WIX Archives

How many people in a crowd.......

Posted by MM on Mon Oct 15, 2001 12:30:25 PM

.....constitutes an official "air display" that requires regulating as far as the CAA rules apply?

Is it 2000?

This is further to my post about the small and more intimate Duxford autumn shows that I prefer.

I'm not really into "exclusive" things, but this might help some operators pay the bills, but if it makes financial sense....I know not??

I have always wondered why TFC and/or OFMC and the other operators don't get together, and take the show on "the road" around GB and Euroland.

I have no idea of the costs involved, but I would like to think that small, personal displays, with the CAA maximum of "customers" would be very nice indeed.
I understand that the rules and regs are less if the crowd is no bigger than the CAA maximum, which makes it easier to put a show on somewhere......although safety is the most important aspect of course, and shouldn't be slackened just because a crowd is smaller than normal.

I envisage the show being taken to all corners of GB/Euroland, to all those places where warbirds never go, all season long...from April/May to October, OR....even all year long, just following the sun around Europe......every week a new venue, when it's winter in Nothern Europe, you go to Southern Europe, and being advance ticket only, to ensure the crowd turns up whatever the weather, and flying a good selection of warbirds....maybe ten/fifteen/twenty in a tight and intimate show for real enthusiasts.

A restricted crowd also means that you wouldn't be trying to see the action over all those non-enthusiasts with huge umbrellas in deck-chairs who hog the barriers from the moment they enter the show.....any price is worth that!

I know that the ticket price would be high, and also mean that many people, including myself possibly, that wouldn't be able to afford it, and I know that there would be a huge amount of organisation and rules and regs to follow, but it would allow many people to see them that currently find Duxford a long way to travel.
After all, I can't imagine that many people travel much further than 100 miles to go to Duxford, I have to go 80 miles there and back, which means I can't get there at all at this time....not being able to drive at the mo, so just having the UK's only serious all-warbird shows at Duxford cuts the majority of Brits out of the picture entirely....and worse for our Euro friends as well.

What say you?
Would people like to see a ticket-only , restricted crowd warbird show at their local airfield/airport with hard runways for safety etc, and how much would you be prepared to pay for the convenience of a "Personal Warbird Show"?
?20, ?30, ?40, ?50......?100????

Maintenance would have to be done as, when and where required, but the display content could be rotated as required anyway, there's no need for a "fixed" display content.....when one Spitfire/Mustang is down, then you just put another one up instead.....simple.....??????

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This idea is probably madder than the one above....but I would just love to be able to go to a display in mid-winter in GB!!!!
Preferably a two-dayer....in case the weather's crap (!?), and over the new year break, 31st Dec/1st Jan.
This one could be at Duxford to make sure the aircraft are actually there, rather than being weathered in at the other end of the country.

BIG BIG Gamble I know, but ten or so planes flying for a restricted ticket-only crowd when the weather plays ball at whatever time during the day.....well it would just round off the year nicely....and start off the new year nicely as well!!

Apart from the fact that the weather might not be too good, which is a risk even during the British summer, and that most of the UK's warbirds are grounded for their annuals....the only real problem I can see is that the magazines like Key's annual Airshow mag would find it a bit hard to know what year to put it in!!!


Anyone from TFC/OFMC like to comment?

Cheers
Mick the Flipped










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