FighterControl

I'm after any insights from anyone who may have done this before. Thanks in advance for any responses

During lockdown one thing I'd do to lighten the load of staring at the same screen in the same room day after day after day, doing stressful work, was to check into ADSB and see what was up and tootling around, I used to have flights of fancy about just dropping everything jumping on my bike and going out to spot cool planes and helicopters. I did eventually have a bike-packing trip to Salisbury Plain where I saw a couple of the Apaches in the flesh, which was all well and good.

This year I'm going a bit bigger and am going to bike pack my way to RIAT. I'm leaving Bristol area Thursday a.m. after school drop off, and hope to get to Fairford in time to see some arrivals on Thursday. I've got tickets for Friday and am camping locally - Townsend Farm. I'll cycle home home on Friday after the show, rest day on Saturday and then travel back by car with the circus, I mean family, for Sunday.

Things I am wondering about are...

What time do arrivals tend to happen? I think I'd be there on Thursday for about 2 naturally, is it worth me putting pedal to the metal to try and get there much quicker?
On the Thursday is Townsend Farm a decent place to watch arrivals, or should I go somewhere else? Are there any spots better accessible to someone on a bike?
Is it easy to get to the main entrance on bike for Friday? Is there anywhere to lock bikes up or is it lock them to the security fencing?
If there are any locals who cycle and have route suggestions I'd be grateful for them. I have not looked into this further yet but know some bits of the National Cycle Route network can be better than others - that's right I'm looking at you Route 4 down the canal between Devizes and Avoncliff! I'd rather light traffic tarmac than 0 traffic rutted canal path.

Any suggestions for any of the above gratefully received. Just over two weeks to go




,

Hi Bobling,

I can't tell you anything about cycling as I don't live local.
As for Townsend Farm, yes it's a good spot for arrivals. I did Thursday to Monday last year and doing Tuesday to Monday this year.

Chris

Hi Bobling,

It is possible to cycle to the show, one of my friends did it a couple of times a few years back from the Reading area.

From the FAQs on airtattoo.com:
"Bicycles or scooters are not allowed on the Showground, however there will be a bespoke bicycle rack at each of the main customer entry points (Blue, Red, Green but not Yellow) for you to securely lock your bicycle/scooter. However, we don't mind if you lock your bicycle to the external fencing."

Regarding moves on a Thursday, it varies, but last year we had moves throughout the day from 0900 until our last scheduled one at 1802Z/1902L - Spanish CASA departure.

Did it many moons ago - parked the car with bike in Buscot then cycled in from there, leaving the main road to take a bridleway which runs pretty much all the way to Whelford. Fun on the way out passing all the cars, less so on the way back when they were streaming past you...

We locked the bikes to a fence behind a hedge just by one of the entrance gates

I am coming in by a various devious route from Cricklade and then up the Thames path apparently so don't think I am going to see much of the traffic. The BIG question is wha the weather is up to - 6 hours in the saddle if it rains the whole time is considerably less fun than six hours in the saddle in balmy sunshine. *gulp*. Can't wait whatever beats the day job : )

Townsend Farm, Whelford is so close to the airshow entrance you may be better off leaving your bike on the campsite and walking in.

Please don't lock your bike to the airfield fencing, that would be an incredibly silly thing to do.

POL wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 09, 2023 12:53 pm

Please don't lock your bike to the airfield fencing, that would be an incredibly silly thing to do.

I am intrigue. For why?

Because it's an active military base!

POL wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 09, 2023 3:10 pm

Because it's an active military base!

So why in an earlier post in this topic quoting an answer to a FAQ does it say "We don't mind if you lock your bike to the external fence"?

States on the RIAT website that cycles can be locked to the external fence (at your own risk of course) but they clearly say they don't mind you doing it

I live locally and cycle in. Last year I used the Yellow entrance (Kempsford to Whelford Road) and locked up the bikes to the external fence. All was fine.

Jesus I'm going to get a ducking riding home on Friday evening, 50 miles in the pouring rain? It'll be worth it right, right?