Farnborough International Airshow 2018

All the chat about the bi-annual spectacular
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techniquest
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by techniquest »

It was marketed as "FAB Friday", others can choose more appropriate "F Words" as it clearly was not FAB,


Hear hear. I don't think I've ever felt as ripped-off at an airshow as I did yesterday (Friday) at Farnborough.
It all started at the shuttle bus stop at the Queens Parade car park where there were two gate options available; I chose 'Cargo Village' as this was being displayed in big writing on the light-board and it was something that would very much interest me. Only when we got to the airfield did I discover that 'Cargo Village' was closed, having already been all but dismantled and no aircraft were there.
Moving towards the front, I was really happy to see that the LM100 was still there, and the 787, and the 737Max; but this wasn't to last long as all three started up and departed along with some biz stuff. In fact it was more like departures day than 'Fab Friday'. Thank goodness the A350-1000 stayed!
Moving to the halls, further disappointment as it seemed the majority of the stands in all 4 halls were closed - or simply abandoned. There were some hoards of kids grabbing sweets and the occasional pen and brochure, but few other visitors.
The Red Arrows arrived at around 11, but one flyby then a run and break to land; no display.
The static aircraft display had some interesting aircraft; the Hi-Fly A380 making a real impression in it's special Coral Reef paint scheme and the seemingly tiny A220-300 next to it. There was a Wyoming ANG C130, Portugese Air Force and Italian Air Force ATR variants, a Brazilian Navy Lynx and a Norwegian Sea King and odd-looking military(ish) variants of the Diamond Twin Star and what looked like an old Cessna crop sprayer. There was a Tornado GR4 round the back next to a pink ATR and a HondaJet. A couple of nice aircarft arrived: C-17 from Dover and a Spanish Navy Citation, the Avro Anson too.
The flying display finally got underway with a single flyby by the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurrican and then, after a gap, a couple of Red Bull Extra-type aircraft did air race stuff between inflatable cones which seemed to go on for ages on the far side of the runway. There was a Red Bull Alpha Jet and DC6 there but they didn't fly. :sad:
The Spanish Harrier displayed and was great to see - but you only got the full hover impact if you were at a very specific part of the airfield; then the A350-1000 displayed, which was superb. A new Turkish attack helicopter displayed next and then the 727 took off with The Blades display team and came back for a formation fly-past and pull-up (very impressive). The 727 display was truly excellent and almost made it all worthwhile, but then I remembered just how much stuff had gone - stuff I wanted to see and the title 'Fab' Friday felt even more ill-placed. I left after the 727; there was nothing else I really wanted to see (Wing-Walkers, Gyrocopter, The Blades...)
So come on Farnborough; what was 'Fab' about it? A significant number of aircraft from the trade days had gone, the halls were all-but abandoned, and only a small amount of the stuff for the public days flew. How is this 'Fab'?
For example (quotes from the Fab Friday page on Farnborough's website):
"View Farnborough International Airshow’s famous flying display and see the big names in aviation showcase their latest innovations in the air and across the static aircraft site." Yeah - most of it had gone!
"To those that have a real passion and keen interest in aviation, this is an unrivalled opportunity to gain access to the trade show, experience all four exhibition halls and take in the latest technology whilst interacting with industry specialists." Industry specialists that were all but invisible or showed little interest in interacting with anyone except groups of school-kids.
"Exclusive access all areas" Unless they had already been dismantled, closed or by invitation only.
I will never be taken in by this kind of false advertising again, and Farnborough organisers should hang their heads in shame.

Tom105
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by Tom105 »

Mrj been taken over the north side so anyone wanting to see that is out of luck also the l3 technology bombardier aircraft is also over there!
Thomas

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Big_Gareth
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by Big_Gareth »

techniquest wrote:
The Spanish Harrier displayed and was great to see - but you only got the full hover impact if you were at a very specific part of the airfield;


Can I be cheeky and ask where this specific part of the airfield was, I'm hoping to go tomorrow?

Cheers

farnboroughrob
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by farnboroughrob »

I am afraid that this has been going on for years, and will ,not get better. For instance the cargo village 747's and An-124 are loosing money sitting there so are not going to hang around for the public. Sadly the pre-show show info has been appalling with most trade aircraft only revealed a couple of weeks before. Trouble is it it not widely known that anybody can buy a trade ticket. There were plenty of spotters in there on Monday. Only Monday and Tuesday are really worth the effort. It says alot that all the Boeing executive aircraft departed Tuesday PM!
For the record the following trade aircraft departed when
Qatar A350 19th
Qatar 747 18th
Qatar 777 19th
A220 20th
CRJ 19th
7378 MAX 19th
DHC8 19th
A400M 19th
A330NEO 17th
ATR42 20th
A330 TAP 18th
Cargologic 747 18th
Typhoon 17th
PC12/PC-21 20th
CJ4 20th
C208 20th
Beech 350 20th
BD700 20th
LM-100 20th
737-7MAX 20th
P-8 19th
Bell 429 20th
KC390 19th
An124 19th
D328 20th
A220 Air Baltic 17th

Tom105
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by Tom105 »

Right in front of the control tower it was yesterday.
Thomas

Distant Thunder
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by Distant Thunder »

Has anyone got the flying times for today. The official website is a load of s......

techniquest
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by techniquest »

Distant Thunder wrote:Has anyone got the flying times for today. The official website is a load of s......


Download the app; I found that far more useful than the website.

Can I be cheeky and ask where this specific part of the airfield was, I'm hoping to go tomorrow?


Place yourself directly oppsite the control tower and you should be okay.

Trouble is it it not widely known that anybody can buy a trade ticket.


Friday was advertised as a Trade day. I suppose you have to be in-the-know to realise that you can get a Monday or Tuesday trade ticket, even if you're just an ordinary member of the public; as certainly this is not suggested on the website.

