RIAT - my view

[casper]

Negatives
Queue jumpers: We   parked in the Green car park very close to the entrance to the airfield   (but not the show, if this makes sense), then walked way way back to   join the end of the queue. As the queue moved we got closer and closer   to the entrance only to see people who had just parked their car get out   and just walk into the queue. Very frustrating for me and my friend but   we held our tongues.

Toilets: I had a dodgy stomach so I had to   run to the toilets quite a few times over the weekend and I found a lot   of them didn't work i.e. didn't flush.

Sunday's display. This was   so disjointed compared to Saturdays display. I'd have prefered a   shortened flying display, say 6 hours, instead of the 8 if it meant   there was less waiting around.

Security Checks: I know these   checks are necessary but did I really have to take my lens cap of so   that the security guy could look through the view finder of my camera?

Display line: Was it only me or did quite a few of the displays not seem to use the runway as the display line?

Sleeping:   Not a negative point as far as the show is concerned but I can't see   for the life of me why anyone would pay £35 to go to an airshow then put   a blanket on the ground and fall asleep. I don't know how many sleepers   I nearly tripped over during the course of the two days.

Positives
Saturday's   Display: Totally blew my mind. One of the best displays overall I have   ever seen. There were so many fantastic displays.

Static Display:   I've read elsewhere how others were disappointed by the static display but I   can't understand why. There was wall to wall aircraft. Everywhere I   turned I could see them, I was like a kid in a toy shop

I   know I have listed more negatives than positives but these were minor   and did not in any way distracted from, what was for me, a brilliant   weekend.

[Merlin]

Negatives
Queue jumpers: We parked in the Green car park very close to the entrance to the airfield   (but not the show, if this makes sense), then walked way way back to   join the end of the queue. As the queue moved we got closer and closer   to the entrance only to see people who had just parked their car get out   and just walk into the queue. Very frustrating for me and my friend but we held our tongues.

I'd parked in the Red car park on each of the days which meant more of a walk to the entrance. This I think helped thin out the queue because at most there was only ever 4 or 5 people max in each queue.

Sunday's display. This was so disjointed compared to Saturdays display. I'd have preferred a shortened flying display, say 6 hours, instead of the 8 if it meant there was less waiting around.

To be honest I didn't notice this. I'd assumed that the running order would be different to Saturday, just to mix it up. But then given how well Saturday went there wasn't an awful lot I wanted to see on Sunday that I hadn't seen on Saturday (plus the dull weather didn't help).

Security Checks: I know these checks are necessary but did I really have to take my lens cap of so that the security guy could look through the view finder of my camera?

The security guys at my entrance didn't go that far. They were perfectly happy just to see inside the backpack. In fact the female security guard who checked the backpack on Saturday commented on how clever it was in terms of layout 

Maybe the guy was thinking of buying an SLR?

Display line: Was it only me or did quite a few of the displays not seem to use the runway as the display line?

No I think I noticed this as well. A bit disappointing but probably a safety requirement 

Sleeping:   Not a negative point as far as the show is concerned but I can't see for the life of me why anyone would pay £35 to go to an airshow then put a blanket on the ground and fall asleep. I don't know how many sleepers I nearly tripped over during the course of the two days.

Maybe you should have stepped on them (accidentally of course) 

Positives
Saturday's Display: Totally blew my mind. One of the best displays overall I have ever seen. There were so many fantastic displays.

Even though this was my first trip to RIAT I totally agree. The sheer selection of aircraft was great especially given that many of the aircraft there were ones I may never see again.

Static Display: I've read elsewhere how others were disappointed by the static display but I can't understand why. There was wall to wall aircraft. Everywhere I turned I could see them, I was like a kid in a toy shop

Totally agree. The static display was excellent in terms of both access and quality/quantity. Did the reviewers say what it was about the static display that disappointed them?

[casper]

Did the reviewers say what it was about the static display that disappointed them?

Yes they quoted 'Lack of aircraft' 

[Angry Turnip]

I suppose the reviewers are used to seeing more aircraft at RIAT than us folk-are shows tend not to have much of a static display.
 
Queue jumpers do my head in,and is usually a sign of bad marshalling;although everyone attending an event like that should know not to queue bunk-it`s damned rude-GRRRR!!! 
 
As for people just through a blanket on the ground to sleep on;that`s something I`ve not seen.Did they not even have a tent?
I`d have tied their shoes laces together and sprinkle bird seed on them so they would get a good pecking!
On second thoughts that would be dangerous to attract birds to an airfield.Woops!

[Hammerhead]

I agree with casper on most of the points he has made ...

Display line: Was it only me or did quite a few of the displays not seem to use the runway as the display line?

I believe the display line as on the far side of the runway and was marked with orange pyramids....

Another thing that I noticed was the amount of people that were only interested certain acts eg The Vulcan, and would leave when the display by that aircraft was over...

And for all the negatives I'm still planning to head back next year....

[Angry Turnip]

Seems bonkers to me to fork out all that money for tickets and then leave after you have seen your favourite act!
 
Re:display lines.All UK airshows using an airfield must use the farside,or even further back as the display line.