Classic British Flight Sim

Apart from the traffic problems getting in what was peoples' opinion of the Air Show. Quite frankly I was disappointed that certain aircraft billed as flying didn't. The fly past by the navy was the only appearance by the Sea Vixen. I only happened to notice it as it went past. It was almost tucked away. It should have had its' own spot.What happened to the VC10. What aircraft that did do displays were very good. The Vulcan stole the show. I am afraid the Reggies were better than the Red Arrows.

Hi Simon

I only go every 2 or 3 years as the majority of the aircraft there don't interest me. Your comment on the RN 'Flypast' is typical. I think it was the last time I went.. the B2 was scheduled to display (always worth seeing) and it came down the runway once with a pair of F15's and that was it.. off it went into the wild blue-ish yonder. No problem.. I'll get it on the next run and there wasn't one :brick: Some individual displays remain impressive no matter how many times you see them.. the B1B springs to mind but overall, RIAT is not on my list of MUST SEE airshows. Unless you have a camera lens from hell.. the general public are too far away from the flightline unless you pay extra for a seat. It's all heavy cash there. Disappointing really as it's the closest show to where I live! :roll:

ATB

DaveB :tab:

I remember the B2 Dave. Despite the single flypast (which is all it was ever scheduled to be) it still gave me goosebumps for some reason. It was clear from the smoke trails that the whole formation had selected idle power for the flypast, presumably to fool the Russians into thinking the B2 is silent as well as invisible to radar ;-) . The flypast of the F117 with the Reds was pretty special too, especially because the Nighthawk was being flown by an RAF pilot.

We were going to go this year, but decided against it due to cost. It will probably be a few years until we can go again, but I intend to camp on the site just at the south of the airfield. As we've found at Waddington for the last two years, you can have a good time regardless of the airshow going on!

James

There's nowt like being commited James. Arrival and departure days often yield the best shots even though you only get one chance ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

On an upbeat note there was a BAC1-11 on static. Don't know whose as I could not read the writing. Military though.

This one I would think Simon

http://www.cbfsim.org/cbfsim/cbfsBB/vie ... =8&t=17240

Garry

i went with a gang of ten, and the consensus was it was very poor value this year, i was also anticipating the sea vixen...it should have had its own slot, i would agree, the "great white elephant" finaly flew, and 558 got into the sky. many of us have seen the past vulcan displays and thought the current display was quite weak in comparison, they may well have been the distance from the flight line, we were all anticpationg the party piece of standing on its tail and making lots of noise... old timers remember that, scared the kids and babies cried...

hower it was good to see her fly, best bit for me the landing and the take off, the rest of the display was much of a muchness, possible because it was too far away, Triccie was more fun to watch than the dead sparrows.... Typhoon was also fun....

the chinook gave a good display but you could almost here the crowd thinkng "get out the way we want to see the vulcan" (which was next and lurking downwind)

3 different f18 displays was a major yawn..guess they were filling spaces because if you spent 8 squids to get the flying program...you wasted your money, lets say the flying program and what occured only had a passing resemblance.

Riat 2007 was far better and more like it.

for RIAT 2009the static and flying display this year..well let's say they were not a highlight so if thats why you went it would be a bit disappointing

For me Riat 2009 was a chance to catch up with friends, BBQ and get slaughterd with large amount of beer, some even managed to find thier way into a tent..for some of them it was even thiers...a few others...well its a good job it did not rain much overnight...LoL

Well I went this year, first time for 11 years! (Last time in '98 it was the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift with all those lovely Daks, DC-6 and Connie!) Only reason this year really, was to see 558 taking off!

I left at 7.00, started queuing just after I got through Lechlade, and parked up at 9.30, so not too bad.

What a change to when I last went. You have to be scanned!! :o Well I do remember hearing about it since 9/11, but forgot until i got there. So it's... take metalic objects put of pockets, arms up, scan, scan, scan, then open your bags.....oh dear, what has it come to? The Police were in evidence and a Policewoman with a gun! :o

Anyway, like Dave, the modern military stuff of RIAT doesn't interest me enormously, but I do like wondering down the long 2 mile taxi way past all the statics, and popping in the retail stalls to see what I can buy!

Yes, I did notice though, that this year was a tad lackluster, even the static stuff seemed quite thin. And 3 Hornets in the flying display?? RIAT really ought to put on more formations aswell. If they were planning to do the Vulcan with the Reds at Waddington, then why the hell not at Fairford - THE premier Airshow in th UK...

I glimpsed the new Nimrod as it only did a couple of fly bys (I think) but I'll forgive that, as it has probably not yet been cleared for a proper display. And no RAF demo thingy - anywhere this year, that was a one hit wonder. The Navy flypast was good, culminating with a row of Helicopters hovering along the runway, which was nice. I always liked the G222 display, so the C-27 was good.

I have read elsewhere though, that a Farnborough year is the best for Faiford, because what you get at one, turns up at t'other.

Anyhow, I'll try and get round to posting some piccies for ya, in the gallery. ;-)

The Nimrod MR4 was doing a sort of display two years ago...how long would it take to be fully cleared :think:

http://www.flightlevel350.com/Aircraft_ ... -9630.html

Garry

Yep.. I remember seeing the MRA4 (that display) and noting how quiet it was. It almost sounds too noisey in that clip.. wonder if they tweeked it

Possibly a good point about the best or at least better years being those that coincide with Farnborough ;-)

Glad you saw 558 Chris

ATB

DaveB :tab: