Hi All. This Sunday Fiona and I will be visiting RIAT, as we did last year, and as I have done over the last 5-6 years. We will NOT be going to watch the Air Show from within the the Airfield itself, but from a field located just north of the Airfield Perimeter. From Furze Hill Farm (Park and View), you get to see the Aircraft directly overhead. Here are the Pros and Cons:
Pros: Easy route into the Farm, from Bibury (North ) of the Airfield. I have a route which encounters little traffic and is quite direct.
Cost £10 per Vehicle / Bike incl of passengers.
(Adult ticket for either day on the gate for RIAT on the airfield is £39!)
Food, Drinks and Toilet facilities (Porta loo), on site.
Tune into ‘Wings FM’ on a small portable radio to get the full commentary from the airfield.
Leaving the event (Flying is approx 10am-5pm), is again easy with little traffic using the same route back.
Cons:
You don’t get to see the ‘Static aircraft’ on display.
You don’t get to visit the trade stands.
I’ll be leaving Burford Little Chef at 09:15Hrs Prompt! So if you would like to tag along, please feel free to do so. For further details call me on 01993 706030 or 07887 600 103. