Waddo Airshow arrivals and practice days

[Chef_uk]

verge restrictions are correct. they are different from previous years. not one car was moved on from the A15 over the past 2 days. guess they didn't want to pay traffic wardens for 5 days.

[headset 57]

As for the overhanging tree branches, you have to give them back to the owner!.
Those 'pruning' the hedges are causing criminal damage, full stop and are going equipped to do the same , both for which you can get nicked. If it's on private public property, you still can't do it unless you are the owner, just because it's bush at the roadside, doesn't make it 'public ' property and legal.

No one did , mainly cause of the logistics of nicking people, and resources, however you can still end up getting a ticket for £80 for it!

As for saying ' they deserve a good kicking' well i thought that's just the attitude i'd find on facebook between a playground dispute, and those comments on a public forum would come straight back to you if you got nicked! In fact i'd have done the same and made the old bill aware of what was going on regards the hedge!.

Spotters already have a geeky name to themselves , as far as the public sees it, and regardless of the hedge height it''s still not your property, and you can only push plod / raf so far before they start making an example of one of you.

3 separate issues here, 1 the hedge ( criminal damage ); 2 traffic; 3 public order. In all honesty young car drivers with there souped up cars at impromptu car park meetings tend to have more respect for authority, and it's a poor show when hordes of spotters turn up, not having the decency to actually support the show and charities by going and paying to see the jets, at least then you' have a bit more of a moral argument.

If all these cars were there just to do a demo, such as when various protest peace groups turned up at Fairford when the war was on trying to cut down fences and gain access, you'd all be up in arms over it spouting off big time!, but because it's spotting and doing ' no harm ' some people carry on like they're some bunch of spotters on sabotage mission where they need to get the picture at all costs, the Dutch were quite famous for this in some respects back in the 80's...

By peeing off both the raf / police this year, then next year it will come back to ' bite you'!... in terms of tighter restrictions on parking, no preview days on arrivals / departures, and they'll bring down the traffic cops and start lifting cars, and i'm sure the local council can get a squad of traffic wardens down there quite sharpish, at £100 quid a ticket. they'd be on a mini cash cow!..

Not everyone in Lincoln likes the show and the daily rush hour still goes on.

Finally, i don't have a High Horse, do have a hobby horse though, it's the same as all yours...even though it's diminishing one and people are already whining about what did / didn't turn up. Yo know what's based there, you knew what was due, the raf work Mon - Fri 9-5 and don't get payed o/t and have not all of them were probably looking forward to it either.

Be interesting how many on here go to the departures day, knowing full well the problems of Friday...
One more thought, do you not think that those in authority on the base don't read this forum and everything will be scrutinised at the debriefs.

anyway., i'll run along now, as i said is this the 'rehearsal' whinge for fairford!...

there's only one way to find out, as harry would say...

[Hillwalker]

One more thought, do you not think that those in authority on the base don't read this forum and everything will be scrutinised at the debriefs.

I hope they do, sift through the criticism and improve on the errors made. It's so frustrating: Arrival & Departure days are normally relatively trouble-free and enjoyable.

[beefsteak]

" Not everyone in Lincoln likes the show ."


But it doesn't stop them coming out with their little fists, grabbing the tourist 'dollar', whether it's selling petrol to them to selling "Free range" (Tescos, Lincoln) eggs and "Local" (Asda, Lincoln) Honey at the end of the drive to the passing hourdes!.....................................

[headset 57]

" Not everyone in Lincoln likes the show ."


But it doesn't stop them coming out with their little fists, grabbing the tourist 'dollar', whether it's selling petrol to them to selling "Free range" (Tescos, Lincoln) eggs and "Local" (Asda, Lincoln) Honey at the end of the drive to the passing hourdes!.....................................

that's the local entrepreneurial spirit, perhaps people should start selling parking space for a £10 per day for parking on their drive!...

[exiledhatter]

I thought i would have my say after reading all the comments.
This years show is disappointing not just for the enthusiast but also for Joe Public. The show is definitely the poorest yet. But isn't this down to the current financial climate and world wide political situation. You can not blame the organisers. The RAF top brass maybe to blame since it is meant to be the RAF show piece. Surely they could make sure aircraft are available.
As for the hedges, people shouldn't be cutting them down, isn't this the sort of thing they take stepladders for? If you couldn't see, go into the viewing bit. I know the great people at The Wave have requested the hedges get cut. Also, I believe plants grow big and quickly when they receive plenty of sunshine and rain. So surely, God and his representives( ie the church) should be to blame for the weather.
There was parking restrictions on the verges from at least the Friday so the police do have the right to move parked cars on. Also the opening times were advertised on signposts and clearly stated the gates opened at 8am. No one can blame peolpe turning up after that time and getting p*****d off when they couldn't get in. Clearly there needs to be some clear communication between everyone organising the traffic to stop this happening again.
Finally, I live in Lincoln and don'r find the airshow a pain unlike that f******g christmas market that forces half of Lincoln to be closed for 5 days.

