Is Totterdown bad for Riat

All you'll ever need to know about the UK's biggest airshow
User avatar
RIAT Air Ops
Posts: 474
Joined: Fri 19 Dec 2008, 2:00 pm

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by RIAT Air Ops »

Dan O'Hagan wrote:Bottom line is that moving the display line further and higher from the public means photographers have no choice but to use the campsites, as from inside too many shows (not just RIAT) are distant and remarkably sterile.


The RIAT display line hasn't been pushed farther away from the crowd line and the height minima has also not changed; worth noting that the display line is a boundary.

Cheers, Tom

Vodka
Posts: 1948
Joined: Thu 04 Sep 2008, 3:12 pm

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by Vodka »

Thank you for that Tom. . . . . perhaps peoples eyes have just got older but not any wiser? :clap:

jayne_morris
Posts: 131
Joined: Tue 03 Feb 2009, 10:51 am

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by jayne_morris »

Canon wrote:a camera and lens is an item that is expected to be at an airshow, chances are if you're behind my camera and lens then that means you arrived later than me, so thats your own fault :whistle:
A flag pole on the other hand serves no purpose and no one gains anything from it being there. In fact everyone loses from it being there during the show. Put it up before/ after the show if you want. but during the show keep it down.
Must remember to take some kind of cutters with me next year for any flag poles that end up in my shots :ninja:


I didn't see a single flagpole along the crowd line or in the grandstands at the show this year

User avatar
speedbird2639
Posts: 1349
Joined: Wed 13 Jul 2011, 11:35 am

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by speedbird2639 »

@jayne - I think Canon is referring to those who stay at Totterdown to watch the show.

Canon
Posts: 205
Joined: Tue 09 Aug 2016, 7:09 pm

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by Canon »

jayne_morris wrote:
Canon wrote:a camera and lens is an item that is expected to be at an airshow, chances are if you're behind my camera and lens then that means you arrived later than me, so thats your own fault :whistle:
A flag pole on the other hand serves no purpose and no one gains anything from it being there. In fact everyone loses from it being there during the show. Put it up before/ after the show if you want. but during the show keep it down.
Must remember to take some kind of cutters with me next year for any flag poles that end up in my shots :ninja:


I didn't see a single flagpole along the crowd line or in the grandstands at the show this year


Talking about inside Totterdown. Any flags that get into my shots will mysteriously disappear under the cover of darkness :ninja: So if you camp at Totterdown, and like your flag, take it down during the flying display :grin:
Canon 80D
Canon 600D
Sigma 150-600mm C
Canon 70-300mm L
Sigma 18-300mm C

sopwithflyer
Posts: 416
Joined: Mon 03 Feb 2014, 11:59 am

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by sopwithflyer »

DerekF wrote:
Alanko wrote:I'm picturing a grassy field full of wee tents and fat, sweaty aircraft spotters. Ewwwww.

Dan O'Hagan wrote:Bottom line is that moving the display line further and higher from the public means photographers have no choice but to use the campsites...


How about actually watching the aircraft with their own eyes, rather than impulsively snapping everything passing over? Or finding a better hobby? :whistle:

Colour me old fashioned, but I go to airshows to enjoy seeing the aircraft, not simply filling up an SD card. :grin:


Boy are you on the wrong forum with that sort of attitude. Many of us enjoy taking photos and that the fact that you don't doesn't actually make you a better person.


I get Alanko though. As I said on another thread. Someone stood directly in front of me on Saturday with his big lens (They may be reading this - exciting) When I told him to .... off he said, "well you are'nt taking photos." An airshow isn't just a photographic session - its an airshow. I accept we all have different reasons for going, but to many (see the manners comments) it seems to be the, 'be all, and end all', an addiction.

User avatar
DerekF
Posts: 5209
Joined: Sun 07 Sep 2008, 7:54 am
Location: Handforth, Cheshire, UK

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by DerekF »

Yes I understand that everyone goes to airshows for different reasons. But that is no excuse for Alanko's somewhat offensive and condescending attitude to those who choose to do something different from him. Once again we see someone posting who seems to do just to provoke a reaction.

