A very small (or maybe not) review to the Belgian Airshow Days, Spottersday 2014
This review is for the spottersday only it has nothing to do with the Airshow itself (Yes this is a disclaimer)
First of all, allways remember that this is NOT an Airshow, it is a Spottersday, there is a BIG difference. On a spottersday you get to see the rehearsels (if any) and the build up to an airshow. Plus the organisation usually does something nice for the spotters. Hence the word Spottersday.
Examplary TigerMeet 2014, very well done, even though I don't like the shuttlebuses and it was very very cold. But very well done, well organized, planes actually turned for the spotters to get a good shot in. If give that one a 9 out of 10.
Hence the Belgian Spottersday, please note that previous one were very very good.
Pros and Cons
Let us start with the bad stuff.
Cons
- Follow the signs, many many many many signs, I thought I should have parking area B, ended up at C (I think) then got sent to the other end of the base which turned out to be D (for VIPs?) got turned away and sent to B. Thing is if you have signs marked Airshow, Kleine Brogel Airbase, and several others marked in white and orange.... it gets confusing, eventually we found a small A4 taped on a sign (barely visible when zooming past at 50km/h) that said spotters parking. No big thing since neither the Dutch or Belgium Airshows have managed to get the road signs right in the last couple of years
- Cars zooming past in front of you and also buses. Turns out they invited a LOT of other things next to Spotters, okay, fair enough but School Classes and loads of cars zooming past are not a good idea.
- Joint power Demo rehearsal, where? Some brabble over a microphone, No Grizzly, No KC10 extender and No E3. Money was probably tight all over so hopefully they will be at the airshow on saturday and sunday. Some nice explosions.
- taken from the website:
We are looking forward to see you again and help make your (photo) dreams come true!
During the spottersday foodstands will be open.
Never believe advertising. You can not make my "(photo) dreams" come true. This is bull ==censored== and bad marketing (I know these things) Foodstand wil be open, yes, two by the same owner, the rest were all closed during the day. Prices, 5 euro for a medium size French Fries and 2.50 Euro for beer. I don't mind people making money, but lets keep it real. You're better off bringing in your own food or going to the local Mac, burgerking or whatever is in the neighborhood. And the queues are shorter.
- Red Devil Team, if people are in front of your stand they probably are Fans and want something. Don't leave them be for 10 to 15 minutes waiting while you are yapping away in several groups. Also I do understand a little bit of french so I can actually hear you. And I just won't go away if you ignore me and others
. Some got fed up and left. These are spotters, they love your team and aircraft, don't treat them like dirt. Esspecially if you are also running a charity drive. I know it is hard keeping a constant smile up for everyone passing by (been there done that) but really now.
- Selling the program for Saturday and Sunday on Friday, yes it is a nice little moneymaker, 5 Euros for a program and a really nice souvenir magazine (so not even expensive) But now you have people running around on the Spottersday expecting a program and expecting certain aircraft which offcourse never show up, because it is an Airshow.
- To the Turks, where were you, you weren't at your stand in the morning and spotters were looking for you.
- F16's for the static, moving not past the crowd but cutting through the field ... a shame for half of the spotters on the other side.
Pros the good stuff
- Ample parking, short walking distance, parking pretty well organized, also got instructions how to leave the carpark and was out swiftly and on my way, kudos.
- exceptional good weather
- F15's arrived and went past the crowd
- P3 Orion from Norway, rare beast, plus went up and down the runway so everyone could get a good shot.
- 31st Sqn, a pleasure as allways, great stand, great tshirts
- Nato Tiger Association
- EuroFighters of the German Airforce passing by the public.
- Two Displays of the Polish Mig 29 (which were very good)
- Super Puma and PC-9 rehearsal (allthough late)
- RNLAF 301st apache stand, really nice to see as allways.
- Frecce Tricolore.
- Hind Demo, NH90, Agusta 109
- Bronco and Skymaster arrival.
IMHO, this spottersday was a mixed bunch and has left me with some mixed feelings. They could have done more for the Spotters but it looks like they concentrated on Schools and VIPs... can't shake that feeling.
In all it wasn't a wasted day and I have some good shots. Basicly that counts. Weatherwise it was the best out of the 3 days. But still saturday should have good weather, not so sure on sunday though.
Quite expensive to see a few grey aircraft, paid by our tax money. 
), can anyone tell me how the conditions are for photography?
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