RAF Waddington 2013 voice your views

[Apache123]

The airshow in the main has been on a slow decline in recent years but this year was on a hole new low level in my opinion. The main factor for this is the amount of civilian aircraft. The spine of the static seemed like a line up at a farm strip fly-in. Dont get me wrong there was some quality aircraft ie vulcan the gripen and L-159 from Czech and the Turkish F-16 but it seems like a cessna will be just fill the threadbare gaps and yet the prices will escalate for no visible reason as the main element the show is the aircraft and yet a minimal amount is being nice.

Regards

Apache123

[GVLCN]

I have to agree the static park looked very much empty, that's why me and my father decided to attend on Friday. I can justify £5 a person in park and view, but not quite a full price ticket. Perhaps Friday or a Monday would be more suited to you?

[Apollo]

Static was awful,2 too many f-16's,vulcan display was mild but nice to see a viggen again at waddington.I'll give it a miss next year.

[GVLCN]

As I said it's worth a £5-10 park and view all day long and yeah this is the result of a recession. For what turned up even compared to last year, it looked fairly thin on the ground. My dad was shocked as he has taken me to waddington for the last 20 years and looking down the main line of static aircraft from where we were parked we were looking at mainly civilian aircraft. Having said that I thoroughly enjoyed yesterday, mainly due to the extortionally hot weather oh and Saab viggen and vulcan obviously!

[Apollo]

As I said it's worth a £5-10 park and view all day long and yeah this is the result of a recession. For what turned up even compared to last year, it looked fairly thin on the ground. My dad was shocked as he has taken me to waddington for the last 20 years and looking down the main line of static aircraft from where we were parked we were looking at mainly civilian aircraft. Having said that I thoroughly enjoyed yesterday, mainly due to the extortionally hot weather oh and Saab viggen and vulcan obviously!

I think the park and view will be a better option for next year.

[Mike]

Apache123,

Your thread would do a lot better if your first sentence didn't say :- "The airshow in the main has been on a slow decline in recent years but this year was on a hole new low level in my opinion"

That really doesn't make any sense at all, does it ?

[John W]

Well, I am still happy to pay, if only they will let me in without sending me round on practice laps.

There will be more people stay away, not because of the airshow participients, but because of the
jobsworth attitude of the local authority, and of the determination of the show organisers not to acknowledge
that this is a big event, and needs big thinking surrounding getting people in without making the A15 a Pit Lane.

Anyway, for what its worth, I thoroughly enjoyed Fridays arrivals and the first of the public days.

Regards,
John

[Mayfly]

Yes i agree ,Ihavnt gone into show as it to dear at almost 30 pound a ticket,iwent for bike ride to fiskerton insted.going on the outside near wave sunday.I guessed it be a borring line up,VC10 be nice to see as she wont be around much longer.

Buy it in advance it's only just over £20.

The static was certainly thin I have never been sure how the statics end up where they do - there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. However the days where participants will send 1 for the flying, 1 for the static are long gone.

I thought the flying was excellent and worth the admission charge.

[LincsVRS]

I'm coming from a point of view of being there Thurs & Fri but not Sat, I am going tomorrow:

I think as money gets tight more will look at the PAVE and think it gives more value, more movements and even 7 display slots for the Friday, for £5 I think its good value. I think the main days are getting a little over priced but not too much. I don't know what static was like as I say I haven't been yet. There does seem to be less and less each year but I'm not sure if its specific to waddington. A lot of people have mentioned other international teams being disbanded and US Airshows are on a proper decline. If it wasn't for the F-16's (as it does seem to be unofficially F-16 themed this year) there would not be much serving military at all.

I did wonder if this and the recession would make people more likely to attend Thurs/Fri/Mon than Sat/Sun. Although Fri was busy a sell out 78,000 went today, so doesn't look like visitor numbers declined. I'm wondering if the "normal" sat/sun crowd want different things to the members here, for example more entertainment/trade less military? Just a thought. I do think they should attack the routes for the Airshow better but that's just me, although its a local issue to with the lack of a bypass round Lincoln and the commitment is now to a single carriageway! Having moved near to the single carriageway section of the bypass I bang my head against the wall will midday traffic jams all the time, its useless, why they would contemplate building more single carriageway is beyond me!

They are my thoughts, other than the bypass issue I have no major opinions either way.

[Tronk 11]

Hi Guys,
I posted my bit in the wrong area.
I did ask should we ask for more? The static today wasn't good. The Vulcan was nice, but will ALWAYS be nice, I'll never get bored of aircraft like that.
The numbers have declined, & the airshows have, if this was set against a good show, they wouldn't sell as many tickets. The ONLY reason they get the numbers as there aren't as many shows.
Are we being ripped off?

[Mallett17]

Static somewhat sparse, flying display thin early them improved. However at least we still have a show and displays unlike America. I will not even mention the traffic.

Had a good day though once we got in.