DonaldGrump
Posts: 225
Joined: Mon 23 Jan 2017, 6:57 pm

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by DonaldGrump »

DerekF wrote:Yes I understand that everyone goes to airshows for different reasons. But that is no excuse for Alanko's somewhat offensive and condescending attitude to those who choose to do something different from him. Once again we see someone posting who seems to do just to provoke a reaction.


Oh come on Derek its not offensive is it really. I think there have been enough posts on here posted by the photography people on here to prove there is indeed a superior attitude amongst many who attend shows. I have witnessed it myself on numerous occasions, its appalling. As per usual its not everybody but a higher proportion than many on here would like to admit.

I am one who also basically goes to shows to watch the aircraft, and when I have taken a few pics its has become clear that I miss out on the spectacle as i am concentrating on trying to take a picture rather than what i am taking a picture of. Equally I simply cannot compete with the wonderful shots many post on here. I dont however believe it is needed to have the manners of a starving pig to get those great shots.

Honestly if you are offended by Alankos post, you really are easily offended.

User avatar
DerekF
Posts: 5209
Joined: Sun 07 Sep 2008, 7:54 am
Location: Handforth, Cheshire, UK

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by DerekF »

Hence my use of the phrase "somewhat offensive". Personally I am not bothered what anyone thinks of how I wish to enjoy airshows but I still think is an odd attitude to come on an airshow forum to slag off photographers when very clearly many of us enjoy our photography. That's all.

kianelle
Posts: 71
Joined: Thu 08 May 2014, 12:42 pm

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by kianelle »

Big lenses at totterdown !!
Never seen them !!
https://flic.kr/p/WmaKf7

User avatar
Ouragan
Posts: 275
Joined: Fri 22 Jul 2016, 11:34 am

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by Ouragan »

Derek, your post could be seen to be offensive and condescending as well. Them's that lives in glass houses etc... :down:

And Vodka, you are absolutely spot on. :clap:

User avatar
DerekF
Posts: 5209
Joined: Sun 07 Sep 2008, 7:54 am
Location: Handforth, Cheshire, UK

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by DerekF »

Ouragan wrote:Derek, your post could be seen to be offensive and condescending as well. Them's that lives in glass houses etc... :down:

And Vodka, you are absolutely spot on. :clap:



How on earth could anything I've posted be construed as being offensive? And I was accused of being sensitive?

Jeez.. This forum......

I don't often agree with Dan O but he is right. This forum isn't what it used to be...

User avatar
Ouragan
Posts: 275
Joined: Fri 22 Jul 2016, 11:34 am

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by Ouragan »

DerekF wrote:
Boy are you on the wrong forum with that sort of attitude. Many of us enjoy taking photos and that the fact that you don't doesn't actually make you a better person.


Really?

User avatar
Wes_Howes
Posts: 3929
Joined: Wed 03 Sep 2008, 7:39 am
Contact:

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by Wes_Howes »

I don't see anything offensive in what Derek said. He was merely pointing out that having a go a people with cameras, especially on this forum, is a bit of an odd thing to do.

Good luck to anyone brave enough to take the flag poles down with the underwear attached to them :sick:

User avatar
sithrity
Posts: 460
Joined: Fri 02 Aug 2013, 10:15 pm

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by sithrity »

I take a camera to airshows (nothing special, just a 300mm lense) I try to set myself up in a good spot, never that far forward as we have a small tent for the kids. Talking about photography at airshows being an "addiction" or "illness". I have another theory, maybe these (us?) people feel the need to justify the cost of their equipment as often as possible. I sometimes consider leaving mine at home, then remind myself how much it all cost me. Its no excuse for rudeness though.
I don't know everything there is to know about our hobby.

Kids, aviation, missus then responsibilities, (in that order)

User avatar
DerekF
Posts: 5209
Joined: Sun 07 Sep 2008, 7:54 am
Location: Handforth, Cheshire, UK

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by DerekF »

Ouragan wrote:
DerekF wrote:
Boy are you on the wrong forum with that sort of attitude. Many of us enjoy taking photos and that the fact that you don't doesn't actually make you a better person.


Really?


And you're offended by that?

I can only apologize if you are offended by that. I had no idea that such sensitivity existed.

