Warbird Information Exchange

Is it -

warbirds?
modern military birds?
the stalls?
the atmosphere?
the day out?
escape the wife?/mother/ etc?
photography only?
talk to others?
just watch those things that are buzzing around up there --( as one told me once at a airshow...)

Some people i know just go for a day out and dont care for anything else
Some like me want to see only certain things.
Etc etc

Sure I'll add to this one.

I've got to say that I'm only really interested in seeing warbirds and vintage birds.

My local airshow (Abbotsford) is so heavily dedicated to current military hardware, which to me is interesting, but not exciting (to me), but I do admire the work that the men and women of our armed forces do for us everyday. Regardless of that, it gets old, especially when it's the same thing every year, over and over...

I prefer grass-roots style shows that are low-key and usually more fun. Then again it always depends most on who is at the show. If you're with a lot of friends, or are able to spend time with veterans or professional pilots, then that's awesome too, no mater what the setting. I'm not big on the hectic and over commercialized shows. A fun show in my area is the Chilliwack Flightfest.

As for stalls, I think they can be interesting, but when it's just a bunch of people desperate to sell you the same t-shirt as the next both it gets tiresome. I do like seeing the stalls from current homebuilt manufacturers though. Such as Murphy, RV's, Lancair, etc.

Oh, I like the old time aerobatics at shows, but if it's a warbird specific airshow, there isn't much need for aerobatics Extra 300 style. I'd love to see warbird aerobatics (done safely).

I don't really go to airshows to escape anything, my girlfriend actually love airshows too, but I really like going for the smell of av-gas and show-smoke.

I'll probably think of more later, but that'll do.

Cheers,

David

Oh, and one thing I would like to see is more educational material. Call me a nerd, but I like learning things. I like feeling smart, haha... It happens quite infrequently, I know, but I still try.

I honestly also like re-enactors in uniforms. It adds a neat effect to the show and makes for some cook photos.

And one last thing. I like the shows where the airplane's owners/crews are often hanging around their birds and you can casually start up a conversation with them, and just chat.

-David

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Cn52Cz_NMC8/S ... Pic017.JPG

He was hoping you'd say that.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Big, noisy and fast!

I remember after one airshow at Parafield , South Australia in the late 80's or early 90's we were having a few drinks at the base of the tower in a special enclosure they had set up (there USED to be a bar there) and we had a P-51D , Spitfire and Sea Fury all parked within 20 feet of us while we were chatting with the owners and watching the sun go down , all the crowds were gone and it was a magic moment.

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Aussie expat lost in Indonesia

It must be the portable toilets. I mean you always see those at airshows, right?

I go for the jet powered trucks and airplane eating dinosaurs myself

All kidding aside, I usually go for warbirds and modern military hardware. If the warbird turnout looks good with a military demo or two, then I'm more likely to check it out. Warbirds are the primary draw for me though. Some aerobatic acts also have a certain appeal, but I tend to go for walks during those parts of the show and look at something else.

Re-enactors and vintage vehicles also are a neat draw. Having re-enactor battles and displays complements the warbirds and vintage aircraft really well. I got to see a restored rail gun at a local warbird show last year, which was definitely something I never thought I'd be able to see. It's interesting to learn about that aspect of the war in a setting with warbirds.

I too prefer the smaller shows. Thunder Over Michigan is great, but I think you can't beat a show at a small airport. Much more intimate setting, the pilots and crew a lot more accessible for casual chat, and you're generally closer to the aircraft. You also never know what you might find in the corner of some open hangar, or who will decide to drag the old biplane out of the barn for a little flying. The draw for some of the larger like Thunder for me is being able to see aircraft I wouldn't normally see in the area. It's great being able to see Lone Star Flight Museum, Collings Foundation, CAF, etc. at those shows.

Some of the turn-offs for me are the huge military base shows with jet teams. Too often the flying aircraft are not also on static display. I went to Selfridge one year and will probably never go back for that reason. The closest I got to the Bearcat and Skyraider was probably 200 feet. I like to be up close with the aircraft flying close to the crowd.

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Matt

Unique aircraft. Loud and/or classic.

Not sure you will get any two answers the same - kinda like asking if Redheads, Blondes, or brunettes are the most popular.

REALLY top caliber aerobatic flying, lots of Warbirds, unusual things flown in, varied and well done ground displays of military vehicles or classic vehicles (not HOT RODS), interesting educational information displays,conveniant parking.

Turnoffs, screaming kids, screaming women yelling at screaming kids in a voice level that could crack glass, loudmouthed drunks who have to yell 'WHHOOOOIIIEEEE!!! JOOSEETHATS*MBYTCH??' every time a military jet flys past. Standing in a long line to pay $6 for a fartburger because its a captive audience, or a longer line for an underserviced smelly port-a-potty, parking over the curve of the earth, overly officious CAP punks (by the seeming thousands), seeing essentially the same CESSNA 172 56 times on the static ramp, Military crews who look at you like you're some sort of 'tearawrist' because you know things about what they've flown in, dummies who stand underneath the wing of a military transport and smoke to be 'out of the sun' but don't realize or understand that they are in danger by doing that, particularly on a hot day when vapors are more present-but most of all the one person you can just overhear but can't identify who says something like 'geez, I hope someone crashes today'

I agree, I'd rather go to smaller shows

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

The last big airshow we attended was at Offutt and the RAF was there with that fantastic Vulcan demo, so that should give you some idea how long it's been. We wanted to go to Reno last year, but didn't really have a reason to as things worked out. I'd rather attend smaller get-togethers anyway.....I doubt we'll ever go to another really big show.

Several of the local pilots I've talked to have commented that airshows that people have to pay to get into seem to be much better behaved. From my VERY limited experience, I would say that at this point I agree.

Ryan

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Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.

That is probably true Ryan. The GOM had a fairly hefty price tag and a wonderfull audience. The more you pay I guess you get rid of the baby sitters and riff raff. We fooled them, they let us in.

It's a factor, unarguably. Free stuff gets abused.

(Assuming we are talking 'airshows' rather than dedicated niche events of any kind - CAF, Flying Leg Ends, Fly Ins, Osh, etc. which work to their own market)...

People (i.e. mum, dad, the kids) go to airshows for 'a good day out'. What flies - as long as there's sensory variation - don't matter - make sure there's a loud one, a quiet one, a spinny one, an old one and a funny one, rinse, repeat. Shows with just old ones or noisy ones aren't as popular.

Access, publicity, cost and weather-in-the-morning(x54) are the decisive factors for people turning up.

If you want them to come back next year, make sure they don't spend a significant part of their lives in queues (and that's triple important for the ladies toilets... mom has the return vote.) and there's some variety of noise, lots of stuff on the ground to look at and lots to keep today's ADD hand-grabbing kids occupied.

Biggest issues? Traffic in and out and toilet queues. Least important? What flies, when. Exception is the local military aerobatic team. There are very few aircraft that will really make a difference in the gate.

No surprises. Get the toilets right, the rest will fall into place.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com