Well well, looks like the Sunday punters got the juicier piece of the RIAT pie this time, I went on Sat and, like many, felt a little short-changed because of the cancellations. I feel sorry for Pat Ag, coming all that way to be scrubbed twice, can't be fun... Anyway, here are my learnings (apart from the one about never again wearing jeans to a show where it is forecast to pee down for 5 hours):
I felt it was an ok show this year. Nothing really stood out in the way the OVT did a few years back, but I guess the hog would have done if we had seen the demo in full (even the hog pilot sounded really peed off at the tech probs!) I was not sure what the Red Devils were all about, not really a RIAT act were they.
No idea what the Saudi's display was like... anyone like to tell.... just a green version of the reds?
Really rated the Rafale, such panache and flair (sorry not flair, those are, ahem, banned at Riat). Tooled up tiffie was not quite as it was hyped to be although it was better than the RAF example usually is. Danish Falcon, well, ok I guess. Dutch? Not what it was once, nice look in the blue sky though.
Noticed that OFMC's spitfire and mustang had a bit of a mix up on the break, spit breaking right hand as expected for 27 but Ferocious Frankie breaking left hand for some reason. It confused the tower and the pilot by the seems of it, FF eventually entering the pattern correctly after a little aerial prevarication.
Nice to see Vic Norman leading the wingwalkers once more, but the finale act? Come on, RIAT, must do better! The Flybe Embraer regional jet only did flypasts, if we are going to see the machine in a show at least show us what it can do and display the thing properly! The Vulcan was nothing special really, much preferred the Southend display. Anyone know who flew her Saturday?
Now, this thought may be controvertial, and I know I should support the home team, but the Reds were thoroughly out flown by the Frecce IMO.
I know the reds always achieve a certain standard but this time particularly, I just felt the Frecce had the edge. They just do more with the routine, perhaps this is a bit unfair because I know that the Aermacchi is the sports car of the jet trainer world compared to our poor old hawk. I think it could be the solo tailslides that set them apart, just breathtaking! And the bomb burst into crossover has always made me shudder in a good way :0)
I was sorry that the speaker near me was not working (eastern end near a weird green thing with tyres - what is that?) Seems many had trouble hearing the commentary. I thought that all would be ok, after all 2 cadets were sitting at the foot of each speaker and the fault would be fixed in no time, but as 6 pm came I realised that would not happen. I ascertained the Air Cadets were there only to replace my brolly behind the somewhat flimsy fence when it strayed a full 30cm onto the live side of the field. I did want to hear the commentary, I think that Dan and Ben make excellent commentators, never mind.
(and what happened to the lovely post show concert by the RAF squadronairres, we seemed to get dodgy cover bands this time round, all flaming day)
To conclude, RIAT have a good show still, and clearly the non enthusiast crowd have gone home happy. It could be so much more though. Just one or two really headline acts would make a good show a great one again, just like the good old days! Perhaps 2012 will have a Greek element with the Olympics and all, meaning an old Olympic A300 display (I know they don't have them any more) , a formation of corsairs making the olympic rings, kebab vans replacing the overpriced burgers and Demis Roussos on the stage in the afternoon.... roll on 2012!
You never know.
