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Comments
What a beautiful bird, lets
What a beautiful bird, lets hope this government doesnt decide to cut back any kind of funding for this too!!!
waddington
i attended waddington this year as i did last year .i cycled approx 25 mile s...but as usuall the display was poor apart from chinook and eurofighter where was our other front line aircraft ..the gaps between each aircraft where unacceptable ..why not get a few more warbirds at the show to fill in if the reason was because of commitments over sea.s ....the event was organised on the ground but is waddington an airshow or a fair ground ...not to mention the cock up with the vulcan...please sort it out ..the attendance to any airshow will allways be substantial when the vulcan is present ..but who would have stayed at home knowing it was.nt going to fly ...we have a great history behind us ..lincolnshire that is so lets show the likes of fairford etc that we can compete..
vulcan
best plane ever
info
hi
can you help me i am trying to get in touch with waddo to say a big thank you do you no a e-mail address thanks
Waddington 2009
Not very good compared to last year. The fact that the Vulcan management let the ticket run out is inexcusable and to be honest a bit arrogant if they thought they could get away with it with the CAA. Lesson learned I hope. We want fast jets. We want noise and action. The usual excuse is "Well we do have a lot of committments at this time...". When don't we? We think we are part of the world police! Also, the vendors there are taking the mickey with prices. Friday fly-in, ice-cream £2, bottle of tango £2. Two of you and that's another tenner gone. I will think twice about next year. Already put me of Fairford and yes Duxford is another rip off day. Vulcan isn't even going to be there.
Waddo
I have attended finningley every year since I was 8 years old and continued the tradition every year at waddington. Without doubt, waddington offers fantastic value for money with an excellent display of both airbourne and static elements. For the last 3 years the show has not offered the same big-bang birds, but don't forget folks - WE ARE AT WAR and as such cannot take any platform out of theatre just to show off at an airshow! Yes, I would love to see the jag, harrier, A10, tornado, etc but we have neither the machines or available display pilots. As for those comments about RIST, etc, remember that RIAT is not just an airshow, it is a sales pitch to prospective countries to buy these machines, which us why Waddington is billed as the RAF's premier show - RIAT is bigger because there is money at stake. Waddington also has to compete with other shows on the same day - some in the UK, others on mainland Europe and as such cannot always get what they want. The organisers at waddo do a fantastic job and to all those who moan when they don't get to see the fast jets bear in mind all I have said before you spout off!
As for the Vulcan, yes it was a shame she was not up in the air, but beaurcracy reigns, the people responsible for the paperwork screwed up and I've no doubt will have been hauled over the coals for it, but it happened - get over it - just be glad thousands of people have given what ever support they can to help fund this beautiful bird stay available for us to even see on the ground, let alone in the air. She will be there next year, so come back again and support waddington and the benevolent fund - remember it's for those who served, not just a day out for you and the kids.
The car park situation is totally out if the hands of the organisers, it's arrogant idiots who ruin it for others, if people took turns to leave instead of pushing their way out it would run smoothly. Idiots blocking routes out of selfishness cause ALL the delays - remember, thus years waddo had the biggest ever attendance, so it comes as no surprise it took some a few hours to get out. Sit back - have a cuppa and wait till it dies down, failing that leave earlier.
I love waddo and thank all for their efforts in bringing it to us.
New 'Vulcan To The Sky' Gift added to range.
I believe they are going to introduce a special VULCAN PAPER WEIGHT to the gifts range - After all... It WAS the biggest paper weight at the show this year.... Then just to top it off I had a 3-1/4 hour wait to get out of the Sports Field car park on the Sunday... Money well spent? Er... NO ! ....At least it didn't rain this year :-)
Waddington airshow
Just to add my own personal views on what I have read here. Addmitedly the flying wasnt spectacular but the stalls were better,and to see one of the only nations still flying a phantom was worth it. As for expensive food and drink ive always taken a cold box and flasks with tea or coffee. It dosent take much emagination to have a picknic with the joy of an airshow as well.With the ever increasing prices of duxford and riat I find waddington good value, as where else can you have a whole days entertainment for 17-21pounds each. With the cancelation of Mildenhall and the closure of other airbases that held airshows we as enthusiasts should enjoy it before they end them or close the bases. Ive been to worse airshows and better ones but its down to personal preference. All in all a good day out, spent to much money as usual, got sun burnt, didnt get stuck in trafic either going in or leaving (just go early or leave early) stayed localy so no long slogs after or before show. It beats going to work for 6 days.
