Oh dear...

[C]

A local story for Hagar...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4577730.stm

Miserable people...

[Tweek]

Traffic gridlock was caused by the Airbourne, while day-trip visitors "spend little or no money in the town", the Greens said.

Surely that means that LOTS of people enjoy going to the airshow, and would oppose to it being axed? Maybe we should also ban people from going to work, to avoid all that rush hour traffic!

What do the Green Party know about airshows anyway? The say "it's had its day", but this year (well, last year) was as good as ever. Full RAF support, and displays from the B-1B, KC-135 and F-16. Not exactly a 'has-been' show.

[C]

Traffic gridlock was caused by the Airbourne, while day-trip visitors "spend little or no money in the town", the Greens said.What do the Green Party know about airshows anyway? The say "it's had its day", but this year (well, last year) was as good as ever.

Second largest spectator activity in the country, after football...

[Hagar]

This is sad news but I'm afraid it was bound to happen. People these days will complain about anything.

Airbourne is the biggest free air display in the country & probably Europe. That's right, this four-day event is FREE & must bring thousands of pounds worth of business to Eastbourne & the surrounding area, not to mention the enjoyment of many thousands of spectators.

[beaky]

Somebody needs to appeal to the Greens' constituents with a reminder of the significant role played by aviation-including military- in all kinds of environment-preserving tasks... and the show organizers should invite the Greens to the show to freely promote research and development of quieter, greener aviation technologies.... that is, if they're even aware of the latest developments in that area...
Who knows? Maybe some kid inspired by a show like this will someday be the guy who invents an aircraft engine that runs on fresh air and sunshine...("Cancelled? Aww, gee whiz- I was gonna be an aeronautic engineer, but I'm so disillusioned now, I think I'll be a lawyer!!")
The issue may really just be money, but the Greens seem to be the ones with the most effective organized protest, so their little axe has to be dulled somehow.
Best of luck to the Airborne; we lost our own little shindig at the Sussex, NJ airport recently... don't think it was a political thing, although I'm sure many wet blankets complained every year.

[Craig.]

There is no reasoning with these people. They shout their mouths off expecting everyone to agree, and when they dont, they constantly interupt you with insults and points that have little or nothing to do with the argument. Why cant these killjoys find a hobby and stick to it instead of ruining these thigns for the rest of us.

[elite marksman]

The Eastbourne Green Party criticised the environmental and economic impact of the airshow before it was staged in 2005.

What rock were they living under? I went to the Atlantic City airshow on 31 August 2005. It was probably the single best day of the year for any given business along the boardwalk, after they complete the Ocean One Pier it will probably be even better. The enviromental impact is a load of bullcrap. How much affect can a few extra airplanes and automobiles on FOUR days of the whole damn year have? Now if you told me that a fully loaded K-135 had to jettison its entier load of fuel to make an emergency landing I may start listening to you. And the economic impact can only be good. When extra people come into town they can't possibly take money away, they can only bring it with them. I bet the gas (petrol for for the rest of the world) stations loved it. As did the innumerable food and souvenier stands set up on the airport grounds. It is a simple fact. When your town has a tourist attraction, you get more money than one who does not.

[Hagar]

I bet the gas (petrol for for the rest of the world) stations loved it. As did the innumerable food and souvenier stands set up on the airport grounds. It is a simple fact. When your town has a tourist attraction, you get more money than one who does not.

I agree entirely but one point. Eastbourne is a popular seaside resort on the south coast of England but it has no airport. The air display takes place along the seafront & over the sea itself. It can can be watched from anywhere along the seafront & also many vantage points outside the town like the cliff tops at Beachy Head some 3 miles to the west. Many of the aircraft are based throughout the four days of the show at my local airport at Shoreham which attracts many other visitors. I don't care what these miseries say, this can only be good for attracting the tourists & their money to the whole area.

PS. This is last year's Airbourne event. I hope it won't be the last one. http://www.eastbourneairshow.com/

[beaky]

It just occured to me that I can't think of a better aviation-related reason to finally visit the UK: to show my support for this event.
What week is it scheduled for this year? , I really should make a point of being there, and be sure that every time I pay for anything while in the area I loudly mention that I'm there "for the Airbourne"...
Not that the US dollar's doing all that well over there...
 I won't have much to spend, I think.
But it's a worthy cause; sounds like a great event.

[Hagar]

If you come Sean I'll be right there with you. Believe it or not I usually keep away from Eastbourne itself as we get a grand display for free by the visiting aircraft at Shoreham, including the RAF Harrier & Tucano display teams & the Army Blue Eagles boys. We also get to meet all the crews socially so it's a really special few days. Next year's Airbourne is scheduled for Thursday 17th - Sunday 20th August 2006.

[elite marksman]

Thats the way that Thunder Over the Boardwalk was. Atlantic City's beaches are free, and since the show was over the ocean, centered on the Ocean One Pier and Boardwalk Hall, the show was also free. If it werent for the lifegaurds protest you would have been able to be directly under the aircraft providing you were able to swim 2-300 yards and then tread water for long enough. It is hard to believe that anyone in thier right mind would protest againt 250k+ tourists (800k in Eastbourne's case) spending thier money in your town for a day. Especially when 2 large sodas, 2 slices of pizza and a philly cost $20.

Unfortunatly, Atlantic City's 05 airshow was the last flight of the Vulture's formation who lost two of thier number in a training accident on 10 July 2005.
Hopefully next year I'll remember my camera.

[Hagar]

This shot was taken from the roof of the terminal building at Shoreham on the Monday morning after last year's Airbourne. It was closely followed by another one even lower. The RAF Harriers saying farewell until next year with the lowest flypast I've ever seen. I was standing about 15 feet below where this shot was taken & they almost blew my hat off. I unfortunately had no time to focus my camera but my ears are still ringing.


http://www.shorehamairport.co.uk/photo-gallery.asp

PS. I forgot they came back for the RAFA display at Shoreham a couple of weeks later. Anyway, I'm sure you get the idea.

[bbstackerf]

Awesome shot of the harrier, Hagar. Only time I had a jet fly that low over me was a Blue Angel F-4 Phantom when I was a kid. Left an impression I carry to this day. Wasn't even at the show. I was playing in a field on off  base near the show.

Keni