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Author Topic: Paying for airshows?  (Read 729 times)

Offline Light

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Paying for airshows?
« on: August 28, 2010, 06:06:48 AM »


  Hello,


  I've been going to airshows all my life and have never payed for a single one as far as I can remember.  I had planned to go the Portsmouth NH airshow with the Blue Angels but saw they are charging 20 bucks a person, and 10 bucks for parking.  They say that the profits will go to some non-profits. But I doubt that those NP's will see the 1.7 million that will be generated by the crowd. Plus you cannot bring in any drinks. They want you to buy everything there.   I looked at there next scheduled Blue Angels show and it is a pay event too.  Why do you have to pay for something you already paid for? Those jets and the crew are paid for by american taxpayers. They should be free. I have never paid for an airshow before. Is this a new trend? As far as I know the airshow is to demonstrate what you have bought with your taxes and you get a free show.


  I am so glad i went to the Westfield Airshow in Mass. Free. Bring in whatever you want. Free parking.  I even donated to the non-profit that was being sponsored.  Thunderbirds free, F-100 free. 


  I decided to not go to the Portsmouth show and instead go to the Oceana airshow in Virginia. Free admition and parking. Plus they have a better show. I don't see paying twice for the same thing. Or people taking profit for what is already paid for by everyone.

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Offline Blackwulf

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2010, 08:59:02 AM »
This is the first I ever heard of paying to attend an air show. Though when I go it's at a USAF base.  Not only free to get in, with free parking, but the USAF has airmen running buses and transport for the elderly and disabled for free as well.  (Frankly, any service's event I have attended at a military base has been done well, not just the USAF)
If the money is to go to a non-profit, why not just give the NP's a free booth?  I always chip in to the NP's, and try to pick up an item or two from the squads raising money for their funds, too.  In my book, the best show souveniers are the squad items I buy from them.
Then I also -know_ where the money is going.
I also work for a non-profit that helps the disabled stay independent, and the NP booths are a great way to meet and network with other NP's in the area.
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Offline Bruv119

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2010, 09:08:09 AM »
In the UK bigger airshows have always been charged entry in the region of 20-30 pounds.
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Offline Blooz

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2010, 10:08:29 AM »
Can't remember the last time I didn't pay for a full scale airshow. It isn't alot. $12 to $15 maybe. Certainly no where near $30 but then again, they get me at the concession stand.


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Offline CAP1

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2010, 10:11:09 AM »
Quote from: Blackwulf on August 28, 2010, 08:59:02 AM
This is the first I ever heard of paying to attend an air show. Though when I go it's at a USAF base.  Not only free to get in, with free parking, but the USAF has airmen running buses and transport for the elderly and disabled for free as well.  (Frankly, any service's event I have attended at a military base has been done well, not just the USAF)
If the money is to go to a non-profit, why not just give the NP's a free booth?  I always chip in to the NP's, and try to pick up an item or two from the squads raising money for their funds, too.  In my book, the best show souveniers are the squad items I buy from them.
Then I also -know_ where the money is going.
I also work for a non-profit that helps the disabled stay independent, and the NP booths are a great way to meet and network with other NP's in the area.

CAP generally plays a very large support role at airshows too.

 i've run our side of transportation at the last 3 airshows at mcguire afb.
 
 the first year i did it, we had over 1500 CAP personnel on base during the entire airshow.  that was a nightmare........moving that many people with only 22 ford vans.

our cadets work very hard though. they help with parking, medical aid, and pretty much anything the airforce tasks us to do.
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Offline MrRiplEy[H]

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2010, 02:03:18 PM »
The last airshow I went with my family cost us around 500 dollars all in all, entrance fee's, parking, bus ride to field, food&drinks, traveling to another city..
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Offline flight17

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2010, 05:40:59 PM »
paying is not new...

remember, all the planes at an airshow get paid to be there. For example, the museum i belong to has three flying aircraft (another three in restoration). When we take planes to airshows, we normally get paid an appearance fee and get free fuel. We will go to them even if we dont get paid the appearance fee as long as we at least get fuel. Now i will also mention we can get 500-3000 for the appearance fee and we are always just static display. Now imagine what the flying planes would get...

so in all honesty, its quite fair to have to pay to get in. As a general rule of thumb, from what i have seen and been to, if it is officially hosted by the military, it is free, if it is hosted my civilians, you have to pay.
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Offline cpxxx

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2010, 05:54:48 PM »
I'm amazed there's such a thing as a free airshow. I shouldn't be though as the biggest free airshow in Ireland in recent years happened outside my house which is five minutes walk from the beach. The problem is that it hasn't been held in the last two years. The reason: lack of funding! I would gladly pay to have it back.

Never complain about paying for an airshow. If you don't like paying stay outside the fence. It's almost as good.
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Offline xbrit

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2010, 11:03:28 PM »
Here is one coming up soon in the midwest that is free admission and parking.
http://www.scottairshow.com/
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Offline Tupac

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2010, 11:29:57 PM »
I dont mind paying for airshows, usually the ones down here are benefitting a charity organization.
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Offline camnite

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2010, 01:12:47 AM »
I only live an hour west of blue angels home. they have a lot of free shows over the year there. a lot of times you can even go see them practice on thursdays for free. about one month ago they had one on the beach, which was freakin cool cause where i was parked was right at their crossing point. didnt realize till recently they have the oldest planes in the fleet. f/a-18a's and b's i think
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Offline Rino

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #11 on: September 04, 2010, 10:25:30 AM »
     Haven't been to a service sponsored event in a while, so got used to paying at the gate.  Didn't
bother me a bit.  Now that I moved from NJ to NC. the Reading WW2 Weekend is a bit of a haul.  Going
to have to do some research about the good ones down here now  :aok  Ok, Reading wasn't really an
airshow, but it was fun.
« Last Edit: September 04, 2010, 10:27:26 AM by Rino »
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Offline flight17

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #12 on: September 04, 2010, 10:13:14 PM »
Quote from: camnite on September 04, 2010, 01:12:47 AM
I only live an hour west of blue angels home. they have a lot of free shows over the year there. a lot of times you can even go see them practice on thursdays for free. about one month ago they had one on the beach, which was freakin cool cause where i was parked was right at their crossing point. didnt realize till recently they have the oldest planes in the fleet. f/a-18a's and b's i think
well ya... they arent gonna spend a couple hundred mil on newer and heavier aircraft just to fly at airshows... though the airforce pretty much spent a couple tens of billions on the f22 to do that...

but i think they are slowly going to the C/D models now.
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Offline uptown

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #13 on: September 04, 2010, 11:19:48 PM »
Just consider yourself lucky you live close to a community that offers airshows. The closest I get to see one around here is when Jim Miller lands his crop duster over yonder.  :cry
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Offline Tigger29

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Re: Paying for airshows?
« Reply #14 on: September 04, 2010, 11:32:55 PM »
The Blue Angels are going to be in my neck of the woods next weekend... and it's free!

http://www.scott.af.mil/airshow2010.asp
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