UKAirshowTour
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by UKAirshowTour »

The show has hit a new low. The f-16 and red bull demo are having to display twice to fill gaps

FarnboroJohn
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by FarnboroJohn »

Anybody know what time the Sycamore is up today, that's about the only thing I'm interested in seeing.

AARDVARK
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by AARDVARK »

It’s an absolute shambles and really isn’t worth attending for the public days ,it seems as if they actually want the show itself to get bad publicity every time it’s on?
I gave up going 2yrs ago and despite the Harrier (which I saw 4yrs ago)there isn’t anything I really need to see,straight after RIAT aswell it’s a damp squid!

Frogfoot
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by Frogfoot »

Deary me, this commentary is unbearable. Also, has anyone spotted the tents along the crowdline?

lambo17841
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by lambo17841 »

Sycamore on at 1533 according to listing.

John in Seaford

BossMann
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by BossMann »

There was a livestream of one of the Trade show flying displays:
https://play.staylive.se/viafiber/w/11214

Does anyone know of a livestream this weekend?

Here is the full flying schedule for Saturday:

Iron Man 12pm

Battle of Britain Memorial Flypast 12:30pm

Red Bull Air Race demo 12:32pm

F-16 1:08pm

AV8B Harrier 1:34pm

Red Arrows 2:05pm

Autogyro 2:20pm

Airbus A350 2:30pm

Seafury 2:40pm

Red Bull Air Race demo 2:48pm

Bristol Sycamore 3:33pm

Blenheim and Spitfire 3:40pm

Flying Bulls 3:49pm

Wingwalkers 4:20pm

F-16 4:37pm

BO-105 4:54pm

Boeing 727 and Blades 5:03pm

Blades and Pyro 5:18pm

Frogfoot
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by Frogfoot »

£7 for a sausage baguette - that’s outrageous!

farnboroughrob
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by farnboroughrob »

Frogfoot wrote:£7 for a sausage baguette - that’s outrageous!

If you look hard you can find a £11 burger, or could on Monday!

FarnboroJohn
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by FarnboroJohn »

Thank you for the running order, I caught the Sycamore from the playing field, though it kept so low over the airfield that it only popped up at the East end of each run!

The show appeared to be heavily dependent on the wings provided by Red Bull.

Big Eric
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by Big Eric »

AARDVARK wrote: it’s a damp squid!


"squid"?

Ermm..............no! :grin:

That should be "squib", which is an old name for a small firework. :wink:

ben888
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by ben888 »

Just back, was ok just about.

Noting like before though... hardly anything flying in comparison to a few years again. Big breaks between anything flying ... so much so went for a walk mid pm.

F16 flew twice, same for red bull air races.

Honestly, never going again ... it’s simply not worth £40 or £70 for the grandstand.

Oh and know it’s not their fault, again red arrows just flyby.

No typhoon, f18 or f15. Asked the US airforce squaddie why they weren’t flying and he said they wanted to but someone above said no.

Even the static display were sparse. Hardly any military stuff on display.

Don’t get why there is so little flying in comprison to a few years ago.

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effects
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by effects »

I just can't believe that after all these years people still get 'conned' and go on the Friday, Sat or Sun. Stop whinging and BUY A TRADE TICKET! it is quite straightforward loads of people do it.
Nikon P900 (Sony DSC-HX400V, Sony DSC-HX300 and DSC-H2 retired)

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Jakub.Zurek
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by Jakub.Zurek »

Was that all we were meant to get from the Flying Bulls? Was quite looking forward to the Corsair, Lightning and Mitchell all doing their excellent solo displays after not attending Legends this year, but all they did was circle around the airport a few times and land. Very disappointing :dizzy:

Horrible breaks in between flying, and as has been said, embarrassing that the F-16 and Red Bull Air Race demo had to perform twice. Harrier, F-16, A350, B727 and Red Bull helicopters just about made it bearable.

Also, when the commentator announced the BBMF flypast is in memory of Geoffrey Wellum, did anyone else find it a bit disrespectful they then proceeded to blast out a recording of Tim Peak counting down from 10 to start the show? Just as they were flying past.

Tom105
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by Tom105 »

Flying bulls were limited by the airspace by the look of it, it was good to see the DC6 flying however a formation of all aircraft would have been nice. Displaying aircraft twice is unacceptable in my mind it should not be done. There were good 10 min breaks in between most acts. Left after the flying bulls very disappointed and my last Farnborough airshow on site i think unless something very very rare is confirmed.
Thomas

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Brummiekid
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by Brummiekid »

After having had my pants taken down by the Farnborough organisers last time I vowed never to venture there again. Sad in some respects as I'd been going since the late 1960's. :down:
Regan - "We're the Sweeney son and we haven't had any dinner"
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Oldtower
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by Oldtower »

The only highlights for me were Spanish Harrier, and a feisty F16 demo,which was the US West coast demo team, something that wasn't mentioned in the build up PR.
A shame a once great show has unfortunately declined.

parsley
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by parsley »

Did the Flying Bulls Alpha fly on the public days ?...It was attended by fire engines on Monday when it landed after it's display...not sure if he had a fuel leak but there was a small amount of flames exiting via the tailpipe on one engine as it taxied by.

UKTopgun
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Re: Farnborough International Airshow 2018

Post by UKTopgun »

Huge gaps, repeat acts, an autogyro, a poor commentary (Great Warbird Display Team anyone?).
This show, on public days, is a desperate sham of an event. Highlight of the day was the pyros that went with the Blades display setting the grass on fire in several places. The pyros were far more memorable than The Blades themselves by the way. Whole day seemed to be about Red Bull, ironic as I was constantly struggling to stay awake. Nuff said.

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