Air Shows 2024

[bedfordshirevulcan]

What's everyone's view on the new event programme for 2024 .certainly a change from traditional date format not sure about this sure the devil is in the detail as wonder if Costs of some events will be significantly higher

[Thommo95]

Unexpected wholesale changes announced to what had become the standard air-show calendar format at Old Warden of a day and then evening show through the summer.

Gone seem to be the majority of the evening airshow events, personally from a photography perspective this will be a major loss to the UK airshow scene. Additional changes see events move to multi day weekend affairs. For full calendar and changes see the link below;

https://www.shuttleworth.org/airshows2024/

[Ryan.]

To me, when I look at a Shuttleworth line up, I'm looking at the visiting aircraft. That's what decides it for me. So although none of the themes sound particularly spectacular (would have loved a return of the Fly Navy event) it will depend on what visiting aircraft are booked.

[LN Strike Eagle]

To me, when I look at a Shuttleworth line up, I'm looking at the visiting aircraft. That's what decides it for me. So although none of the themes sound particularly spectacular (would have loved a return of the Fly Navy event) it will depend on what visiting aircraft are booked.

I was going to post something similar earlier. We'll have to judge these shows when the time comes, but I don't ever recall a Fly Navy show that wasn't packed or even sold out. They don't need to reinvent the wheel, aircraft sell an airshow.

Perhaps the upside to a longer weekend format might be that they could lure visitors from the continent? If it's just the same Duxford warbirds with a 'discovery zone', I don't see it making that much difference to attendances?

[IP1960]

Slight concern at the concept of a "VIP area" at the Flying Festival, namely a flightline marquee, positioning may be "interesting".

[Orion]

Shuttleworth has done VIP marquees before. They are positioned within the spectators paddock near to the control tower and parallel to the main runway. No big deal.

[ted633]

Unless there is more to come/detail, it looks like they are dropping to one evening airshows (+ proms). Bit disappointing that of all the dates they could choose, they have clashed with RIAT.

[bedfordshirevulcan]

Shuttleworth has done VIP marquees before. They are positioned within the spectators paddock near to the control tower and parallel to the main runway. No big deal.

They have in a limited way often fly navy and has taken away paddock parking which was criticized at the time if they then add in fairground and increased ground activity you could easily loose one of the three paddock areas ,paddock parking is one of the many special features of old warden ,sadly VIP enclosures could be a slow creap to copying other venues where public area keeps getting squashed

[wdg]

When I was at Shuttleworth earlier in the month there was some talk that they were proposing fewer shows for 2024 but moving to a two-day format. I had hoped that would mean flying on both days - I would have loved to have seen an evening show on the Saturday followed by a full display on the Sunday, as that would have combined the best of both formats and made it easier for people who live a long way from Old Warden to justify travelling there for the weekend.

Instead, this new format looks like these events are putting less and less emphasis on the actual flying. Apart from the "Festival of Flight" it looks like the actual airshows are still one-day events and the other day is ground activities only. I'll wait to see if they announce more details, but I don't really see the point of an "airshow" without anything flying.

It's also disappointing that they've got rid of the vintage show at the start of September. This has often, in my opinion, had some of the best visiting lineups and usually seems to get good weather.

[IP1960]

Shuttleworth has done VIP marquees before. They are positioned within the spectators paddock near to the control tower and parallel to the main runway. No big deal.

As I now remember they had one for Fly Navy in 2022 further along the flightline from the control tower.

[AMB]

To me, when I look at a Shuttleworth line up, I'm looking at the visiting aircraft. That's what decides it for me. So although none of the themes sound particularly spectacular (would have loved a return of the Fly Navy event) it will depend on what visiting aircraft are booked.

I quite agree! I have been going to Shuttleworth 's shows for more than fifty years, since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Photographing the same aircraft time after time becomes monotonous and I ended up only going when something I hadn't seen before was in the show, whether it was a visiting aircraft or a Shuttleworth resident repainted in a new colour scheme and markings.Would you pay to go to the theatre to see the same actors perform the same show time and time again, or go to the cinema to pay to see the same film again and again? When was the last time the Hawker Hind flew,it's been YEARS 'under restoration'. The 'Fly Navy' show was always good with participation from Yeovilton and FAA types from Duxford and North Weald. Will await to see what participants are in next year's shows!

[Stagger2]

Quite agree with the above comments regarding "Don't fix it if it ain't broke".
Moving away from a format & themes that result in single day sell-outs is a mistake. For example, Duxford have tried to mix it up & promoting 'family experiences' but that audience only attends perhaps one 'airshow' a year + maybe a freebie seaside gig? Financially it doesn't appear to work!
As Adrian says, several of us potential attendees only visit Old Warden for the visiting aircraft to their unique setting. Dilute that format with Corporate Enclosures & intrusive Chalets & I'm outta there!

[Blackbird]

To me, when I look at a Shuttleworth line up, I'm looking at the visiting aircraft. That's what decides it for me. So although none of the themes sound particularly spectacular (would have loved a return of the Fly Navy event) it will depend on what visiting aircraft are booked.

