La ferte alais 2009 (30-31 may) Airshow help

[Enemy Ace]

Well, my friend who was going with me to La ferte alais just cancelled. I have never been to this show, any suggestions regarding local hotels, parking, etc. would be greatly appreciated. I was planning to just go on the 30th, is it worth staying two days? any advice from somebody who has been there/done that would be greatly appreciated!

[André]

Its been a couple of years when I was over but it sure was worth the trip.
300 to 400mm lens on a digital camera is far enough for decent shots on the runway. Static display ain't easy for photography but a lot of them fly as well.

Bring some decent boots and rain gear. The whole place is unpaved and can get pretty soacked after a rain shower. They have a campsite next to the showground but I guess one needs a reservation.

One negative point I experienced about this show is the bad services like restrooms. Don't expect too much of it.....

http://www.ajbs.fr/programme-2009.php

Links shows some additional info on hotels as well but some knowledge of the French language is needed to make a call.
La Ferté Alais ain't that far from Paris so you might look for a hotel overthere as well.

[TonyA]

Whenever I've been there I've just stayed in Paris. There's a regular train - hourly on Sundays, maybe more often on Saturday - to La Ferte Alais which takes about an hour then there's a walk of 2km or so to the airfield (with a steep uphill section through woods). There is plenty of parking on site but the traffic queues to get in normally go back beyond the station and travel slower than the people walking in.

I agree about boots and rain gear - it is pretty exposed, there is almost no shelter and the paths get very muddy in the rain.

I would recommend going for two days if possible. Although there's not normally much difference between the two days, the flying display starts at about 09:30 and continues to about 19:00 (with an hour or so for lunch) so in one day there's not much spare time to go around the static aircraft, stalls, etc.

[JDK]

All the above.

It was discussed, more travel than accom, but worth looking at, here:
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=88842

[Mike]

Although there's not normally much difference between the two days, the flying display starts at about 09:30 and continues to about 19:00 (with an hour or so for lunch) so in one day there's not much spare time to go around the static aircraft, stalls, etc.

Not this year I'm afraid, very much a thinned-down, afternoon-only event. LFA-lite, if you like! I'm still very much looking forward to it, though, and am making the trip from California to attend.

[André]

Checked my files and found out it was 2006 when I attended during the Sunday. Weather had been very challenging during the Saturday soacking up the field badly. The B-17 couldn't land and a Spitfire got stuck in the mud during taxing.

Maybe its a tad smaller show than in earlier years, the afternoon is the best time for photos anyway. From 13.00 on the sun turns into your back.

[Mike]

Checked my files and found out it was 2006 when I attended during the Sunday.

I'm almost certain those photos are from 2006 André - the only year I've been there.

[Iclo]

Yes, I'was not there but from what I heard 2006 had not good weather...

The B-17 couldn't land

The B-17 never land in La Ferté, the runway is to short to take-off for her.
It was based on a other airport of the South of Paris.

[André]

Yes, I'was not there but from what I heard 2006 had not good weather...

The B-17 couldn't land

The B-17 never land in La Ferté, the runway is to short to take-off for her.
It was based on a other airport of the South of Paris.

Okay thanks. Thought it had something to do with the soacked runway.

[André]

Checked my files and found out it was 2006 when I attended during the Sunday.

I'm almost certain those photos are from 2006 André - the only year I've been there.

2006 Indeed!

A very bad weekend weatherwise. Think of the program for that Saturday was cancelled. If you travelling from far, a 2 day visit would be best as weather can be very unpredictable in June.

[Mike]

I meant to say 2005. The 109 (Red 7) crashed on take-off in July 2005, and didn't fly again for a couple of years. So I'm absolutely certain those shors are not from 2006.

[Iclo]

Mike: I don't think that Red 7 crash in La Ferté-Alais... I'm not sure on where the crash occured (I'had in mind that was in Germany on its home airport after a training flight) but i'm sure that the plane don't crash in the meeting week-end of La ferté-Alais, because the plane crash on mid-July and the meeting is in May...

Regards

[Mike]

Sorry, no, I meant that Red 7 crashed in July 2005 (in Germany), and was out of action for a couple of years. Therefore it couldn't have been at La Ferte in 2006, which is when Andre says his picture of it was taken. The pictures were taken in 2005, not 2006.

[André]

Sorry, no, I meant that Red 7 crashed in July 2005 (in Germany), and was out of action for a couple of years. Therefore it couldn't have been at La Ferte in 2006, which is when Andre says his picture of it was taken. The pictures were taken in 2005, not 2006.

Correct. My fault. Think I re-edited some shots later on as they have the 2006 tags but original photos show late May 2005.

[FAFG_Xav]

-The show will be different from others years : the planes will fly only in the afternoon, but in the morning, you 'll be able to be closer to the aircrafts than other years.
-Don't forget the rain gear, but don't forget also the sun gear !!!
-Hotels in the area are often sold out for this week end, try Paris, it's less than 1 hour of local train.
-If you plan to bring your tent, call the organisation, I'm not sure but they will only accept Camping Cars near the airfield (no accomodations ie showers etc...). But you have some camping places around less than 5 km far(pm me if you need).
-parking on the site is not a problem...if it doesn't rain and if you patient.
-Coming for the 2 days isn't a bad idea, there are some displays that happen only one of the two days. (check the program on the AJBS website)