Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

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bigginmole
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by bigginmole »

Try double the £1500 and then add a bit plus fuel and if required accommodation and food

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Talldan76
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by Talldan76 »

Many people going to this?

Seems a bit light on posts!! Going to be my first time for a visit to Biggin - hoping the forecast improves!!

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maffie
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by maffie »

4 of us are going (went last year). This is our first airshow this year as we decided to give Abingdon a miss. We're used to the good old days of the Biggin Air Fair so it will be interesting to see where they place the crowd line in relation to last year. At least the fun-fair is in place :sad: , but as they have said themselves, this isn't so much an air display, as a thank you to the local community.

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Daz
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by Daz »

I'm at Biggin on Saturday. I've been going to Biggin since the age of 1, I'm now 45.
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duxfordhawk
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by duxfordhawk »

I will be there, I live locally and Biggin Hill is the first show I remember way back in 1982 when I was 8(although I was taken as a babe in arms before then I don't remember that).
The Festival of Flight is a lovely local event really and can't be compared to the Air Fairs of old, but more with a big old village fete, with classic cars, music, lots of on the ground events and a bit of an airshow, it's a good day out and hopefully it will thrive and return again in 2017.

I see tickets still available until 1700(5pm) today.
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ted633
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by ted633 »

Blenheim's arrived. Glad it made it across this year

itfcscott
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by itfcscott »

Mr Teichman is back! Low sweeping display...top side passes galore! :rock:

southyorkshireman
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by southyorkshireman »

Great displays so far. Place deserted since reds landed! Another show far exceeding expectations for this year

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Talldan76
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by Talldan76 »

Great show!! Will certainly be back next year...

No problems getting in, or getting out!! Even the rain couldn't dampen spirits!!

Dan

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Flyforfun
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by Flyforfun »

Show was ok,they need more content.

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ted633
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by ted633 »

Great day out. Weather didnt stop anything. Place was very busy until the reds finished, then it started to thin out. Mustang display was brilliant, looked great in the new scheme. Blenheim and bronco were good with the pyros. Special mention must go to the turbulent team for going up in some of the worst weather and giving their typically good show.
Will definately be attending again next year.

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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by timuss »

Great show given the weather some lovely displays, the Bronco and Blenhiem were brilliant with the added pyro :cool: Had no problem getting in or out really cracking day out. Just a noisy jet would be a nice addition for next year.
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itfcscott
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by itfcscott »

Thought it was a great show overall, the displays didn't suffer from any new regulations at all from where I wast sat. The only difference I could spit was the civilian display teams carrying out breaks to the right of crowd centre, other than that was business as usual. Which is a promising sign for the rest of the season too!

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ted633
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by ted633 »

itfcscott wrote:Thought it was a great show overall, the displays didn't suffer from any new regulations at all from where I wast sat. The only difference I could spit was the civilian display teams carrying out breaks to the right of crowd centre, other than that was business as usual. Which is a promising sign for the rest of the season too!


Did notice that the blades and wingwalkers were breaking to the right of the display line. I thought i was sat in the wrong place till the reds turned up.
Could also of done with the bhhh spitfire holding the topside all the way along the display line and not just for the r/h end. But, as you said, great day

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DanH
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by DanH »

Today was my first return to Biggin since the last Air Fair in 2010 so it was certainly good to finally return and despite the weather we really enjoyed the day. I was really inpressed with the new spin the Red Arrows have put on their crowd-rear arrival. The only thing that really let it down was the concert stage, which was ridiculously loud for large parts of the day and drowned out the aircraft noise and commentary, with the Red Arrows and the BHHH finale particularly suffering. Overall a good day though and all being well I'll definitely be looking to return next year.
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lynothehammer
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by lynothehammer »

To be honest i wasn't that fussed about going, I went with my little boy & the old man who was desperate to see the Heritage Collection. When i looked at the line up nothing really jumped out and grabbed me but i've come away having thoroughly enjoyed the airshow (the first time this season).

Nice to see the Wessex out on static and it looks brilliant, I'm really looking forward to seeing it on the airshow scene. The Blenheim was great with pyros (even though it scared the living daylights of my boy who'd fallen asleep) and seeing the P-51 in it's new scheme has won me over (wasn't that convinced seeing peoples photos of it).

The display line felt a lot closer to the crowd and getting in & out was a doddle, also it seemed a very relaxed atmosphere. My only moan was the static was a little sparse & a bit all over the place.

I'll definitely be going back next year.

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phreakf4
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by phreakf4 »

DanH wrote:... The only thing that really let it down was the concert stage, which was ridiculously loud for large parts of the day and drowned out the aircraft noise and commentary, with the Red Arrows and the BHHH finale particularly suffering.....


Absolutely agree with this. Especially annoying to those like me who shot much of this on video. As I commented to Festival of Flight staff as we were leaving the showground "We wanted to hear Merlins, not Motown".