I quite agree! I have been going to Shuttleworth 's shows for more than fifty years, since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Photographing the same aircraft time after time becomes monotonous and I ended up only going when something I hadn't seen before was in the show, whether it was a visiting aircraft or a Shuttleworth resident repainted in a new colour scheme and markings.Would you pay to go to the theatre to see the same actors perform the same show time and time again, or go to the cinema to pay to see the same film again and again? When was the last time the Hawker Hind flew,it's been YEARS 'under restoration'. The 'Fly Navy' show was always good with participation from Yeovilton and FAA types from Duxford and North Weald. Will await to see what participants are in next year's shows!

Another vote from me for that take on OW.

[Slinger65]

It would be interesting to understand the commercial and other drivers behind this - is there a view that longer term airshows for the collection are going to become unviable? It does seem a very abrupt change of approach and risks throwing the baby out with the bath water. Or perhaps they have employed the same marketing team / "thinktank" which decided cricket needed The Hundred?

[clearstone]

The Shuttleworth Trust has had to make a lot of changes due to its financial predicament after COVID.

A lot of money was being spent and the income didn't keep up. Those who was SVAS members will have seen the reports from the Trustees and some of the difficult decisions they have had to make including redundancies.

Fewer, but possibly bigger events, may well be the next stage in recovery for the Trust. Hopefully it is successful and maybe some of the Evening shows can be built back into the schedule for 2025 - they will be missed.

[MiG_Eater]

I must admit I haven't been to Shuttleworth since May 2022. I always enjoyed a long lazy morning looking around but there were all kinds of changes to the car parking that meant we didn't get parked until about 10, which wasn't a huge problem - but was enough to make the 2+ hour drive not worth it.

I get that the idea of the Collection's airshows is to show off their historic aircraft, but as a fan of jets - I do get a bit bored year on year, and probably won't attend unless we get some exceptional weather when i'm free - or there are some really nice attendees.

Aircraft I would love to see, and that i'd make the effort to see at Shuttleworth:
- Wessex
- MiG-15
- Vampire
- Meteor
- Strikemaster Pair

Fingers crossed next year is an improvement, and that they provide proper camping facilities on site. If so, i'll be back!

[Orion]

https://www.shuttleworth.org/airshows2024/

Not for me, I'm moving on from the Shuttleworth

[Amp]

There is a very reasonable mix of events offered at Shuttleworth. I look forward to attending a couple of these.

[Stagger2]

Sadly for Shuttleworth they seem to have completely ignored what is in plain sight under their noses? I'm not able to see attendance figures for the last few years, but employing just empirical data I can't remember the last time they Sold-out an event? Probably was the the 'Fly Navy' show?
Trotting-out the same format every year does breed complacency. Add-in rising costs & disposable income factors & you have the perfect financial death spiral!
There is ONLY one event next year even on my potential List of visits, being the Military Airshow on June 1/2 2024. ONLY when I know what else non-collection is visiting/flying, will I decide to go & still only if there's a decent chance of good weather reducing curtailments, cancellations & disappointment!
When an airshow takes longer for me to drive to than the flying lasts I'm forced to re-evaluate its worth to my enjoyment.

[5944]

Sadly for Shuttleworth they seem to have completely ignored what is in plain sight under their noses? I'm not able to see attendance figures for the last few years, but employing just empirical data I can't remember the last time they Sold-out an event? Probably was the the 'Fly Navy' show?
Trotting-out the same format every year does breed complacency. Add-in rising costs & disposable income factors & you have the perfect financial death spiral!
There is ONLY one event next year even on my potential List of visits, being the Military Airshow on June 1/2 2024. ONLY when I know what else non-collection is visiting/flying, will I decide to go & still only if there's a decent chance of good weather reducing curtailments, cancellations & disappointment!
When an airshow takes longer for me to drive to than the flying lasts I'm forced to re-evaluate its worth to my enjoyment.

I think that might be why next year is different - they're trying something new. Fly Navy 2016 was virtually a sell out I believe, but subsequent ones haven't been, and they aren't repeated every year. The photos I saw from the carnival show last month, admittedly before flying started, showed lots of empty spaces in the paddock and on the fence line. Fewer, bigger events might work better for them than a lot of one day shows. Costs are rising so being able to spread them over two days rather than one has got to help.

There are fewer big name aircraft to draw the general public in compared to a few years ago. No Vulcan, no Sea Vixen. Red Arrows are a shadow of their former selves at present. I don't think the enthusiast base is big enough to sell out every show, no matter how outstanding the line up is for us. This Sunday has 23 visiting aircraft booked to display - other than Spitfire and Hurricane, how many will the general public have heard of? Tiger Moth maybe, Dragon Rapide possibly. A couple of them I had to Google! It's great for us having so many different types, but if it's not getting the general public through the gate it's pointless.

[Optimistic Spotter]

When an airshow takes longer for me to drive to than the flying lasts I'm forced to re-evaluate its worth to my enjoyment.

Just as well you don't live in Cornwall, old chum. That's the way of life or many of us.

[Xray833]

Just as well you don't live in Cornwall, old chum. That's the way of life or many of us.

As a Redruh man travelling the better part of 700 miles over the weekend I second those sentiments. However,
a visit to Old Warden is always worthwhile. Enjoyed Sunday, rubbish drive back through drizzle on Monday.

[Stagger2]

I can see your point regarding your location. It's a good choice I made to stay in the South of England & not relocate to my birthplace in Cornwall?
That's when St Mawgan & Chivenor were still active military bases, it's got to be an aviation drought now with only Culdrose & a distant Yeovilton to yield military content.