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PostPosted: 14 Jul 2017, 23:40 
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PostPosted: 14 Jul 2017, 23:42 
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PostPosted: 15 Jul 2017, 09:57 
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Location: Centurion, Pretoria, SA
Niiiice. Some observations :
The A400 upper wings look like its full of tape - wonder what that's all about?
The U2 is serioulsy tatty. Good modelling subject. That's more than likely a landing after an operational mission. They have two based at Fairford. The cars chasing it are for the pogo outriggers. Amazing how level the pilot keeps it even at low speed. You can see the spoilers working on roll out.
The videos are taken from the Mach stand which is positioned halfway down the runway. The display pilots know that this where the bulk of photogs are sitting. Best day is departure Monday. Just imagine 100+ aircraft taking off one after the other.
Best airshow on planet earth. C'mon Marc, join me next year !!


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PostPosted: 16 Jul 2017, 12:20 
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Mistral wrote:
Best airshow on planet earth. C'mon Marc, join me next year !!


If things work out as planned for this year, this could be a very real possibility.

I have a friend who is at RIAT right now, weather doesn't look great though.

Realistically when should the planning begin?
How long should one stay?
-I assume about a week covering the whole weekend, plus arrivals and departures.

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PostPosted: 16 Jul 2017, 12:57 
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PostPosted: 16 Jul 2017, 12:58 
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PostPosted: 16 Jul 2017, 21:57 
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Great vids, thanks for sharing. The U2 in particular was a treat, was expecting to see a wing tip dragging along the ground at some point!

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PostPosted: 17 Jul 2017, 11:53 
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Impressive how aggressive the Rafale and Typhoon displays were.


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PostPosted: 17 Jul 2017, 11:55 
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B-2, still a very spooky looking plane.


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PostPosted: 17 Jul 2017, 11:56 
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PostPosted: 17 Jul 2017, 18:25 
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Location: Centurion, Pretoria, SA
MARS wrote:
Mistral wrote:
Best airshow on planet earth. C'mon Marc, join me next year !!


If things work out as planned for this year, this could be a very real possibility.

I have a friend who is at RIAT right now, weather doesn't look great though.

Realistically when should the planning begin?
How long should one stay?
-I assume about a week covering the whole weekend, plus arrivals and departures.


Marc, best to book as far in advance as possible. I left it too late this year. You need to register with FRIAT (Friends of RIAT). They run the photog's stand and enclosure halfway down the runway. The best seats in the house. The display pilots know this so fly to impress. Buy a Mach 3 ticket - gives you full access on arrivals days, two airshow days and departure Monday. Enclosure is access controlled, own ablutions and several food vendors exclusive to FRIAT members. Access to Fairford air base is also much quicker - the crowds are unbelievable but no long queues :smt023 for Mach 3 Ticket holders. 3 years back a Mach 3 ticket was around R3,000. If you don't want to spend so much dosh, go for a Mach 1 or 2 option.

Usually the weekend before RIAT is Duxford Flying Legends near Cambridge. So plan to arrive the Friday and travel through to Cambridge. Spend two days at Duxford - what an experience :D . Monday travel through to Wales and do two days in the Mach loop.arrive early Wednesday at Fairford for first arrivals. Talbots of money for books and models as the vendors are out in full force. Take several 16GB memory cards (don't go bigger as a card failure will bring you to tears). Download images every evening. You'll take thousands.

Accommodation. Don't bother with hotels. Go B'nB. Eat at local village pubs. Good food and reasonable prices. One of the inns about Fairford is that this is the Cotswolds - magnificent rural scenery interspersed with quaint English villages. I shall be booking my Mach 3 ticket as soon as booking is open. The selection of aeries this year is way better than when I went in 2015.

By the way, don't plan on predicting the weather. This is after all England. In 2015 there was a severe heat wave. So weather wise, go with the flow and pack a rain jacket and 'brolly, old chap :smt023

RIAT is run very professionally with knowleagble international commentary. It's unfair to compare to the local airshow circuit but comparisons are inevitable. I had guys behind me In the stands bemoaning the fact that there were too many Gripens and F-16s :shock:


Last edited by Mistral on 17 Jul 2017, 19:39, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: 17 Jul 2017, 18:32 
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I spent 4 days camping at RIAT this year - first time I've done that and what an experience! All the minimum radius turns came right over my head (Rafale, F-16's, Gripen, Typhoon, Mirages) and with the camp site being slightly elevated they were low, real low. I kept my car keys with me because they kept setting off the alarm :lol:

Re the B-2 - also came right over my head. Not the best pic due to my rubbish camera, but to give you an idea

Image


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PostPosted: 19 Jul 2017, 08:25 
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Location: Centurion, Pretoria, SA
Cool :smt023 . How was the actual camping ?

I am in for RIAT next year !!!!


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PostPosted: 19 Jul 2017, 10:20 
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Better than I expected Mistral. We were packed in like sardines on 8x8m pitches. Only one shower block with 4 showers so you had to time it right to avoid queues. There was a bit of wind on Saturday night which forced most campers inside tents. But that was all worth it for the action we got.

I was half expecting a tame experience, being further away from the runway than the paying crowd at the airbase, but it really wasn't. I got there on Thursday morning so had a day or two to watch the rehearsals and determine where in the campsite was best for photo's for any given display. Moving 150m in whichever direction makes a difference.

To sum up, best airshow experience of my life. My only fear is I'm not sure it can be topped in future!


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PostPosted: 19 Jul 2017, 21:34 
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Location: Centurion, Pretoria, SA
avgass wrote:
To sum up, best airshow experience of my life. My only fear is I'm not sure it can be topped in future!


Yes, have to agree. Maybe Oshkosh simply as a function of many more aircraft. But RIAT is the bomb :smt023


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