vulcan
me and my family have been going to waddington since finningley finished and i can honestly say that this year was the worst show i have ever seen then to put the tin hat on everything vulcan was grounded i was gutted i spent £105 on tickets and a fortune on stalls never again
Flying Display
Just take a look at the flying schedule at RIAT Fairford. Loads of fast jets. from all around.No i Won't be there next year
RAF Waddington 2009
What's wrong with you lot? It was a perfect day's flying, and yes the reds perform there manoevres as they do , but you come up with a better and safer way of flying 9 hawks the way the Arrows do. They are the best in the world ,and if you are bored by them, then do not grace us with your presence! I was very disapointed by the Vulcan no-fly, but thank's to the excellent organisation of the programme, and the base personnel, I and my colleague had a thoroughly enjoyable day. As to the lack of fast movers, are you aware of the commitment the R A F is undertaking at the moment? Probably not, so you just keep on whingeing about it, but let us other enthusiasts enjoy what's available. Damn good value for money, see you next year
Waddington 2009
I felt so sorry for the public who attended this years airshow, putting the Vulcan issue to one side for a moment the whole show lacked momentum. It was a the day of the Hawk training aircraft, I did'nt wait for the Typhoon to fly and left the show at 1430. I for one will never return to Waddington again.
waddington airshow 2009
travelled 90 miles. sat in traffic for 1.5 hrs to travel last 2 miles.no jaguar,no migs,no harrier,no lightning,no tornado etc flying.no re enactment of war roles as per last year.lager £3.70 pint.tea £1.50 cup!poor show saved by red arrows,typhoon,chinook,and a stay at skeggy overnite b4 90miles home.4/10 please improve to consider for next year.
vulcan at fairford
was considering going fairford,as i have not been for two years.went waddington last weekend,was ok not really impressed and then let down when vulcan did not fly.i know you go to an airshow to see more than one plane.was looking for to seeing her fly.does anybody know if the vulcan will be definatly be flying???fairford is a brill day out, but will make it better with vulcan
thanks jamieandmel
VULCAN
RAF Waddington were informed late on Friday night that the Vulcan could not fly. We immediately asked the VOC to tell everybody and we put out the information once they had issued their press release. We did update our web site but there were some problems - not an excuse - so we also put it out on radio and PA. However, we sell tickets for an airshow not one aircraft. We have no control over the aircraft serviceability or paperwork and we are as disappointed as everybody else.
Eng007
Mike
Couldn't agree more. this was possibly the worst show I have attendd in 23 years. Shuttleworth is more exciting!! I was appalled at the Vulcan no show (again) and you are right it IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. If Wadders can't do better than this they should scfap it and save the embarassment. At least RAFA and the Benevolent fund get something out of it though. Many thousands of disappointed people I would guess. Wadders, step up to the mark or call it a day
I can say the practice was
I can say the practice was weak, because it WAS, I have seen the Vulcan many, mant times in the past, and again last year, once! and the display, does not do full justice to power and grace of the aircraft, yes I know there are limits on G and speed etc, but 3 or 4 passes, one with bomb doors open, does not make a good display. Now I'm sure that the vast majority of people who have never seen what she can do will not miss it, and will be happy with what she does. I for one can remember 4 aircraft "scambling" from Finningly, and literally feeling the ground move, that was passion. No I could not fly her any better, but I know the pilots who fly her can.
Waddington 2009
I went to Waddington with my eight year old grandson. His day was made meeting the aircrew and other service personnel who took time out to talk to him. Extra special thanks to the Austrian Hercules Crew and the Merlin Crew from Culdrose who went out of their way to entertain him. (Even if the common interest seemed to be AC/DC rather than aircraft)
He enjoyed the display and I suppose the Vulcan not flying was no great problem. Like many others though I expected the Vulcan to be flying. I'd seen it arrive on the East Midlands Today and nothing to suggest it wouldn't be taking part. When I heard the announcement that it wouldn't be flying and the excuses given quite frankl;y it beggared belief. Knowing that required testing had not been carried out and therefore no chance of the paperwork being issued why was it flown to Waddington in the first place?
To get the paperwork issued Bae would have had to be carrying out the required testing. Was it ever arranged with them and if so how specific was the completion date. If it was left in the air then yes the project management must be called into question. Perhaps Bae could answer that question as some mud is being thrown in their direction.
I hope to see the Vulcan in the future, I'm an optimist if nothing else!
John
Derbyshire
First AirShow
Regarding the Airshow 2009 at R.A.F. Waddington, this was the first time I have attended an airshow at a R.A.F. base on this scale, having previously only been to a vintage air display back in the 80's. Although the displays by the flying teams, aircraft pilots and helicopter pilots was good, I felt that it lacked some momentum. There seemed to be long pauses between different displays, which makes you lose interest and there seemed to be little in the way of fighter aircraft from the years, like the Jaguar, The Phantom, the MRCA, and the Harrier. I heard on the radio at the time that they had announced the previous year that the Harrier would not be making another appearance at airshows. Thats like stopping the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as the Harrier was the aircraft that had seen service in the Falklands war, together with the Vulcan, it deserves its place at all airshows. My only other gripe was the lack of authority on vehicles trying to exit the airfield, with cars trying to take the side off my car when I had sat in an orderly queue patiently waiting to leave. The organisers should have had a fair system for people leaving the site as they did when we arrived.
