Park and View never again

[LTFT5]

After joining the pedestrian queue, at gate G, at 05:20 I thought I would gain a good spot on entry, especially as there was only about 50 people in front of me. How wrong was I. First gate was opened but then there was a delay whilst a key was found for another gate, really!.
When the key was found people who had travelled by car ( carparks opened at 6.00am) were already being let through, so I went from 50th to about 250th in the queue.
That aside what really annoyed me was the number of people who thought it was OK to turn up at about 7.00am totally bypass the queue and go and join their mates at the front. This happened on numerous occasions. Those individuals need to take a good look at themselves. Was there anybody from the RIAT team marshalling the queue to prevent this? simply answer is no.
Didn't bother with Thursday, gave my ticket away, as the same selfish people would be attending again most probably.

[red leader]

Which park and view was that at? East or West? Was it for arrivals?

[LTFT5]

Wednesday arrivals, East Park and View.

[red leader]

I was at East on Wednesday and like you I turned up very early. I witnessed a lot of that queue jumping too. The technique they use is for two or more to share a car. They park up before the gates are open at 6am and one of them takes a trolley up to the queue on foot. The others stay with the car and drive it in at 6am when the car park opens
Once the others have parked up they then join they're mate close to the front of the queue before security checks. Or in some cases they just casually stroll in long after the mad dash and join him at a space he has reserved for them on the fence line in a prime location. I saw both scenarios on Wednesday. I agree with you it's really annoying!

[LWITTS1964]

Unfortunately this happens every year...really annoying!! I join the queue where it ends, not find someone I happen to know already in the queue and join them. Park and View both ends needs better staffing to sort this out.

[RS2]

Ditto exactly above. Im not the most agile but get up early, get in queue, look like your about 50 max from front of queue then half an hour before gates open a steady stream of folks jumping the queue and most havent even left kit with their friends, they are just joining their friends who have held the imaginary space for them.

[Richard E]

I share your frustration and it's the main reason why I lost interest in both the arrivals and departure days a couple of years ago so it's not a new feature.

Just my t'penny-worth, no more.....

[Plane enthuiast]

Another thing I noticed was on the Wednesday was people getting to the front by legitimate means. But then being really standoffish about people behind them getting photos of the arrivals example being you could be no near them and they just randomly ask you to Foxtrot Oscar and then say stuff like “I didn’t see you in the queue” even tho you were a few people behind them. Like? Everyone is there for one purpose there is no need to go out there and just ruin other people’s days through pure selfishness. Cause at the end of the day we’re all there to have a good day.

[timb]

I went to P & V East on the thurs [with advancd ticket] . I didn't, or never have done, get there at the "crack of dawn", normally about 9 ish, no ques, no hassle, if I miss one or two arrivals , so be it, I will see that in the show at the w/e. I didn't have to be camped at the front to get some nice shots . Everyone I encounterd I found very friendly.

[Fives]

The RIAT 2024 'Post-show Survey' should be appearing in our email boxes in a day or so...perhaps a chance to add some comments...bad or good!

[iainpeden]

Unfortunately this is people and entitlement not RIAT exclusively - look at the comments on the queue for Sywell.

[markranger]

Unfortunately this is people and entitlement not RIAT exclusively - look at the comments on the queue for Sywell.

I have said it before that Photographers think the airshow is just for them, Saw people on socials calling out ATC when something didn't make it all the way to P/V west even though most of the stuff did.( get a grip people)

Friday i went in with some mates and camera and because i was not there at the crack of dawn i got dirty looks even when i was just 2 rows back shooting between the gaps of people , ( not pushing in, Literally just shooting in the gaps)
The guy then told his wife who was just sitting down watching to stand up to stop we he thought was people getting to close?)

Went in Saturday with Family ( No Camera) and we just sat quite away back from Crowd line and any time anything juicy went up just had Radom people walk in front of us blocking the kids view completely.( one with a step!)

On one occasion i turned round to find a guy using our blanket we were sitting on to sort out his camera gear , Had one of his cameras resting on our blanket and asked up to keep an eye on it whilst he ran to the front to get the Hornet Landing

The airshow is for everyone people , Not just photographers .

[slogen51]

I only do departure day these days due to time and money and had a very positive experience in PV West

Plenty of parking and although the queue was long it was well managed and we were in quite quickly

Security was very efficient

Absolutely no complaints - the organization was first class

My only suggestion and it's pie in the sky really is if a section could be fenced of for perhaps older of less mobile folk in the aviation enthusiast community - the fence line was largely populated by younger highly organized ' professional ' photographers who put in the effort by arriving flipping early and barricading off their little area.

