Will the hobby ever be the same?

[DanSeaman]

It'll fade out just like the trains did What's everyoone changing to next as I know alot of people when from trains-planes, is it planes-trucks, planes-ships or planes-cars

[chrisfg1]

Not unless there is another Cold War and we don't want that again!

[TankBuster]

I think the last we saw of the good old days was in the early 90's when many Cold War jets were just on the verge of being phased out.

Sadly we wont see it again because most new combat aircraft are now multi-role, so we now have one aircraft doing the jobs of several of the old types. I'm just glad I got to see most of the old types in the air, but at the time I never thought they would dissapear as quick as they did!

TankBuster

[Ronald Reagan]

With a declining USA, NATO's future uncertain, European force levels being so tiny, the future of the west has never been so grim.
Russian domination of Europe and Chinese domination of the whole Asia Pacific region seem quite likely to me. There will likely be lots of military aircraft from Russia and China all over the world!!!! Maybe even based here! Who knows how the future will turn out!!! If your an Aussie or Kiwi spotter you might get lots of Chinese numbers based in your country, if here more likely to be Russian! So the hobby won't be the same, forces and alliances may end, but you might get an increase in bases, squadrons and types, they just won't be ours!

[Colin]

No need for war and peace on this one the simple answer is No. Only have to look at the nostalgia posts, and the amount of members who are turning up at Lakenheath for the A-10's.

Colin

[LN Strike Eagle]

Not if you're only interested in modern military, but there's plenty of interesting aircraft flying in private hands here and around the world.

Finding myself going down that route more and more these days - helicopters aside, much of the modern RAF inventory leaves me cold now that the Harriers are gone.

[steve149c]

What a lot of doom and gloom, yes we may never have the variety of the 80's and 90's, but there are still plenty of jets. As Colin says, look how many people are at Lakenheath daily for the A10's, or up the hills of Wales waiting for the jets to come by. It is a great hobby, and not just for the photography, you get to meet lots of people and genuinely have a great time. I've met lots of people at my local.

Yes the military aspect may be reducing, and there is always the dark side to turn to. But hand on heart, I believe that there is a future, a bright future, and one that no one can predict. It only takes China and Russia to ally for another super power and off we go again. Who would have predicted that two police officers beating a young man in the middle east would have brought down so many Kingdoms and taken us to war with Libya?

If the Politicians have learnt anything, they have learnt that we will always require an airforce, it is just a shame that the bean counters have to be involved.

To sum it up, yes, get into this as a hobby and you really will enjoy it!!

Cheers, Steve

[NAM Updater]

The A10 comment above came in as I was posting the piece below - some of us were at a Press Call in Suffolk when the A10s first arrived in the UK; there was a huge interest in them back then!

One of my biggest 'acquisition' disappointments was not securing the 'Warthog' that was 'stored' at Alconbury in the early 1990s!

A bit of 'background' from a previous 'Hog' deployment!

You can always relive some of the 'glory days' at places like this - great line up this weekend and everyday; even if I say so myself!

[Jason Grant]

Peaks and troughs and at the moment we are in a trough. History always repeats itself, if it calls for it, the World will build up its arms again. Delivery platforms have changed and will continue to evolve, but we will have wars again because society never learns from the past (and it props up economies )

[Hurn]

Not unless there is another Cold War and we don't want that again!

Oh, I don't know. At least you knew who your enemy was and MAD seemed to keep things from getting too out of hand.

As far as the hobby goes for me, I prefer jet noise so it's really a case of enjoy what's left of the airforce and civvy jets still flying. It's not going to last much longer and then all we'll be left with are 'Legends' type shows which will be a very sad day indeed.

[LN Strike Eagle]

I assume you refer to former military in civillian hands? All very good, but civils lack something the military has, even if it is the very same airframe.

Yes, ex-military. Plenty around... Hunters, Gnats, Vampires, Venoms, Sabre, Vulcan, Spitfires, Mustangs, Hurricanes etc.

Don't understand how they have any less appeal in civvy hands - much rather see stuff like that than Hawks or Typhoons personally.

[eagle driver]

Here in the uk at the moment it seems that they can not cut up or dispose of the withdrawn eqpt fast enough so after a couple of years there is nothing to look back at
just look what they are doing to the Tonado F3 as an example reduced to produce hidden away at leeming
where as in europe with probably the exception of germany things seem to sit around for years
the US of course has its own method Ie DM which from our view point, the enthusiast is always the best way ,
But then they can afford to care we
ie our goverment cannot or just dont

[roughcutter]

If they're the future then I can't see myself getting all excited about watching UAV's either!

[PR9]

It seems the golden days for me were the mid-late 90's, and since then it's been slowly dwindling. I'd say it started with the closure of the ACMI range and in the current economic climate with even the US slashing their defence budget it doesn't look good. We just don't seem to get the excercises/deployments we used to.

[Thunder]

The 70's and 80's were probably the peak and the 90's weren't that bad either, but in answer to the OP question, no way will it ever be like that again. The best we can hope for is for some of the NATO Fighter Meets to take place in the UK, but even these seem to have dried up.

[Dunk]

I have lost my aviation Mojo since RIAT, only been the 10 miles down the road to Mildenhall once since then, not even been to see the Hogs, nor to Rougham this weekend, which is 5 miles away.

Not sure why, but im not really enjoying any aspect of it just now, bar listening to the RT.

Hoping once the crisp winter mornings kick in, it will renew my interest again!

[onemac]

Well I think it all depends on when you entered the hobby. My dad always used to go on and on about the good old days yet my first real memories are from the Navy days at Lossiemouth. My recollection of summers spent down at the pillbox are of constant take-offs and landings, the air displays held there and (from about age 10) the annual pilgramage to Leuchars. The 70's and 80's were another boom time at Lossie with loads of visitors and, although the 90's had its moments, it seemed like the best was over the decade before.

My boys think the current activity at Lossie is fabulous but they don't know any different - I suppose it's not going to be the same for them in the next 10 or 20 years?

Al

[hogman]

No it will never be the same again. For me, the hobby died when the Hogs left Alconbury and Bentwaters/Woodbridge.

Still have an interest but there is hardly anything out there to get excited about - with the exception of the Hogs visiting!!

Must admit the civvy owned stuff has doesnt have the same spark, UAV's just arent the same either!

[captain scarlet]

Well i started in 1977 and attended the queen's silver jubilee at finningley so was spoiled by that great show plus the air tattoos at greenham common.

Oh to have a time machine!

So no, it'll never be the same again.

[big john]

Of course not! We thought it would all end when piston power finished. It was different thats all.
But what will we do when petrol is £100 a gallon? Which won't be very long the way it keeps going up.
Will we all be looking for solar powered UAV's and going on your hols in hydrogen powered Zeppelins or just moping around reminiscing about the good old days?