North Weald Diary 2014

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Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 197

Shouldn't be a issue with distracting drivers. As Duxford is in the same situation. I would have said Duxford is probarbly worse as they have had few aircraft incidents onto the motorway.

Member for

15 years 8 months

Posts: 197

Having been to nearly all the Fighter Meet Airshows ,i am pretty sure there were two reasons why the Show,s were stopped ,first one being the loss of revenue from the saturday market which had to be cancelled on the Airshow weekend ,and also the cost from the Police for policeing the show ,it was way over policed in the end and the Organisers had to pay the very large bill,would love to think they would bring it back ,but who would take the risk ??

Member for

11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

Why was it overpoliced? Traffic management?

Member for

11 years 4 months

Posts: 976

Lots of happy days at the Fighter Meets one of the best was a Friday when I got stuck a the top of the field moving the Canberra TT18 when the two Fiat G91's kept doing go around's after the Jaguar that escorted them in just left them and again in the same place when Mark Hanna departed in the F-86

I live in hope of a air show in 2016 to mark 100 year of the air field

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 197

Well the Saturday market is on its knees now anyways. It's gone from a fair few lanes down to only two.
I think a 100 year anniversary airshow in 2016 would be something that needs to be done.

Having aircraft there which represent what was stationed there at the time and Squadrons and Veterans who served there would be special indeed.
Come on North Weald lets get it organised !!!

Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 5,998

I think drivers on the M11 being distracted is probably no worse than seeing a 747 coming at you on the M25 whilst on finals for Heathrow. I've seen hundreds but I still crane my neck to see one :)

Rob

Member for

19 years 8 months

Posts: 125

Coming in late here, but I think the issue is that the airspace over North Weald is now restricted to a much lower level because of the increased activity of Stansted. The base of the controlled airspace is 1500 feet, a bit low for an airshow.

Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 8,505

Why was it overpoliced? Traffic management?
I seem to recall that the traffic management only became a problem when they stopped sending advance ticket holders and those buying tickets on the gate in by different routes. It always ran smoothly prior to that decision and the police seemed to spend most of their time doing very little for their overtime money.

Member for

11 years 5 months

Posts: 84

While I'd love to see a Fighter Meet at North Weald, sadly too young to remember any of the shows, I'd just love to see more events such as the Norwegian Wings over North Weald becoming more regular. The relaxed atmosphere of the airfield makes them extremely enjoyable events.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 933

Our former resident black Hunter T7 FireFox (G-FFOX) called in for fuel from Esbjerg in Denmark on Tuesday on its way to Waddington.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/FireFoxLand1-1000_zpsf603489c.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/FireFoxLand2-1000_zpscba76df0.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/FireFoxTaxi-1000_zps500baf3b.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/FireFoxTaxi2-1000_zps248f4f07.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/FireFoxParked-1000_zpsf8b9c7be.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/FireFoxTakeOff2-1000_zps37742cd4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/YakRider/FireFoxTakeOff3-1000_zps5128bac9.jpg

We had actually noticed that our 100th anniversary is in 2016 and have been working on ideas for what we can do for some time. The problem, as ever, is money. Our community days cost around £20,000 to put on for quite basic events with small amounts of flying. A BBMF flypast this year will cost us in the region of £2,000 for the aircraft and insurance. In the past we have been fortunate to benefit from the generosity of owners and operators of warbirds. Rest assured that 2016 will be something special at North Weald!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,415

re;

Fantastic pictures. Looking forward to Waddington...

Member for

14 years 7 months

Posts: 74

It's hard to imagine the arguments for the market and policing, when a two day model show has been held at North Weald for years.

In fact Wings and Wheels model show was held last w/e 28-29 June.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,208

A model show is a very, VERY different proposition to a full-blown airshow.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 16,832

I think drivers on the M11 being distracted is probably no worse than seeing a 747 coming at you on the M25 whilst on finals for Heathrow.

The morons actually used to pull up on the hard shoulder to watch, particularly when the Red Arrows or the Vulcan were performing.

Moggy

Member for

11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

The Hunter pictures are terrific. Hope you succeed on getting something together for the 100th! I'll be there!

Member for

12 years 11 months

Posts: 51

Four years ago, I ventured into this forum as a founder member of the organising team for Fighter Meet. Lea Aviation (as it was at that time) comprised some of the best known names in the business as the organisers. Ray Hanna, Mark Hanna, John Watts, Arthur Gibson, Paul Warren Wilson, myself and others, combined to stage a fabulous event. I offered the suggestion that I might re-introduce such an event via this forum. I was astonished to receive much negative comment from aviation enthusiasts.

Quite apart from the old financial objections, I found the experience to be disheartening. Thirty years ago, Fighter Meet was new and exciting, but I feel that the fans have now become jaded and would only complain at the high entrance price required to stage such an event now. Such shows cost a lot of money and sponsorship just does not exist. If it did, I'd be in the business!

Member for

11 years 9 months

Posts: 394

well Ex Aviator the 1996 air show was my very first, many have come and gone since then, but if you were to resurrect something for a 100 year anniversary i think £30.00 ish per ticket would be the market price what would you have put a ticket price at. At that price i would certainly be attending.

As for the negative vibes all one can say is woof woof cant be doing with them negative vibes man !!!!!!!

Member for

14 years

Posts: 4,996

My biggest memory of going to an airshow at North Weald, was seeing a formation of four lightnings.
Those were the days.

Member for

14 years 4 months

Posts: 433

Any event that can be organised would be a bonus, but for my money, a repeat of the 'Gathering of Warbirds & Legends' format would be excellent (albeit, one assumes, rather costly) with historic aircraft flying in with the odd flyby on arrival/departure.

Fighter Meet was a part of my childhood and an important part of forming my love of historic aviation. Many happy memories spent at my local!

Member for

18 years 1 month

Posts: 1,318

'Gathering of Warbirds & Legends' was ace