User avatar
capercaillie
Posts: 9336
Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 3:04 pm
Location: Leominster

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by capercaillie »

kianelle wrote:Big lenses at totterdown !!
Never seen them !!
https://flic.kr/p/WmaKf7


I think I've found Wally! :up:
"The surrogate voice of st24"

My flickr photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/146673712@N06/

bobtomlin
Posts: 106
Joined: Sun 16 Nov 2008, 10:13 am
Location: Stockport

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by bobtomlin »

Just wondered what are your thoughts on Totterdown and do you think it is bad in some way for RIAT ?



Ticket sales-wise:- I believe Saturday was a sell out (which would suggest that Totterdown being there is academic). I don't know how close Sunday was to selling out.
I've not seen from there myself, but would have thought the views on arrivals/departures days wouldn't be as good from Totterdown as the P&V's, so I don't think that would affect those parts of RIAT?
Totterdown's always been an option for those attending more than one day at RIAT needing to stay somewhere.

Disclaimer - I'm not a pilot, aircraft designer or expert in aviation/airshow safety, just an enthusiast with a camera. :smile:

Safety-wise: Obviously there's potential for an aircraft, or part of one, to end up at Totterdown, just the same as there is for other places within a fairly large area around Fairford.
Airshows are always going to involve some amount of risk. Don't be near a Helicopter when the tail rotor fails.
Yes, organisers can do some things to minimise risks but will not be able to completely eliminate them.
People have mentioned the risks involved with overflying. Also the idea of keeping areas free for potential emergency landing sites/avoidance of crowds.

That last one is presuming that the pilot will still have control over his aircraft.
The 'elephant in the room' is that an aircraft (or parts of it) could potentially end up anywhere within a several mile radius (including the crowd centre, approach roads, official campsite, houses) should there ever be some catastrophic incident where the pilot has no control (e.g. collision with another aircraft, aircraft structural failure, controls failure, pilot blackout), especially if this occurs at some height.
I'm 'painting a bleak picture here' but the more you think (about how insurers might think) about the possible potential risks with airshows, it's a miracle they take place at all, especially if looking at footage of incidents like Ramstein, Reno and Sknyliv, from where I think a combined total of 154 people in the actual airshow crowd were killed (you can find the footage on google/youtube but I won't link here and it's not easy viewing).

Talking generally, not just about Fairford, for a moment; minimising that risk to an official airshow crowd might at some stage have involved pushing the display line back, but this might have correspondingly increased the potential risk to outlying areas - (and just thinking about Shoreham as an example here for a moment), that can affect the risk to people who have no interest/nothing to do with the show, e.g. on a road on their way to somewhere. Conversely, keeping things tight to the crowdline might increase this risk to the show goer, but decrease it to the local area.
Personally, I choose to accept the risk when I go to an airshow (as I'm sure many do - also probably many of those at Totterdown), but didn't see a disclaimer on the ticket and don't know how insurers/solicitors think regarding liability in these situations - I'd be interested to know, though. I think Rhymes used to say 'the owners accept no liability/responsiblity for.......on their land' or similar, but can't be sure.
I'd be happy to agree to a disclaimer although I'd bet solicitors/insurers would probably say that organisers would still have a 'duty of care' whilst on the premises, or something?

My point here is that by raising concerns and singling out Totterdown, (where people have actually chosen to gather to see the spectacle and probably accept some risk), concerns could correspondingly be raised about other outlying areas where people are, who are not interested in the Air Tattoo (and therefore a whole can of worms). They (and their solicitors/insurers) might start demanding that they should not be put at increased risk and threaten the existance of the whole thing.
Do they still keep the M11 open during Duxford shows? I believe a '109 'hopped low over this once and a Delphin actually ended up on the carriageway?

Risk wise, I do wonder about some crossover manoeuveres (esp. the Frecce Tricolori multi aircraft, multi direction one) and some formation crossovers/breaks which are often at crowd centre.
Tip: Don't watch online footage of Helicopters losing tail rotor control and then shedding rotor blades on impact just before watching one doing a hovering display in front of the main grandstand.


Viewing flying display from the Airshow-wise: I didn't notice any difference this year to the other years I've been in the crowdline. They still appear further away than I'd personally like them to be.

