News:

The old forum can be viewed here:
www.niaviation.co.uk/archive

Main Menu

Recent posts

#11
Yes sorry, probably badly worded on my behalf, we are a minority in the eyes of the council who organise it and not the key target.

Even the likes of Cosford now seem to have moved to a more family orientated show since Peter Reoch left the Flight director position.

I'll probably end up going to one of the days just for  day out but Duxford the following week is far more appealing and that's even with nothing announced yet as its a proper enthusists show.
#12
I have to disagree that enthusiasts are a small number at seaside airshows.Joe Public / families want to see much the same thing as the rest of us, something exciting and interesting.
Shows at Newtownards used to pull in 30,000 to 50,000 every year,depending on weather, and all had to pay in.
Fair enough you will sometimes get people leaving after the main attraction has done their bit, ie The Red Arrows or the Typhoon, but I would say it`s less than 30%.

It`s organiser`s of the shows that have ruined them,claiming to make them more family orientated. All they are doing is booking cheap and less exciting aircraft and displays, they spend too much on bringing in ground attractions,people are bored with that.
Public and enthusiasts alike want jets, a few warbirds,maybe a large transport and a decent display team or two, not specks on the horizon, or the same dull aircraft year after year.

As I see it the bulk of the shows budget should be spent on interesting aircraft displays, then more people will come.Try and do it on the cheap, people will get bored quickly and leave, or not even bother going.
A 3 or 4 hour show would be better, rather than trying to stretch it out for 5 to 6 hrs with yet another pass by an autogyro or some other futt-futt you can see at any local flying club.
#13
Yes, sadly 2014/2015 was the last years of the enthuisist airshow at sea-side shows. All have moved to a family based show. Understandable with it being a local council show trying to bring people to the area and that will always be a key focus but they seem to completely forget about enthuisists as we are a small number at sea-side shows compared to day trip famailies.

#14
Don't get your hopes up. It's more of a family day than air enthusiasts day. I will be surprised if the exciting thing is anything decent.
#15
A  T6 Texan II would be a massive let down. I am really not a fan of it at all. The F35 would be a great coup for Portrush, but I've seen it a number of times already and will see it's role demo at RIAT  and probably Cosford if I end up going.

I honestly don't know what is out there for sea-side shows that really could be a crowd puller for Portrush. Baltic Bee's have reformed and would be a good display but I can see Portrush going for an almost identical show from the cancelled 2022 show. I would say the following is likely

BBMF
Typhoon
F35 (It would attract a lot of people I think)
RAF Tutor
Bronco
Team Raven
Ulster Gliding Club
Irish Air Corps
Catalina
One or two of Ultimate Warbids fighters
Rich Goodwin


Heh, maybe the debut is the Irish Air Corps new CASA 295.

A Vampire or Strikemaster pairs display could be a nice addition or the Gnat's. I don't think the Swedish Historic would fit in well with the budget.

IF and a big IF they are to get any International participation, I'd love to see the French Rafale at Portrush. Incredible display.
#16
Re the F-35 Role Demo, that`s why I said there was nothing mentioned on the RAF Display Teams section as yet.
I didn`t mention the Chinook Display, the RAF are always short of Chinook aircraft, and seem reluctant to display is at any but the main RAF shows.

I would not be surprised if the debuting aircraft is something unspectacular like a Beech T-6 Texan II. I couldn`t care less to be brutally honest. Unless the organisers get something really good and the weather is scheduled to behave it`s self, then I won`t be going anywhere near it.
The new display line may look good on paper, but from a logistical point, it`s far from ideal.To me it looks like people are going to be penned into smallish viewing areas,and a fair bit of walking from car parks will likely be involved.
#17
Quote from: angry turnip on Mar 08, 2024, 11:57 PMJust had a look at the RAF website and looked at display teams section, there is no RAF F-35 Display listed as yet, however it could be an F-35 from elsewhere, if indeed the aircraft hinted at is an F-35.


RAF F-35 demo display was only publically revealed on Thursday, and that has been via event orginisers and not the RAF as of yet. So far Cosford and RIAT are the only two places confirmed for the role demo. But I don't think there is anything else really the debut could be.

Don't expect the Chinook this year, they announced that there will be no display team due to operational commitments and will fly a very limited role demo at only a few events.
#18
Just had a look at the RAF website and looked at display teams section, there is no RAF F-35 Display listed as yet, however it could be an F-35 from elsewhere, if indeed the aircraft hinted at is an F-35.
#19
Ohhhhhh F-35 demo would be good. The BBMF I don't hold out much hope for as it all depends on the weather for them and the weather is never that great even for them to transit over. Could they not attract the likes of the Swedish historic flight etc or is it not within the budget for them? It would need to be a good line up to even consider a run up but if the F-35 is to make an appearance I might consider it.
#20
Military Aircraft (New & Old) / Re: VTTS and The Vulcan
Last post by JasonT1981 - Mar 08, 2024, 08:37 PM
Yes, the proposed visitors centre, hanger  and restoration of the Canberra they bought never came to be. They couldn't raise the £2.2m needed for the hanger and abandoned plans early 2022.  Nothing has been said about the Canberra in a long, long time.

Sad  state of affairs though Doncaster-Sheffield is due to re-open  so they might be able to keep doing taxi runs.