Robin

[binbrook87]

I've been going to waddo for about 15 years and altho I agree that it aint what it used to be, I think the static would hav looked a lot better if items were maybe mixed up a bit and spread across the whole area rather than shoved at each end in 'alpha' and 'foxtrot' dispersals.....leaving virtually nothing but a void filled with civvies (and a fairground!) inbetween. This only seems to highlight of lack of aircraft even more. In the early days I don't recall much static down at Foxtrot?? and consequently a lot of stuff always ended up in the main static line as a matter of course. This always seemed to look much better in my opinion (albeit with more limited photo opportunities!) Anyway..... I enjoyed this years show. Traffic a bit chaotic getting in with marshalls not having much of an idea what was going on, but did manage to get parked up by 8am and left a 7pm...with only a 15 min queue to get off base. Great flying programme and the static DID have sum nice things in there.....algerian herc, the mini tiger meet, qinetiq 146, navy avenger, vc10, awacs saab...just a pity a few items had attended before. Well done to all the team at Waddo.

[Tronk 11]

Its not as good as it gets, its as good as you want it! Polish F-16's at Leeming & Spanish Typhoons, not to mention RC-26's at Prestwick. If you like this, the organisers will only give you this, demand more guys.
The good shows did a photocall before the show, but how many people would have done this this year?
They set up for the masses rather than the guys on this website.

[Tronk 11]

A MINI tiger meet! What RAF or RN aircraft did we send, we don't have any tiger squadrons any more. There may be a RN Merlin tiger unit but I'd struggle to name it without using google? What other units are tiger units? I think Waddo organisers would have snapped up that link, but they are not that bright!

[Northolt Nobbler]

They set up for the masses rather than the guys on this website.

Enlighten me... I can't for the life of me imagine why they would do that.. . Anybody would think that enthusiats were in the minority at airshows!

As for my two-pennarth, the Vulcan display was truly, truly awful. If you want a decent view of its display go to Cranwell as its closer there than it was to the crowdline this afternoon. Anybody would think they were trying to eek a couple more seasons (and, no doubt a few more quid from Joe Public) out of the airframe

Why fly one of the main showpiece acts at 12 o'clock when the sun is in its worst position for those who paid for a ticket rather than the topside tosspots peering over the fence from the A15.

And next year advertise a 5 hour flying display that runs for 5 hours hours not 7....

[Mayfly]

Its not as good as it gets, its as good as you want it! Polish F-16's at Leeming & Spanish Typhoons, not to mention RC-26's at Prestwick. If you like this, the organisers will only give you this, demand more guys.
The good shows did a photocall before the show, but how many people would have done this this year?
They set up for the masses rather than the guys on this website.

All air shows put in bids for a/c to attend, if a particular country don't wish to send any thing that's up to them. The organisers don't sit down a discuss what they personal want to invite and only invite those.

[Tronk 11]

Hi Chris & everyone,
I said the Vulcan, Viggen & Turkish F-16 were nice, BUT I bet it wasn't worth it! The organisers might have more success if they say its a Tiger meet, or something that will get Air Forces thinking that they need to send something to a show! The ISTAR theme is a good one for the base, but not many other countries can afford such assets, so you'll not get much. The Sweedish sent some planes so they might attract sales, pure & simple.

Plus the RAF won't put a Shadow on display? We have all seen them, but they won't put them on show, I can't figure that one out.

[roadstar1845]

First off, don't forget the real reasons for the show, traffic? go early be prepared to stay late. don't even consider park and ride as the lucky ones who went to Wittmund only last weekend will tell you. Themes? excellent idea but remember how much paperwork and clearances are needed from respective ministry's to make things happen. Expensive? have you been to a football match lately and worked out the cost per minute. Civvy stuff?I saw types not previously encountered, Now the constructive suggestions. Barriers still too close to get any chance of a decent shot,only takes someone from the photographic section to give the planners advice on how to set the distance. Picnics set up under the wings of exhibits, another missed photo opportunity clear decks please. 80k visitors yet toilets so far apart 20mins lost trying to find them. What happened to the friday photobuses? excellent last year and a revenue builder.The list is endless everyone will have a point of view, but if in doubt, think of those who will benefit from your support at a time when they may need it most.

[blakey]

If someone inboxed me and offered me this ..............

For £10 i will get you on Waddo for a base visit where you can have 10 hours to walk around at your own pace

Have a look in and around a few Cockpits and other interesting aircraft, plus the chance to look at interesting exhibits in a couple of the hangars



For an extra £10, also arrange for you to have a picnic lunch next to the runway whilst the Vulcan and Red arrows display in front of you


For an extra £9 We can also offer you the chance to see 3 different F16 display Teams going head to head

Oh and we will also throw in a Viggen and 20 other displays

I would snap their HAND OFF !!!!

[big john]

What really upset me was at 03:00 Saturday morning they tweeted this,
"Due to heavy demand for advance tickets no tickets are available on the gate today. Please don't attempt to visit without an advance ticket."
Despite the website saying tickets would be available on the day, and was still saying last night.
So I didn't go.
If they say tickets will be available on the day, then the organisers should hold back some tickets for those of us who have to rely on public transport and travel long distances to get to airshows. Or make it a ticket only like Fairford, Then I could have arranged to get a ticket.
VPO