[exiledhatter]

As for the overhanging tree branches, you have to give them back to the owner!.
Those 'pruning' the hedges are causing criminal damage

They were cutting something that should have been cut by the RAF anyway. Use your common sense!

i have found out that trees and hedges can only be legally cut/trimmed in the countryside during spring and summer due to protecting nesting birds and insects, so you can not blame the RAF for obeying the law.

[Hillwalker]

As for the hedges, people shouldn't be cutting them down, isn't this the sort of thing they take stepladders for? If you couldn't see, go into the viewing bit. I know the great people at The Wave have requested the hedges get cut.

John has more than once requested that the hedge be trimmed, despite having had written assurance that they would. It's certainly making things difficult for someone who is trying to earn a living, who pays business rates and rent when a printed agreement is reneged on. What is the point of having a Waddington Aircraft Viewing Area, paid for by the MOD, if you can't view anything?! I'm not condoning what many people have done over the last few days, but I can certainly understand their frustration.

the opening times were advertised on signposts and clearly stated the gates opened at 8am. No one can blame peolpe turning up after that time and getting p*****d off when they couldn't get in. Clearly there needs to be some clear communication between everyone organising the traffic to stop this happening again.

Clearly there does - The gates didn't open 'till 9am.

i have found out that trees and hedges can only be legally cut/trimmed in the countryside during spring and summer due to protecting nesting birds and insects

The very time that birds are nesting.

[headset 57]

As for the overhanging tree branches, you have to give them back to the owner!.
Those 'pruning' the hedges are causing criminal damage

They were cutting something that should have been cut by the RAF anyway. Use your common sense!

i have found out that trees and hedges can only be legally cut/trimmed in the countryside during spring and summer due to protecting nesting birds and insects, so you can not blame the RAF for obeying the law.

Fella,
As for the above;
backsides are for sitting on - not talking out of! and you'll find common sense is a skill not a gift:(

quote
exiledhatter wrote:i have found out that trees and hedges can only be legally cut/trimmed in the countryside during spring and summer due to protecting nesting birds and insects

The very time that birds are nesting.

'in true Hot Fuzz style
" What he Said" above.
You wanna argue it, ask Waddo for your money back, or did you not pay to go in!....
And lastly the airfield i suspect ( hopefully ) was there way before you and i were born, and will probably , with any luck; outlive us both!
same as the Yellow Lines!...

[PR9]

The airfield was indeed there before most of us were born, but the fence wasn't and neither was the gigantic hedge. I could see in all the way down as a nipper without any steps etc at all. Those were the days.

'Ave it.

[RichBro]

I travelled to the Show on Saturday in a friend's Classic car that was in the display. As last year, his joining instructions said to arrive between 07.30 and 09.00 using the A15 public entrance. As last year, told when arriving to join the queue at 0720 gates don't open to 08.00. Thankfully common sense prevailed ( after I believe some words from the police!) the gates were opened at 07.40. How can such a simple administrative error happen??
As for the show, I've been to better.

[blakey]

I travelled to the Show on Saturday in a friend's Classic car that was in the display. As last year, his joining instructions said to arrive between 07.30 and 09.00 using the A15 public entrance. As last year, told when arriving to join the queue at 0720 gates don't open to 08.00. Thankfully common sense prevailed ( after I believe some words from the police!) the gates were opened at 07.40. How can such a simple administrative error happen??
As for the show, I've been to better.

I was shocked to see classic (Exhibit) cars doing 3 point turns on the A15, not knowing where to go or being sent back and forth, no one had a clue what was going on


Just a quick but serious question

Are the Lincolnshire police informed about the airshow in advance?

Yesterday and Friday on the A15 they turned up with a vacant look on their faces and without a game plan, heading to Waddington from the South they only have 2 roads to police, yet they didnt have a clue what to do.

Why didnt they divert non 'Show' traffic off the A15 at the Metheringham-Boothby cross roads (B1202) and head all Lincoln traffic towards the B1188, or the B1178 and round the back of the WAVE and back onto the A15 in Bracbridge.

But then again you'd think local bus and lorries that got caught up in the mess would realise and turn off anyway

Lorries and buses in the queue for Park and View

[BOLLO]

So who told the boys at Waddo not to open the gates till 9am,local plod or based plod.I would have thought the local plod would have told them to open the gates asap and avoid the crap that went off on Thursday and Friday.Every time I've been up for arrivals and deps as so as cars start to back up on the A15 or when they get the tickets to hand out they open thus avoiding any problems with traffic.Re boys on the out side,a vast majority of the boys on the outside do pay and walk out and then come back in later when the lights better for being on the air field.Every year there told they can't go out side then come back on but as far as I know they have never refused anyone reentry because they have gone out,how they gonna get there cars off the airfield if they don't let you back on.Strange ole year this year me thinks in more ways than one.

[cottesmore09]

Well apparently there may not be a park and Veiw next year!

[BOLLO]

That may kill it for a lot of people if that happens,fingers crossed they don't binn it.P/V as all ways been a success so I can't see until we get the official reason why it went the way it did this year.

[headset 57]

That may kill it for a lot of people if that happens,fingers crossed they don't binn it.P/V as all ways been a success so I can't see until we get the official reason why it went the way it did this year.

hh
that's cause it costs to organise the buses and parking and it don't come cheap.
Lincs Pol obviously have a game plan , however you all forget there role is not to police the traffic as such that is down to the organisers to sort out with marshals at the gates. and they have no power to compel the raf to open up early.
They are invited on as the raf cannot police the event alone, even though Mod Plod are in attendance, who do have jurisdiction on both sides of the fence.
Some people were probably confusing the 2 forces ( LP & MDP ) on the outside.

[BOLLO]

All the times I've done arrivals and deps you never see the local plod till the end of the day when they kick out.Even in the short time that you actually qued up and its never been more than 20mins or so you never seen any plod unless there as been a bump down the A15.All ways tried to get there around 6.30 and within the 20min they open the gates and well all drive on no hassle and no problems blocking the A15.I really do think there as been a lack of communication some where down the line and probably the local plod have tried make the best of a bad situation and it went down hill after that.Has for the hedge,I'm not going there as I go on base and have never had any complaints about that arrangement.Long may it continue I hope.

[BOLLO]

Well apparently there may not be a park and Veiw next year!

The word is that there will be a Park and view enclosure but it will be an all ticket event that requires people to register online in the weeks leading up to it. I dont see why that will make any difference because even people with the tickets wil turn up early to get the best spots in the enclosure.

Just means more work for some body else now.I can still see chaps turning up on the day without tickets and kicking off.

[ranger703]

Here is my take on the saga............

The hedge was left to grow for unknown reasons, wildlife conservation, lack of funds to actually get it trimmed, security measures or possibly just to deter spotters from congregating around the final approach area of what was going to be a busy area for aircraft let alone the traffic on the A15. Unless there is an official response as to why it was left in the condition it was you will all be left guessing. My own opinion as an Air Traffic Controller is that the last thing you want on a busy approach lane is lots of spotters potentially distracting aircrew during the final stages of landing. If there is an agreement in place with The Wave for the upkeep and maintenance of the hedge then this should have been dealt with long before the airshow date. As for people bringing along their own equipment to cut the edge and sarcastic comments about them doing the RAF a favour because the RAF 'SHOULD' have done it in the first place,well until the reason behind it being left in the state is revealed you deserve all you get,including arrest! How pathetic to complain about the size of an hedge just because its too big for you too see over on stepladders so that you can fulfill your hobby of taking aircraft pictures! Honestly,those of you that have complained, remind me of that American guy at Duxford with the 600mm lens who complains if people get in his way,some of you want to have a long hard think about what you are actually complaining about and get a life. Anybody would think that it ws your divine right.

Now that my rant about the hedge is over I hope that those of you that did complain and those of you that actually took matters into your own hands will be volunteering your services to the RAF to assist in the hedge trimming if and when they deem it necessary to do so!

As for the runway in use and the apparent disregard to spotters needs when 02 was in use,how crass again and pathetic of you to complain!! Aircraft will always land and take off into wind or as damn close to it depending upon the runway heading,you can't determine between one type or another just beacuse the wind speed is low,different aircraft have different limits!

I have been in the spotting/photography game now for over 30 years and tend to stay away from the crowds and just plod along slowly with my own needs,I must say that the approach of some people on this forum and others has just emphasised my desire to remain a loner.

Andy

[BOLLO]

Just means more work for some body else now.I can still see chaps turning up on the day without tickets and kicking off.

The only reason I can think they want to do this is to try and combat people turning up early. No doubt to take a car in they will want your registration number to get a ticket. They then take note of the cars turning up early and parking on the verges, check the system for names and addresses and dont allow them tickets the following year for not following instructions. I cant think what else is to be achieved from it. They should leave things how they are and just open the gates when enough cars build up on the A15.

No chap,I don't think that will happen at all.Possibly going to try something different like RIAT does but I don't think it warrants any thing like that as Waddo's not that big.No matter how you go about it you are still going to get the "dawn patrol" at the gate as soon as the sun rises.