RAF Marham Enthusiasts Day 21st June 2018

[Blackcat1]

Bring back Air Fetes at Mildenhall. The Americans were always great hosts, reading these comments I'm in shock the way certain members of the RAF have been acting!!

[James Cutting]

Clearly reading all of the above, many of you are "extremely" disappointed and disgruntled and understandably so in my opinion .... but all these comments will do nothing unless you have the courage and conviction to complain in writing promptly or NOTHING will be done, it's your call! No base wants bad PR!

Just my two cents worth having been involved in very successful families day's and squadron exchanges.

Already sent a massive email!!

[Blackcat1]

Good for you James!

[James Cutting]

Cheers Gareth...more I think about it the more it infuriates me ! Ah well. Lets see what they say.

Now I can look forward to Yeovilton and RIAT!!

[panta615]

Extremely disappointed. Having to wait around while certain people are given preferential treatment to get their shots in first and treating it like their day was just the icing on the cake.

Such a shame as this event could have been so much better given the right planning.

If another one was put on I’d think twice about going - once bitten, twice shy and all that

[Tronk 11]

There wasn't the 500 they were planning for. Disappointed as the landing tornados were so far away. Photos outside the base were superb, a bit of an error on planning as it should have been the other way around. I think everything has been covered in other posts. Ive emailed the organiser to share my disappointment. My only event/airshow this year so, c'est la vie.

[Knife 04]

Not there today but some of my friends were and have already conveyed their disappointment here and other places.

Not being there I cannot pass direct comment but (and James will hate me for this) I can remember gates being kicked open for enthusiasts at bases asking them to come in and take pictures, flogging them patches and putting on a bbq - for free (apart from the bbq). I realise times have changed but to charge this amount for what was on show sounds a rip off or money making exercise

Not so long ago (OK - 2010 looking at my photos) a Heritage Day at another base - free with food. Plenty of planes to look around, crews friendly and when they departed a make shift line (no ropes = be sensible and mindful) to shoot from behind

As Black Cat said - very sad and feel for you guys that paid money for this

[XWP29]

The fly past was very high and even though some very impressive lenses were deployed by the general public, alas they proved pretty much useless.
The three RAF aircraft on static show were deployed to a back drop of mounds of soil and contractors machinery running back and forth engaged in rebuilding the run way. The anticipated flight of the F35 didn't materialise, and this is disappointing if not understandable when considering the complexity and lengthy process to get them operational. What was missing was any attempt to fill the void.
In comparison at the storm hit CGYs night shoot last year, the RAF made every effort to get as much from the event as possible. I am sure we all really appreciate the operational pilots and service people, its such a shame for the visitors that the event turned out the way it did.

[Green133]

Who were the two pro toggers out at the front?I noticed that they were at the event for most of the afternoon.
It seems that maybe the RAF run events aren't run by someone with an enthusiasm for aviation photography..........eg facing the sun,civils going on in the background. I'm sure the event could have been held in a more suitable location on the base.It isn't the most active.
One other gripe, After the pros, RAF people and whoever else had finished,it looked like we were being able to use the steps near to the F35.An orderly queue formed and about 20 bods got to use them.Then over comes a RAF guy and stops it.......I heard because they didn't want cockpit shots of the F35....... Didn't matter earlier when they had their lot doing the same and in a cherry picker.
..

[Nnthusiast]

so who do we write to at Marham?
i know Swifty was the main guy for e-mails, but i dont think we can fairly moan at him as hes away on 'shader' so wasnt on hand to see the 'event' unfolding.
anyone know?

best if we all write in, complain and post our answers here for everyone.

[BMrider]

"so who do we write to at Marham?"

The Base Commander?

[Nnthusiast]

just wondering, rather lazily, if anyone had his e-mail, sorry i should have been clearer.

[bigboy]

A very poor effort when we all had been looking forward to this event to get on base to get close to active jets and get some great images of the soon to be departed 'Tonka"

My email has been written after I calmed down and sent last night.

Bigboy

[BMrider]

I would contact in the old fashioned way to be most effective, Write a letter to ;

FAO;
Group Captain Ian Townsend ADC MA RAF
Base Commander,
RAF Marham,
Kings Lynn,
Norfolk, PE33 9NP.

Mark it private and confidential,

Include your address and email and your reasons that you found the day dissapointing
also, with permission of complainants a separate page containing, cut and pastes of the observations of the day by those on here, permission should be asked to do this from the individuals

The base commander will no doubt accept your disappointment at the day, but what if anything would be offered as recompense I am not sure?

Perhaps another enthusiasts day in the future will have a bit more to offer?

[James Cutting]

I think a small percentage of a refund will be fair, if I am genuinely honest.

I have emailed Swifty myself. Yes he isn't to blame, however, he was the one who asked to send feedback to that email address as they wanted to hear it. Yes contact the Base Commander, but I would also send similar via email to the Enthusiasts email address.

[James Cutting]

And I can almost guarantee that not many, if any of us, will receive 'individual' replies as it were. How I can imagine it happening, is they will wait for 48 hours to get the majority of emails through, and then send out a 'stock' email to everyone. Probably laden with shocking excuses.

Whether 'Swifty' was there or not, he was the middle man. So at the end of the day, he will be the best point of contact, and down to him to disseminate that feedback to the relevant people.

[Off Airways]

BMrider has posted the best address to use ...

Firstly this allows the Station Commander to get a "REAL" feeling of your unhappiness rather than his "Staff" telling him it went well.

From there it will be SOP pass it onto the PR section to "Deal with it" ... This is HOW it WORKS!

Good luck

[toom317]

Not seeing any pics from this "event" on the forums. Sounds like a complete farce.

[James Cutting]

Guess I'll print off my email and post it as well then!

The reason it was sent to the Enthusiasts email was because they said to email them but I will look at sending a letter, thank you.

Exactly toom317, mine are still on my card in my camera tucked away! No enthusiasm to edit yet. Had more fun in 2 hours togging Osprey's and Herc's at Mildenhall last night - and I do that a lot!!

[Viper28]

Not seeing any pics from this "event" on the forums. Sounds like a complete farce.

I have some, I'll post later today when I've finished processing them - people can decide then.