Well I took a last minute punt yesterday based on me having an unexpected free day and on the back of a very enjoyable run of hairyplane actvities from some useful days at Waddo, 3 excellent European events and a cracking day last Saturday at Duxford- more than making up for the dreary RIAT I had. I love JPs, I love Gnats, I love Chippies, Bulldogs, Austers and most of the stuff on the very strong list so for 15 notes even the 270 mile round trip on 2 of my most hated roads and even mixing with you Southern (South of Coventry) Cockerny types didn't put me off. However, even getting on the airfield I found a little problematic, bearing in mind I haven't set foot on the place since 1992 and seeing the huge traffic jam (admittedly moving very quickly) mixing with the rather fruity market trader types and zilch signage didn't help at all. I really don't think the over -used, unappreciated air cadets were best placed to be taking and checking peoples money and tickets, I really feel I could have shown my receipt for Tesco shopping on my phone and I would have been waved through. Letting the great British unwashed public do their own parking is not always going to be a good idea either!....
Given the strength of the wind I knew there'd be weather casualties and wasn't overly surprised to see the dearth of vintage types but, I've seen lesser types in worse conditions so set up and awaited the mass of promised movements to taxy past with the sun behind me...........After 2 Vans, a TB20, Tiger (AA5, not F-5E) and the second Bulldog of the day I retired to the car for lunch. The Huey was good value, a JP did some touch and gos but the most talked about movements were the comings and goings of the Police and Ambulance helos. I note a fairly stern FB post from the organisers saying they didn't want to risk flying "just to please someone" but hell, surely 50% of what was on the flight line could have been taxied a bit - it was certainly the Indian Gnat (now it has roundels and looks more the part) that I was hoping to see under it's own steam but no, it just sat there along with everything else. I understand a Gnat went up later but the will and enthusiasm of even the hardiest enthusiast and general punter had long since gone by half past 4 - the last dregs of which were sated by the RAF Tiger Puma pirouetting before a tasty low departure that I captured from my car before leaving with equal gusto . Everyone went for a bit of jet action and that could still have been delivered albeit on the deck. Okay the MiG-17 had a flat tyre but surely on an airfield associated with jet and vehicle operations for decades someone would have had access to a pump of some description??
I felt sorry for Ben Dunnell, that consumate professional who must have been at his wits end trying to come up with a nugget of action on which to comment and describe in his usual detailed way but there was so little to see that even he had stopped talking as the Police EC135 went up or recovered for the 10th time, it was definitely a case of RIAT Friday deja vu.
A word too about the small, nay medium -sized army of hi-viz clad marshallers/ops/crew/guests that at some occasions seemed to outnumber the paying punters. Fortunate however at some dull periods of the day as their massed refelective yellow material lifted the ambient light levels by at least 2 f stops. Also, if walking on the concrete pad in front of the Police hangar sets off an alarm and triggers into action a SWAT team (I'm still waiting btw!) then a cursory sign would be useful - not reliance on bored cadets or hi-viz crew, probably blinded by the aforementioned reflected light from their jackets to keep people off. Similar signage on the ramp where the MiG/Lim was would have been beneficial, being as it was next to a public cafe and kids play area and so virtually invited jet hungry photographers onto it....
I also must mention the (by now I'm sure) voiceless cadet who was comically bellowing and gesturing at the public to keep to the side of the road in fear of being mown down by the constant passage of hundreds of vehicles. By road I mean 80 foot wide taxiway and by constant passage of hundreds of vehicles I mean the odd car or two. Again, I know that there's a helluva lot of incredibly thick, stupid ignorant people out there but still maintain a certain degree of self preservation by keeping safe distance between them and a moving car. Again, perhaps a sign or two would have sufficed....
I fully appreciate the vagaries of the British weather, I have been punished by it at airshows annually for the past 54 years and so absolutely get it, but it's what you do even when it's not playing ball that sets a good event from a poor one. There were opportunities yesterday to do more that may have eased the fairly venomous responses on SM to the event in general - one that has so much potential and one I'd be more than happy to support in the future.
You caaan't trust the system... Maaan!