Slightly older people ( not all I realize) will be less inclined to carry and stand on ladders at the back - it would be nice to see a little more community spirit from the front runners - if you could take your pic and then briefly sit down! Thanks

I saw everything I wanted to see with the exception of the Canadian chopper - it's becoming a bit of a tradition to miss the Canadian

Thanks again to Pol ( the Northern Gobshite - surely not) for his invaluable check list

[slogen51]

Unfortunately this is people and entitlement not RIAT exclusively - look at the comments on the queue for Sywell.

I have said it before that Photographers think the airshow is just for them, Saw people on socials calling out ATC when something didn't make it all the way to P/V west even though most of the stuff did.( get a grip people)

Friday i went in with some mates and camera and because i was not there at the crack of dawn i got dirty looks even when i was just 2 rows back shooting between the gaps of people , ( not pushing in, Literally just shooting in the gaps)
The guy then told his wife who was just sitting down watching to stand up to stop we he thought was people getting to close?)

Went in Saturday with Family ( No Camera) and we just sat quite away back from Crowd line and any time anything juicy went up just had Radom people walk in front of us blocking the kids view completely.( one with a step!)

On one occasion i turned round to find a guy using our blanket we were sitting on to sort out his camera gear , Had one of his cameras resting on our blanket and asked up to keep an eye on it whilst he ran to the front to get the Hornet Landing

The airshow is for everyone people , Not just photographers .

I think now they are charging £30 to get in on departure days ( Fleecing ?) you would have an expectation that the nearby aircraft would taxy to the west and this year most did - quite a few nice departures - Solo Turk as usual was epic but also quite a few "what was the point of that" high departures

[Freeman Lowell]

I saw everything I wanted to see with the exception of the Canadian chopper - it's becoming a bit of a tradition to miss the Canadian

Thanks again to Pol ( the Northern Gobshite - surely not) for his invaluable check list

Hi Mike,

Next year you could get your hand stamped and drive around to the east P & V, where they would let you in on evidence of that hand stamp - the CH-146 was viewable from there.

And I agree, organisation was first class and Pol's check-list was a great pre-visit 'starter for 10' *. Well done that man.

Cheers,
Freeman

(* University Challenge)

[slogen51]

We did discuss driving to the East but I had my photo hat on and didn't want to miss bits but also I was a bit lazy

We did have the hand stamp and were told you could come and go - the head chap at the west end was really very helpful

Probably should have had a scan of the airfield from the southern road before we went in to the west end

[spotter]

We arrived in the queue at 5:00am yesterday up the lane before the car park at the west side. On entering the parking area at 6am, I was parked around 5 down the second row. People were moving to the queue for entry very quickly.

What they may have missed were the cars that were parking right behind that second row - boxing in that row in. I stayed back to 'assist' drivers reversing back and leaving enough room for us all to be able to leave later. Some were rude and just abonded their cars. Even at 4:30pm, when we left, cars were still boxed in and unable to leave.

For £30 a head from a lot of people, where were the marshallers ??

So, sorry, I did join the queue a short time later with my friends, but I probably saved some of you from still being stuck there !!

Other than at issue, a great day - well worth the 650 mile round trip !

[POL]

Thanks again to Pol ( the Northern Gobshite - surely not) for his invaluable check list

I've been called worse

Glad people find it helpful!

[CHESTER_DRAWERS]

I only do departure day these days due to time and money and had a very positive experience in PV West

Plenty of parking and although the queue was long it was well managed and we were in quite quickly

Security was very efficient

Absolutely no complaints - the organization was first class

My only suggestion and it's pie in the sky really is if a section could be fenced of for perhaps older of less mobile folk in the aviation enthusiast community - the fence line was largely populated by younger highly organized ' professional ' photographers who put in the effort by arriving flipping early and barricading off their little area.

Slightly older people ( not all I realize) will be less inclined to carry and stand on ladders at the back - it would be nice to see a little more community spirit from the front runners - if you could take your pic and then briefly sit down! Thanks

I saw everything I wanted to see with the exception of the Canadian chopper - it's becoming a bit of a tradition to miss the Canadian

Thanks again to Pol ( the Northern Gobshite - surely not) for his invaluable check list

Thanks for that Slogen51 - I'm a wheelchair user - and as such had to position myself in what I thought was a good spot at the back until somebody came along and setup shop to my left - had to get my photos in quick before he photobombed me ! Im not a particularly good photographer but practicing - I could have got some lovely shots of the taxi-ing aircraft as they held short of the active runway but alas could not get a decent position. That said a really enjoyable day - and I have the red knees to prove it !

[KevinJ]

Slogan hit the nail on the head, I also wish the hardcore snappers would be more community minded. If I was close by to somebody older or in the case of the chap above in a wheelchair I would go out of my way to assist them with a better view, but it seems I'm in the minority these days.