Generally an enjoyable day, even the rain wasn't much problem (unless you were one of those who turned up in light "summer" clothes...)

I don't know why people are still surprised that many leave straight after the Reds, has always happened and yesterday was probably boosted by those wishing to get home for the football.

Traffic control obviously much better than previous years,; first time since the show returned that I have been off the field before 1930!
nothing is confirmed at a show until its u/c hits the tarmac or it is running in for its display.....

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DanH
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by DanH »

phreakf4 wrote:Traffic control obviously much better than previous years,; first time since the show returned that I have been off the field before 1930!


I'd second this, the traffic control getting in and out was nothing short of exemplary and something of a benchmark for other shows to aspire to. Plenty of stewards on hand to direct the traffic and what's more, people were actually obeying them which probably helps. :clap:
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Tim N
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by Tim N »

For me , the only sign of this post Shoreham tragedy world was 'Torquil and Tarquin ' and the other hired muscle on both sides of the main road. This and the screens that were put up to deter freeloaders.

I set my expectation bar at the lowest level and fully expected the flying to be somewhere over Bromley.
How wrong I was, I didn't notice any distance issues and the display was even perfectly watchable from 3 quarters of the way back in the car park, we watched the first couple of items from the car due to the early rain.

I thoroughly enjoyed the display and am now wondering if Duxford have either misinterpreted the rules or have been stitched up somehow.
The way things are going, the Festival of Flight is heading to the top of my most looked forward to airshow each year.
The highlights for me were the Bronco and Blenheim displays and of course the Reds who always look at home at Biggin . The display was beautifully rounded off by the Spitfire and Hurricane which always seem to have a lovely cloudscape to perform against.
If you are reading this Colin, well done to you and your team on a great show :clap:

southyorkshireman
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by southyorkshireman »

The day certainly seemed to run very smoothly. We arrived at 8.45 with hold ups and left about 6 and got straight out. The only delays seemed to be caused on the road back into Bromley where there were a lot of cars double parked after the no stopping cones ended just before the Downe roundabout.

Catering seemed good (prices average for shows) and very few queues. The trade stands seemed much more general public orientated as you would expect with surprisingly low specialist traders at the event. The 60s village was nice and gave a bit of variety, although the stage really did need to be quieter at times in the display.

The displays were all excellent. It's a shame the crowd line is at one end these days. A steward told me display centre is the tower which makes everyone to one side, although some pilots seemed to use that space to turn which gave some nice top sides. Would be nice to have the longer crowd line, beyond the radar.

The BHHH pair were a fitting ending, although I had hoped for a tighter formation and top side pass of the pair. For selfish reasons I'd have loved a shot like that as the Spitfire was the one my wife and I had sat in for my 30th birthday and the hurricane displayed at our wedding. Still can't have it all. I guess the day of Ray Hanna / Nigel Lamb Biggin finishes are gone.

A good day which seemed largely unaffected by the new rules. Looking forward to net year!

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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by UKTopgun »

Although perhaps not hitting the heights (or lows!) of a Hannah or Lamb finale Spitfire display of old - we'll probably never see the wonderful valley dive ever again - I thought Steve Jones put the Kent Spitfire through a lovely sweeping routine, which, along with the classical music, proved a very evocative conclusion to a great display.

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maffie
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by maffie »

Sedate is my word for Saturday. No problems with getting into the car parking. Getting out was quick as well, although I believe a lot of people left after the Reds showed. Slow walk with everyone else up to the ticket desk ( we arrived around 9am) but the line was moving. Got a spot on the fence, set up camp and waited. I would suggest that the fence may have been moved back approx. 10ft from last year, but nothing noticeable.

I certainly noticed a reduced number of stalls and tents from last year, and I don't think as many people were there this year either (which on a personally selfish level is good for me as there isn't that squashing feel)

Overall it was a good day out but it did lack something without any jet noise ( I know the Red Arrows were there, but they aren't noisy enough !!! ) And move that music stage to one side or the other, not in the middle.

Will I be back next year? I'll wait and see the lineup first


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svr1317
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by svr1317 »

It looks like Biggin Hill have opted for a 2 day event in 2017 which would be great news, but unfortunately they have gone for the same weekend as Eastbourne and potentially Herne Bay in August. Although I can see the possible cost advantage of planes being in the area, based on this year the free seaside shows would win hands down compared to a paid entry at Biggin on the same weekend. I do hope they reconsider.

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The Baron
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by The Baron »

Madness. As you say, combining costs with other shows is understandable, but trying to combine with two local free shows is lunacy.
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mafro987daboss
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Re: Biggin Hill Festival of Flight

Post by mafro987daboss »

Patrouille de France confirmed!

I wonder whether a fast jet will be booked this year considering it's the Biggin 100?