Yeovil Airday = poor & Vulcan

[chockhead819]

Well cloud level very low, most fixed wing cancelled. At least I saw the vixen which is what I wanted to see. very poor static display unless you like seakings. RNHF which was advertised not flying only sea fury static but with covers on!
Many people turned up to see the Vulcan & many left disappointed. There were a lot of muttering from VTTS Supporters saying they had been let down again & is it getting to the stage where its just a white elephant. One guy next to me said he had donated to the cause & had gone to 5 shows but still hadn't seen it fly because of the many techincal problems.

There were alleged behind the scenes rumblings as well, Freece Tricolori didn't fly but wanted to go, they were informed that they couldn't. So they approached the private company who run the show for food & accomadation for the extra time, they were refused. The pilots went to the wardroom for a meal but it hadn't been arranged, so end up eating in the Junior rates dining hall & being charged for the priveledge.

Which display team isn't going back to VL again.

will post pictures when I get sorted but not many.

[Garry Russell]

Oh dear :-(

Sounds a bit of a wet :fart:

Garry

[DaveB]

Under the circumstances.. POOR is hardly a suitable word to use but all the others I can think of are not printable on a public forum

I sympathise with you, the VTTS supporters (I echo their comment) and all others who made the effort for nothing.

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Tweek]

One guy next to me said he had donated to the cause & had gone to 5 shows but still hadn't seen it fly because of the many techincal problems.

Did they not sort out the problem on Saturday, but the crap weather stopped it from going anywhere later on?

Can understand the many frustrations though. I've only been to one show where it's been cancelled (Waddington last week), but I've also been lucky enough to see it on several occasions elsewhere. It does just seem to be one thing after another, right now. If it isn't a technical problem, it's the weather. If it isn't the weather, and the aircraft is fully servicable, we've got issues with paperwork. If it's not paperwork, weather or technical problems, then it's because the entire show has been cancelled! You couldn't make it up!

Waddington 2008 - flew one day, tech the next
Yeovilton 2008 - clashed with Waddo
RIAT 2008 - entire show cancelled, aircraft fully servicable
Leuchars 2008 - weather, servicable
Biggin Hill 2009 - flew one day, tech the next
Waddington 2009 - paperwork, servicable
Yeovilton 2009 - weather, tech

That's seven of the biggest shows in the UK over the past two seasons, and only two (out of a possible eleven!) displays have been made at any of them. And they're just the ones I can think of from memory - I know there are certainly a few more shows that it didn't make last season. I'm quite surprised I've seen it at all, reading that list!

[forthbridge]

:think:

Well, the weather has been a pain the last year or two. Yesterday I decided 'no' to RIAT this year based on an unpredictable forecast. It may be great now I'm not going, but hey-ho.

I'm also seriously pondering Leuchars. No Tornado display, and the entire foreign action will be two F16s and (possibly) a Mig 29. So basically, with the exception of the Vulcan, BBMF, RNHF Reds and the Air Atlantique jets (assuming a full turn out) it's a pretty long day for not a lot of action.

The Vulcan is supposed to be at East Fortune this month - I may just drive over there and see what's what.

The fact is I think we've been spoiled in the past with back to back flying and plenty variety. To be honest these days, it's hard to justify unless there's an A/C you really want to see.

[Garry Russell]

Difference nowadays is that so many exhibits are private and the RAF is on active service and has little to spare with displays and the like.....hardly a priority.

Even in peacetime the RAF is a lot smaller now so this is how it's going to be. As mentioned above some of us live in areas where this sort of thing seldom happens and when it does it is a once a year mediocre display.

So enjoy what you can when you can.....

Garry

[forthbridge]

Yeah, I agree Garry. Although, I'd rather send a cheque for the admission to the RAF charities than spend it and (maybe) feel let down, although you generally know what to expect.

One thing I forgot to mention is, with Leuchars, the last few years they have taken to putting aircraft between the crowd and the flightline - I've lost count of 'lost shots' after panning only to get a rotor blade or biplane in the shot. Strangely, when you could take half a day to look at the static display, they never seemed to plonk anything to block the view so where has all the space gone? :think:

[chockhead819]

Just out of curiousity are the RAF Airdays run by private firms or Crabair itself?

[Techy111]

Just out of curiousity are the RAF Airdays run by private firms or Crabair itself?

Whilst in the RAF, Families days were RAF run.....But the surrounding populace could attend...just not for general admission...

Tony

[Sl4yer]

I'm also seriously pondering Leuchars. No Tornado display, and the entire foreign action will be two F16s and (possibly) a Mig 29. So basically, with the exception of the Vulcan, BBMF, RNHF Reds and the Air Atlantique jets (assuming a full turn out) it's a pretty long day for not a lot of action.

If you get that lot, you'll have done much better than Waddington this year!

James