FRIAT 2024

[iainpeden]

If anyone in FRIAT wants to say hello I’ll be in H78 intermittently from Thursday to Monday.

[C24]

Wendy Toms should be on the next Honours list, certainly has worked over and above the call of duty.

Well done and thank you.

[Redflag17]

Been going to the tattoo since 1976 when we had peace camps, police throwing us off the common forcing the organisers to start park and view. However security is now higher. How does this compare to Cosford airshow?
On moving the stand i don't believe the reasons given, think it is because we are along side the 1st class enclosure and we are being moved to improve their view and they don't like being beside the common folk. Looking at the packages available if you pay more than FRIAT to go in the enclosures you get on base parking and probably no security checks. Is this because a terrorist would be a lone wolf with no money and eco warriors would come on the bus. Sounds like good old class distinction to me. Lets see what happens this week. Despite all sure we will enjoy it again

[The Cat]

Apologies if I've missed something but RIAT website still states car parks open at 0600 Sat & Sun and I have also received nothing telling me otherwise.
Also nothing about a 100% bag search and a 'bag free' entry lane.

[James Cutting]

That's correct. There is a 100% bag search in place and you will get a bag free lane when you get checked.

[Bob DeBilda]

Wendy Toms should be on the next Honours list, certainly has worked over and above the call of duty.

Well done and thank you.

Couldn't agree more!

[f14stumpy]

Hi, can't seem to find it anywhere, when does blue gate open tomorrow please? I know FRIAT opens at 08.30.
Thanks.

[Harkins]

Aside from the headline acts of no FRIAT entry gate and the moving of the stand, a much less significant change but that also isn't an improvement, the loss of the sheet of lies vouchers. There used to be people mooching about handing out sheets of lies and you exchanged your voucher and it took mere seconds. There’s now a darn long queue at one place where your name needs ticking off. Hardly life changing, but mildly irritating.

[grogresaurus77]

Is FRIAT definitely not open until 08:30 tomorrow? Not 07:30 like everything else? Not happened in the past.

[Gary]

How was the process getting into FRIAT today?

[James Cutting]

Speaking to Dad who is there this morning, he said the bag check was a doddle, and was in the "waiting zone" by 08.30 with no issues.

[AndyXYZ]

Yep easy peasy unless you turned up at dawn then it was a long wait till 08:30, my bag was put through the scanner, bloke operating it knew what he was doing so no issues.

[James Cutting]

Just doing the FRIAT survey. Interesting point about the new grandstand...

You should be aware that the FRIAT enclosure and grandstand next year is moving west and will also be set back from the crowd line. The FRIAT grandstand will continue to offer a complete view of the runway and whilst the structure has moved back from the crowd line, we will still be creating a crowd line section dedicated to FRIAT in front of the grandstand. By doing this, you will maintain the same footprint of exclusive FRIAT front row crowd line space as before, allowing you to move freely between your allocated seat, your designated crowd line space and your enclosure facilities.


There will be an area of general public viewing between the grandstand and the crowd line. In order to mitigate some of your concerns we will be reviewing the height of which the first row of grandstand seating is positioned. We will also be looking at the depth of both the area in front of the grandstand and your designated crowd line space to ensure you get the best opportunity of capturing great photos without the general public obstructing views

[iainpeden]

If they go ahead with the public area in front of the FRIAT stand then 2025 will be the last time many people join FRIAT. So if you want to complain email Wendy or enquiries@RAFCTE.com.

One question - is there a public area in front to the Viewing Village stand?

[seven]

No general punters, but the VV garden is directly in front of the grandstand.

[iainpeden]

Thanks seven

[Harkins]

It'll be the FRIAT crowd line that creates an obstruction to the FRIAT grandstand if anything. I can't believe that they think a narrow path at one end the enclosure is in any way acceptable. This whole thing is ridiculous and a massive up yours to the high end advance paying year in year out FRIAT members. Basically, there'll either be a P&V East style race to get a spot on the crowdline first thing, or you'll be way back in your seat after up a lugging a 600mm with 2x extender to be able to fill a frame of an aircraft on the runway.

And I wonder what todays justification for this change is, contractors too near the runway (which they seemingly aren't for any other parts of the setup) or are we back to the inconvenience of filling in the form about the partial runway view blocking from the USAFs only small control tower in the whole of Europe? Or have they thought of a new reason? Something about newts?

The only positive I hear about this is being further west helps mitigate the eyesore that is the worlds longest running construction project. Except, when you look at it, in truth, it won't make a whole lot of difference.

I was told by Wendy to send an email, but we all know that just as filling in the questionnaire, it'll have absolutely no impact whatsoever as they have made up their minds about whatever lucrative changes they're making and will just humour and ignore us. Funny how it's the FRIAT stand alone that is the problem with the ever decreasing general public viewing areas - even though this cunning solution still gives them zero actual front row viewing as they'll still be behind the FRIAT standing mosh pit. Nothing to do with large areas with just half a dozen rattan garden chairs that are unocuppied half the day whilst the high priced ticket holders are seeking shade to check their Instagram and book a table at the Cotswold's finest Italian restaurant.

They say they've frozen the price, but that doesn't count when you take a chunk of the product away. They have simply seen FRIAT as the cheapest and easiest hit to squeeze in another prawn sandwich enclosure.

And insult to injury, I'll bet my bottom dollar that after what was a very impressive line up this year, that with all the will in the world they will not get close to matching it next year. Four Phantoms again? Boeing providing another pair of F-15s? The F-16s 51st anniversary?

[James Cutting]

Think you've nailed it there, really. You're best buying Viewing Village (did it in 22, very good to be honest) just hope for everyone they don't do stupid speakers and wires between them like this year!

I won't be going next year due to family reasons but really hope that FRIAT stands well for anyone who decides to renew.

[Harkins]

And another thing this year. It reminded me of a holiday to Turkey years back. I paid for a coach trip to see Efes and Pamakkule, but the excursion also included several unadvertised stops at Turkish rug shops where we were a captive audience to rug salesmen. There was a slight hint of that with half the marquee now belonging to COAP. Lucky it didn't chuck it down this year as people would have been stood on the Nikon tables.

Yeah, I'm a bit vexed by the direction FRIAT is clearly going. And they know full well that no matter how dissatisfied I am, I'll most likely cough up and do it again. But with that terrible departures background, I can now make a reasonable argument for Wed and Thurs P&V (east or west) and Friday show-day and call that quits. In truth and with hindsight, it would have done nicely this year.

[James Cutting]

Personally disagree with the COAP statement. They had 5 tables (3 to lens hire) tucked well away. Offering free unlimited lens hire, free editing tutorials and free professional printing. There was plenty of space on the marquee, so it really wasn't an issue.

Can't be classed as "unadvertised" because it was advertised.