aknott68 wrote:Is there any reason Duxford shows couldnt start a bit later in the day to deal with head on sun?
And as I say having flightline access at end of day to get great evening light would be a bonus
A later start would be nice for the light for the photographers but they are in reality a very small proportion and pleasing them would probably upset a lot who want to get on their way home especially if they have a long drive and work next morning - it appears that some people do travel quite a long way judging by some past comments here.
A later start would probably make a post display flightline walk less viable, the organisers probably want to clear the site and get cleared up and the merchandisers probably want to get away and can't do so until the public have gone (I'm assuming there because of the prominence of H&S in everything we do). Further points to note, some of the flightline aircraft depart straight home after the show so it might be a bit sparse and they would need people to man it later into the evening and most are volunteers having a long day. A positive of the post display flightline would be that not everybody would depart straight away hence easing the departure traffic.
I'll throw in one suggestion to meet both of your ideas though which takes it a bit further (I wonder if the powers that be read this):
Maybe one of the Saturday shows (or an extra event) could be an 'evening' show even a lower key affair (e.g. 1 1/2 to 2 hours) starting at around 6 pm with the flightline open beforehand in late afternoon light ( e.g.from 4pm until 5.15) for photographers and then the light for both the flightline and display would be much nicer. As shorter show would have fewer participants and thus the aircraft could be spaced out more (countering one adverse point that's been made) and with fewer participants it wouldn't take as long to walk so wouldn't need to be open so long to meet the closing time, at the moment it takes at least an hour to walk properly, with fewer aircraft that would reduces significantly. I appreciate that it might be a pain for the people who stay behind afterwards but whatever the timing there will always be issues of some kind.
I suppose the other way to do it (I'm thinking as I type here so forgive me if it's not perfect english) would be to do a smaller evening event on the Friday arrivals day, there is usually a good attendance on the pre show Fridays. I haven't considered the full logistics of that but just throwing it into the discussion pot.
moving on, I went yesterday and have to say what an excellent show it was. I am gutted for those who went Saturday and missed so much of it (my brother and friends included) and sorry to gloat over how good a day I had and I even took my wife. All the doom mongering before I did feel a bit of trepidation in taking my wife to a Duxford show for the first time but there were very few acts I didn't enjoy and from a photography point of view the aircraft were generally close enough to get good pics (plenty of filled frames at much less than 400mm), the one problem I have with the new rules (I've said this elsewhere before) is the height rather than the distance of the subjects - far more belly shots this year which I personally dislike. To pick a highlight it has to be the massed spitfires tailchasing but lots of other good acts too.
And another point leading on from the above - my wife was a first timer at a Duxford show (although she has been with me on many non-show days) who I'd describe as a blueprint for a 'Joe Public' type at an air display and she thought the whole thing was 'amazing' - and she has been to other shows in the past but rarely used that description (558 at OW last October was one I remember and the 2 Lancs at Lt Gransden) and not for a full show. SO I suggest that despite all the doom-mongering and slagging off of Duxford shows on here it is actually giving 'Joe Public' a good day out and it's only the fairly small minority of photographers (including those who miss the naughty fields) and 'heavy' enthusiasts who find it disappointing. From that point of view Duxford are getting it reasonably right even with the constraints of the current CAA rules. For the benefit of the 'armchair show-watchers' the car parks on the show side were virtually full , we got there rather late at around 12.30 due to an accident on the M.11 and were in the overflow car park at the western end through the hedge (great for getting out though) and the place did seem pretty full despite the predictions of some on here (I won't ask THEM to lick my lottery numbers!). Yes we were in the FoD enclosure itself pretty full and that was a good experience as far as my wife was concerned - she want's to go again!
My only criticisms of the current 'day' is the child's prices - they make it quite expensive for a family day out and when we oldies ar e pushing up the daisies there needs to be a new generation of airshow goers coming through, high child prices wont help achieve that, and the food prices (as previously mentioned) £6.50 for a burger (6oz admittedly) is a lot if feeding a family especially if you're buying drinks as well but there was a queue so some paid it. I always take a picnic anyway so I can stay in the enclosure all day (I don't do the museum on show days) but have to add that since the permanent on site cafes (Wingco Joes etc) were franchised out their prices have leapt and whereas I used to support them on non show days (and get my discount) I have now started taking a packed lunch instead, I do feel they have that bit wrong. There- I've given a bit of balance to my offering!
andy