Will the Airshow quality drop?

[robbo]

I think thiers more important things to worry about concrning the cuts then airshows

[GOOSE]

I think thiers more important things to worry about concrning the cuts then airshows

Agreed.

[MacksAviation]

I think thiers more important things to worry about concrning the cuts then airshows

For once I agree with you

[robbo]

I think thiers more important things to worry about concrning the cuts then airshows

For once I agree with you

AH! Dave, didn't know you cared, seriously though, i think thiers more bad news to come, i think we have only heard
"the rattling of sabres"

robbo

[Dunk]

Im sure RIAT will use this excuse for less aircraft next year lol

[RichC]

I got told earlier thantnobody cares about the airshows next year because of the SDR will be losing people jobs when i brought this subject up this afternoon, obviously that statement was wrong.
My opinion is, it will affect the airshows but not that much as the RAF did not support many airshows within the UK anyway apart from a few big events. A few role demos here and there and what else?

[garethbrum]

My opinion is, it will affect the airshows but not that much as the RAF did not support many airshows within the UK anyway apart from a few big events. A few role demos here and there and what else?

Rich - I'm sorry but where on earth do you get that from?

Tutor solo
Tucano solo
Hawk solo / then role demo
Harrier role demo
Tornado GR.4 role demo
Typhoon solo
King Air solo
Chinook role demo
Team Merlin well worthy of mention for static appearances plus a host of other statics at shows
Red Arrows
BBMF
Spitfire and Typhoon synchro display
RAF Falcons
And a couple of extra such as 19 Sqn supporting RIAT and Duxford, Tornado F.3s at RIAT. C-17, Tristar and VC-10 made a few appearances too.

These displays supported, as they always do, a vast amount of displays in the UK, large and small. Yes, some acts appeared more than others, but overall they performed for a huge number of people across the country, as well as supporting foreign shows by way of reciprocation for foreign acts supporting ours. A huge commitment and largely met by people volunteering to do so.

[Flightline UK]

The RAF solo displays certainly support just as many, if not more events than their European/US counterparts. For example, the RAF Typhoon support 25 separate public events in 2010 whereas the Belgian F-16 supported 20. The Hawk, Tucano and Tutor supported considerably more and many air arms don't display their equivalents. The RAF support air displays at major airshows (like RIAT, Waddington, Bournemouth, Eastbourne, Kemble) right through to small charity events (Abingdon, Little Gransden) and even the odd sporting event such at the British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park.

What of the future? Well, with the numbers of different types reducing and financial belts tightening, those who believe airshows should only consist of military might may well be disappointed. I can't see the MoD or other military air arms choosing to support airshows over operational and financial requirements. You can't sacrifice money for air displays when there is more urgent need for it on the front line. That's not to say the RAF and others won't support airshows, but the way they do may have to change further still.

It's not just the military that are feeling the pinch, warbirds, classic jets and civilian teams are all in the sameboat with the costs of fuel, paperwork and insurance all rising.

As for airshow quality, there is no need for it to "drop." Events like Bournemouth, Kemble, Duxford and Jersey are proof that amazing air displays can be had with fairly small numbers of current military displays, but plenty of imagination.

[Pallen77]

Was The Reds future unsure a few years ago? Wonder if they will feel the pinch of all this.
(yes I know things are more important than this, before I get attacked. Just a thought)

[Flightline UK]

I would not be surprised if the Reds flew fewer displays in the years to come - it's hard to see them escape the reducing budgets. However I can't see them disappearing just yet as they play an important role in the promotion of "UK plc" and the Royal Air Force.

[Richard B]

Cannot see much being sent to Airshows in 2011, with such big cuts just been made,
the purse strings for such use will be shut next year.

[Pallen77]

And I suppose The Reds are a good tool to help recruitment to the RAF.

[Sheff]

We've visited this topic many times before and regardless of the SDR it's a simple fact of life that air shows will inevitably deteriorate in terms of content and quality year by year. There's absolutely nothing that could change this trend as it is a symptom of rapidly-diminishing numbers and varieties of aircraft, drastically smaller budgets from which air show appearances can be funded, and rising costs of air show organisation which makes getting what is still available more and more difficult.

You have only two options - one is to accept that the days when air shows were entertaining and worth attending are gone. Stay home and watch the telly. Alternatively, accept that even as the shows get more and more tiresome, they are still as good as they are going to get, so simply make the best of what is left, while it lasts. That's all that can be done, really. Aircraft ain't never gonna come back from the scrap yard!

[Leuchars Fan]

I think there is a tendency to be over bleak on these forums. The R.A.F. has compared with years gone by, under represented itself on the show circuit for the last five years. This year saw a more favourable line up than 2009, the worst R.A.F. public display showing ever. Nobody can predict exactly what the future holds. As far back as 1954, senior R.A.F. Officers were suggesting that the performance of new higher performing aircraft then, put them outside of the confines of display flying because they were getting too fast.

As for quantity, you never know what the future holds.

LF

[garethbrum]

Hello FB!

[Leuchars Fan]

Hello FB!

How did you guess?

FB sorry... LF

[garethbrum]

I think it was the - very similar to your favourite one elsewhere!

[Leuchars Fan]

I do like to leave clues!

FB

[garethbrum]

I do like to leave clues!

FB

It was too easy!

[T_J]

'The R.A.F.' was the clue for me.

Welcome, FB


TJ