Car Parks

[JP5]

Is there one of the car parks that is better to the flying from? Will be travelling with my 5 year old daughter and was thinking if she gets tired I could return to the car and watch some flying from the car.

[reaper493]

You can watch the flying from any of the car parks, they are all set back a fair way from the display line, with the main showground between you and the runway.

Is this your first time at RIAT?

Mike

[JP5]

No, my first visit was to the Sunday this year. We were parked on green car park just past the end of the runway and watched a bit from the car after it rained.

Thinking other car parks at other end of runway or more central may have been better to view from but I suppose it depends on wind direction on the day.

[JP5]

That will be last year's show now, not this year.

Forgot it's a New Year

[James Cutting]

Blue Car Park is quite central but if I remember quite a lot of trees and things restrict your views. Can't say how good viewing would be.

[iainpeden]

Factor in where you are coming from. The view from blue is certainly restricted by trees so from the point of view of watching from a car park - and getting fairly close to the fence - green is the best. Have a look on google earth and you'll get a better idea.

[reaper493]

Maybe one of the campsites maybe best for you?

Unless you want to specifically get on the showground for some of your time this may be the best option.

[JP5]

I'd like to go in a go see around the showground. I'm thinking it may be best to do it over 2 days, didn't get around all of the static display last year. Possibly campsite 1 day and in the airshow itself the next, or both days in the airshow. Is there a campsite or one of the external park and view sites that give a good view of the aerial display? If not may just take a small pop up shelter in for one day.

[James Cutting]

In my honest opinion, I'd set aside a day for statics (I usually like doing this on the Friday morning, and towards the end of the show day on a Saturday). Gives yourself time to walk around, have breaks, get food and drinks etc.

I also think if you can get yourself a couple of tickets, do the show days inside. A popup shelter is perfect, and you wouldn't be sat too far away from the front of the crowd line.

There's also the family enclosure add-on for tickets which may be of use https://www.airtattoo.com/tickets-hospi ... enclosure/

[JP5]

I like the idea of the Friday Saturday, or the Sunday and Monday departures but it means taking the kids out of school.
Think I might try the Saturday and Sunday this year and look at getting somewhere to stay or camp.

[James Cutting]

It's educational I'd argue seeing how different types of aircraft work & fly!

[Supra]

Given the 2 fairly concise critical points of your request, there's suggestions above that won't work for you! Try these out....
a) You have a 5 y/o daughter with the normal attention span of a Gnat. Consider Friday, Cheaper ticket, shorter display, some late Arrivals, Green Car Park possibly unavailable due to participant aircraft arriving. If using runway 27 most aircraft turn-off further down from here. If unusually,.... they're using runway 09 you will be like a 'pig in poo!' in the Green Car Park?
b) Your daughter may/will get tired due to the early start. (& it MUST be ) Saturday display is the best as aircraft can depart on the Sunday to relocate to the consecutive Farnborough Airshow this year. Green Car Park is available Saturday & Sunday. See above for pro's & con's.
c) Blue Car Park is off-base. Located way back behind trees & high hedge screening. Waster! Central to the crowd-line but you can't see much even on-base from this central location due to Corporate Chalets there. (whose patronage subsidises ticket-prices for us Commoners?)
d) You can adjust your incoming route well away from Fairford to get access to the Red Route which will allow you to park in the Red Car Park. From there you can view the approach, the active Southside flying aircraft parking & the flying displays from the car! Don't worry about which direction the park you as you can turn the car round later. The winds at Fairford predominantly favour Runway 27 so you will see most landings from here. ( some displays go in either direction if windspeed permits.) Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday.
e) Offsite 'proper' viewing is imo limited to Totterdown Campsite opposite to Show-centre. You may already be too late to reserve a Camping spot there? Contact them asap if you're remotely set on doing that. They do however allow paying day visitors for P&V. Caution ! Although you're keen to share your passion for RIAT with your daughter, my personal experience with young children is that Two-Days is Too-much! Factor in the first day's tiredness & potentially very wet weather (hope not ) & your liklihood of a good experience becomes acutely less possible! Your Call!

See this link for Show Layout & adjacent Parking...
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view ... t=0&sim=11

[iainpeden]

Green car park is usually open on the Friday but you use the shuttle buses to get from the show entrance to the centre point as green zone is still live for movements.