, not my usual 6:45/7am time and just after 7:30 I might get into the on base parking, I was right, first time ever and worked perfectly. Bigger queues this morning though but still only took about 20mins to get in.

[mikeg]

I think the key thing was don't arrive too early.

I deliberately left a bit later, went in on the green route. Really easy, empty roads until we joined the queue of cars about 100 yds from the entrance at about 7:10am. Sat there for 20 minutes until the gates opened. Copper apologised for the wait as he went up and down the line but I explained to him it was perfect, last thing we wanted was to have to be towed out of the field in the evening by a tractor. Was in a few minutes after the gates opened and parked up on the hard standing. A bit of a queue to get past security but I think we were in earlier than the last 3 years when we've camped at Kempsford.

Left at 8pm when our car was one of the last ones left in the car park. Obviously no hassle getting out not even queues at the Air Balloon roundabout. Superb day. Apart from the odd shower and the rain at the end of the day it was about as perfect as it could have been, considering everything.

Flying excellent. Static displays great, reminded me a bit of the 70s and 80s and so good to walk through a C-5 again.

[Buckster]

went in on the Red route today and we parked the closed I've ever been on show day

drove in right past all the "flight-line aircraft" and parked about 100m from the red-entrance

no queue at security/tickets - straight in

all well organised and efficient

[boff180]

Yup tried red car park today after the disaster that was blue car park yesterday.

Arrived at 0731 and was waived straight into the on base car park with no waiting whatsoever, very efficient.

Getting out was just as efficient, only gripe was the complete lack of traffic marshals and I kept meeting traffic going the wrong way, that and the general public walking in the road and deliberately not getting out of the way. One guy ever stopped and laughed at me and the car behind....I was tempted....

Andy

P.s. red car park security were waiving FRIAT members through with only a bag check.

[Buckster]

yes - thats true - we did meet cars coming in on our way out too !! - was just wide enough

we left 3 ish - as quite a long day for the kids

[Meep]

The issue wasnt the on base/off base issue entirely. It was car park specific. The green car park grass was absolutely fine in many places, barely any softer than usual.

[Andyperkins]

After missing a turning I ended up going into the green car park, first time I have ever parked on base and pretty much opposite the B-2 to boot

Worth mentioning that I didn't arrive till half 9 so you don't have to get there early for on base parking.

Fantastic day and best weather I have experienced since I started going to RIAT again in 2009

[81TFW]

Arrived at 7am no queues into Early Bird car park but field very soggy (and about a third of it unusable). about half a dozen cars were let in after us then no more, saw a long queue for the Green car park though!

No trouble with security, very quick and efficient.

Came out at 7pm, one bloke in a Range Rover very stuck but we got out no problem.

Going to aim to arrive at 7.30am next year to try and get early on base parking

[tankbuster81]

Thanks to everyone who recommended the Red route...Fantastic on base parking!!!!

[Tim Holden]

Possibly my least stressful arrival at RIAT since it was at Cottesmore! Red carpark, gates opened on time. Security channels opened just after. Security lady took a good look at me, classified me as a hardcore enthusiast and a low risk then let me through.

My only gripe was that some aircraft were parked at weird angles to the sun with no access to the "sunny side" in the morning. Didn't get a decent shot of the 100 sqn Hawk.

[jezza]

Alex C, Delta Papa et al, I sympathise. I gave up after the 2010 security fiasco. SORELY tempted to go this year given the line up ( weather put me off ) but cannot stand the misery of getting in, and it seems if you get there early ( so you can get a good spot on the crowdline ) you get penalised! Not sure why this philosphy prevails but IF , and its a big if, I go again I will take the collective advice on here and turn up on red route after 7.30 in the right hand lane so I get straight onto base parking and in. If Im paying a lot of wonga for a seat, I want it to be a good one, AND ( greedy me ) I want some time to go round the static, preferably before the flying kicks off.
To all that went this year, hope you had a great time. Any improvements in traffic management / security Im sure would still be greatly appreciated by most of the enthusiasts who go, and just want a good spot to watch the action and smell the jet fuel.

[davidjones533]

I really don't understand why people who turn up an hour before it opens moan about having to queue to get in! You are fortunate at RIAT that they do have an 'early-bird' car park - at Waddington you just get sent around to rejoin the queue from the back.

I arrived at Fairford on the Red route around 7.40 (after a 3 hour drive from Sheffield) - no traffic, straight into the on-base car parking and through security in under 5 mins. The on-base parking and showground opens at 7.30 - get there at 6.30 and you'll be parked in the mud and have to wait an hour for it to open. Simple really.

[LN Strike Eagle]

Traffic on the red route seemed well organised - alarm was set for 4:15, but I overslept by two hours. Didn't end up leaving Essex until just gone 7, which is when we'd normally almost be there - I was worried we'd miss a huge chunk of the show. As it was arrived at 9am, straight onto the base car parking, then through security in no time at all and on the crowdline 30 minutes before flying started.

[lambo17841]

Came off the M4 at 15 took advice not to use blue car parks on Sunday,used the 361 to Lechlade and just followed the red route,thought I was on the wrong road with no traffic,it was only nearer the base with police and parking cones that I found I was going right way.
No waiting at gate around 8am parked with rear wheels on grass front on hard ground.No delay at security and was inside by 815.
Have not been for a couple of years but this was more like the old days,crowd numbers seemed down though,I can remember the crowd line at the landing end at least 10 deep but Sunday at 10am when I had finished static there was loads of room.A couple of gripes but will put them elsewhere.Left at 5,no problems getting out and apart from a wait at the Lechlade lights and the roundabout at Swindon, no real problems getting home to Sussex apart from the usual mayhem at m4/m25 junction and the m25 itself.

John in Sussex

[BDL]

Arrived at just after 7.30 yesterday, could see traffic on Red getting put onto the base itself. Friendly Plod (!) decided that I should park on Grass and promptly turned me down past the sewage works and onto the field. Grrrrr.

Have to say though they were really organised and did strike it slightly lucky with no more rain.

All in all a great weekend.