Georgeconna
Posts: 830
Joined: Wed 30 May 2012, 2:38 pm

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by Georgeconna »

RIAT Air Ops wrote:
Dan O'Hagan wrote:Bottom line is that moving the display line further and higher from the public means photographers have no choice but to use the campsites, as from inside too many shows (not just RIAT) are distant and remarkably sterile.


The RIAT display line hasn't been pushed farther away from the crowd line and the height minima has also not changed; worth noting that the display line is a boundary.

Cheers, Tom



"worth noting that the display line is a boundary". That's good info.

People are shooting aircraft and need to use bigger and bigger Lenses, I was happy in the 2000's with a 300, now a 600 is necessary. Now I jsut can be bothered photographing and enjoy the flying.

Maybe the line is still the same as Tom Sates but the fast jet displays were north of Rhymes Farm when that was open so something has changed to push the displays out further and further and to stay away from the Boundary. Fear of the FDD?

Even touch and goes now are a thing of the past with overshoots being the norm now.
Cheers

George

Zero shows for 2018 Giving in a Rest.

User avatar
sithrity
Posts: 460
Joined: Fri 02 Aug 2013, 10:15 pm

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by sithrity »

Georgeconna wrote:
RIAT Air Ops wrote:
Dan O'Hagan wrote:Bottom line is that moving the display line further and higher from the public means photographers have no choice but to use the campsites, as from inside too many shows (not just RIAT) are distant and remarkably sterile.


The RIAT display line hasn't been pushed farther away from the crowd line and the height minima has also not changed; worth noting that the display line is a boundary.

Cheers, Tom



"worth noting that the display line is a boundary". That's good info.

People are shooting aircraft and need to use bigger and bigger Lenses, I was happy in the 2000's with a 300, now a 600 is necessary. Now I jsut can be bothered photographing and enjoy the flying.

Maybe the line is still the same as Tom Sates but the fast jet displays were north of Rhymes Farm when that was open so something has changed to push the displays out further and further and to stay away from the Boundary. Fear of the FDD?

Even touch and goes now are a thing of the past with overshoots being the norm now.


Not always. Here's my poor effort. :lol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHCdGQtkIv4&t=59s
I don't know everything there is to know about our hobby.

Kids, aviation, missus then responsibilities, (in that order)

User avatar
CJS
Posts: 8869
Joined: Thu 15 Jul 2010, 3:30 pm
Location: Hogwarts

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by CJS »

capercaillie wrote:
kianelle wrote:Big lenses at totterdown !!
Never seen them !!
https://flic.kr/p/WmaKf7


I think I've found Wally! :up:


The guy at the bottom - his lens got so heavy he fell over. :shock:
"There's only one way of life, and that's your own"

TYPHOON3
Posts: 1080
Joined: Wed 19 May 2010, 4:38 pm

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by TYPHOON3 »

kianelle wrote:Big lenses at totterdown !!
Never seen them !!
https://flic.kr/p/WmaKf7

This group of guys were Dutch and were only a few yards away from my tent.They were there Sat and Sun and they left their cars in the park and view field and walked accross to camping field 2.The guy with the stripey trousers got really excited at times when he had seen he had got the shot he wanted, he made some really strange noises.

sopwithflyer
Posts: 416
Joined: Mon 03 Feb 2014, 11:59 am

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by sopwithflyer »

CJS wrote:
capercaillie wrote:
kianelle wrote:Big lenses at totterdown !!
Never seen them !!
https://flic.kr/p/WmaKf7


I think I've found Wally! :up:


The guy at the bottom - his lens got so heavy he fell over. :shock:


Isnt that wonderful? 4 aviation photographers and an entomolgy photographer all in harmony . You can see he is just telling a couple of grass hoppers to get out of the way of his 2 spotted ladybird.

User avatar
captainfurious
Posts: 206
Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 7:26 pm

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by captainfurious »

I can see my tent!

Big Eric
Posts: 2155
Joined: Sun 22 Aug 2010, 6:15 pm

Re: Is Totterdown bad for RIAT

Post by Big Eric »

captainfurious wrote:I can see my tent!


Tim the Enchanter doesn't live in a tent, don't be so silly ! :grin: