FS Get Together (Spring 04)

[J41]

Hi Guys:
          I was thinking about trying to organize a Get Together in England in the Spring (April,May, June maybe) just wondered who would be interested? I thought we could maybe make a weekend of it somewhere quite central and have some competions, swap and trade things. Who's Interested? Once I get a rough idea of numbers I can look for a suitable location.

                                      Thanks J41

[Delta_]

I am interested, depending when and where it is?

[Mr. Bones]

be smart, and do it during an airshow!  ;)

i think some members here already planned a meeting at Duxford...ask one of the oldies around here  :)

[BFMF]

This has come up many times, but the problem is that since this is an international forum, people like me may have a hard time coming

This should probably get moved to another board

[Lethal.Ambition]

Or 14 year olds

[HawkerTempest5]

Nice idea. Rather than arrange something, as Mr. Bones says, just meet up at an airshow. Quite a few members go to Duxford and RIAT.

[Delta_]

Which airshow in Duxford because i can do Duxford.  That is only in Cambridgeshire, I live near Reading.

Which one though:
Autumn Air Show - Sunday 10 October
Duxford 2004 Air Show - Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 September
Flying Legends Air Show - Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 July
D-Day Anniversary Air Show - Sunday 6 June

[Polynomial]

or 17 y.o's in Australia with no money and Uni!

[Hagar]

I think an airshow would be impractical. What with traffic problems & crowds inside the actual airfield you might never meet. This would be almost impossible at my local show let alone somewhere like Duxford. It might be better to arrange a visit on a non-show day to Duxford or another museum. Then you could all meet up in the car park at a pre-arranged time. Just a suggestion.

PS. Don't forget the Farnborough Air Show is on this year.

[Deputy]

Another idea - is, using the airshow, but, people bring CB (handheld/walkie talkie) radios, and choose a channel before hand. That way, you can mention a "code-word" that is pre-arranged that everyone knows about, then, whoever knows about it, can start chattin. Airshows, typically, would be difficult to meet at, as there are many people, and, most airports are rather large.

Brad

[Smoke2much]

Or I could wear an overcoat with a red carnation, carry an umbrella and the Times paper.

The code word will be "Sheep retreat when they hear Fozzer coming"

And the reply "If Ozzy flew any lower he'd be chatting with Satan"

I'll be under the clock at St Pancras station......

Will

[J3]

I dont know why it seems such a problem, meeting at duxford or any airshow shouldnt be too hard just state where and when, for that matter if you wanted to go the whole hog why not contact somoen at Duxford. they might be willing to let you put up a sign, possibly even sponsor a gathering.  You might want to put this Idea up to some of the major movers and shakers in the community that reside in britain, Mike Clarke comes to mind, how about the Alpha sim guys?
I'd be interested in showing up. I may be in the UK at the right time.

[Hagar]

I can't speak for J41 but I got the impression this would be a get-together for members of this forum. People we know as friends. The main problem would be recognising each other as we've never met in real life. From my own experiences at air displays, even small ones, it's very difficult to meet people you know well & you could waste a lot of time looking for them rather than watching the show. I've done this myself at Farnborough on a trade day when there are far less people there than on public days. Missed half the display & never did meet my friend although he was doing exactly the same thing looking for me.

Of course, you could all use Will's suggestion.

PS. A few months ago I did a job as a courier for my old company. I took a small, urgently required item to CDG Paris & arranged to meet an airline rep in the terminal to hand him the package. Although we were both at the airport & talking to each other via mobile phone it was something like 45 minutes before we finally met up.

As for Brad's suggestion of walkie-talkie radio or mobile phones, these are not encouraged at air displays for obvious reasons.

[Delta_]

Perhaps meeting somewhere in Duxford airshow.

[Hagar]

Hawker Tempest knows Duxford better than anyone here so I would take his advice.

From bitter experience I would never go there again on a display day. Despite having priceless advance tickets we were not allowed off the nearby M11 motorway onto the road running past the airfield as it was already full before we arrived. This was even more frustrating as you can see the airfield clearly from the motorway.
All we got for 12 hours on the road was a glimpse of a Spitfire taking off over our heads. I arrived home exhausted & disappointed. This might have been a rare & unfortunate cock-up on the part of the organisers but it put me off the idea for life.