Vulcan
Hey Man you must be easily satisfied. Yes the chinook was great but the Arrows were the same as they always are highly polished but the same old thing year in year out. Have you ever been to the RIAT? now that is a real Airshow loads of statics and plenty of Fighter jets, If your happy to watch lots of Hawks painted in different colours and Alpha Jets then i guess you'll be going next year,
I know one thing i won't be going i'll put towards a ticket for a real Airshow!!!!! FAIRFORD.
Waddington 2009
by joey1984 - 2009/07/06 - 00:48
We also travelled a long way especially to see the Vulcan fly. We had ascertained on Friday that it would be flying otherwise we would not have gone to the show. I felt that we had been seriously mislead and were very disappointed apart from the cost of the trip which amounted to about £80. I hope that in future the staff on the end of the telephone are better informed so that they can give accurate information.
558
Reading the comment's I am glad that I didn't make it to Waddington.Having established that the Vulcan eventually made it back into the air a couple of weeks ago I did think about going - I had 2 trips to airshows last year to see the Vulcan and she didn't turn up at either! Now glad that I didn't.
I really think something is wrong here and the "fund raisers don't seem to appreciate the feelings of "minor" donors. I have been a member of the supporters club for at least 10 years now. We were told on joining as "founder members" that we would see her first flight after restoration - in the end we were offered the opportunity to buy raffle tickets to have a chance of winning a place at the first flight. I almost did not renew my membership this year but gave them one last chance nas we had been told that there would be an exclusive members event early this year - for the second year this has not materialised. My membership of the Vulcan to the Sky club is in peril!!!!
Vulcan
I have been going to Waddington for a number of years. Each year is different.. yes I agree with some comments that there were not many fighter jet displays. But come on... how good were the Red Arrows, Chinook, Team Breitling, and not forgetting the Battle of Britain Memorial flight?? How can Blue Angel say that the Vulcan practise was weak? Could he/ she get in that cockpit and fly it themselves? Yes it was dissapointing not to see the Vulcan, but I paid good money to see more than one aircraft.
Vulcan
Went to waddo for the first time all the way from worcester.
Was very dissapointed that the Vulcan didn't fly.
The show it's self i thought was very poor (CRAP)
Vulcan
The CAA requirements for renewing the permit to fly were not met by the Vulcan team. This involved some testing on a scrapped Vulcan to reassure the CAA the aircraft will continue to be safe to fly. Just a shame the permit to fly expires the day before the airshow.
RUBBISH!
Travelled 2 1/2 hours there and the same back, mostly to see the vulcan fly. In the queue the radio announced that she wouldnt fly - i had advance tickets! once inside the static display was terrible, the flying display was 'padded out' with gaps between aircraft, displays that went on far to long, repeated aircraft, hawks painted different colours as if to convince you that you were watching different aircraft, no fast jets (i saw the typhoon arrive, then just gave up!). i have been gonig to airshows for nearly 40 years and this was the worst that i have ever attended. Very very disappointed with the vulcan team and there placing the blame elsewhere - Its your aircraft, its your responsibility!!!
Waddington / Vulcan
As with most comments, I was disapointed that the Vulcan did not fly, and because of someones cock up this time not a mechanical failure. Heads have to roll now, this is expecting the CAA to waive the rules for weekend just so it could fly at Waddington, luckily I was there on the Thursday to see her practise, and I have to be critical, it was a lame practice, there does not seem to be any "passion" in the way she is flown, I found out it was not flying about 10 minutes before she was due to tale off, when it was announced over the PA, when I asked someone in authority I was told they knew earlier in the day! That explaind why the PA was "suggesting" that people should stagger thier leaving times! I was also told it was on Lincs FM, to which I replied that I and am sure a great many others, did not come to Waddington to sit in the car and listen to the radio! Come on Waddo lets have the truth for once, after all you have OUR money
Waddington Air Show
My wife and I had a great time at the show and although it was a shame the Vulcan didn't fly we went to see more than just the Vulcan so were not let down by Waddington. Team Breitling were fantastic as were the Red Arrows, Team Viper, AAC Blue Eagles, Team Orlik and not forgetting the wing walkers, Typhoon, and all the other stuff going on, or the other planes and Helicopters that flew. I think to concentrate on the Vulcan is unfair to those who put on a great show themselves, and it was great in my opinion. I for one will be back next year, if the Vulcan flys, great, if not never mind we'll enjoy the rest of the show.
Waddington again!!!
I find it amazing that with such public support "all the ducks were not in a row" to allow XH558 to fly for the many thousands of supporters who paid good money to see her fly. A senior exec needs to at least tell the truth about the paperwork mix up, who took their eye off the ball? How are you going to prevent supporters from feeling let down?
the disappearing Vulcan
The same again at Sunday Biggin Hill airshow. Another no-show show by Vulcan. And this was not announced until late in the day. Poor stuff. Can I have my contribution to the Vulcan fund returned?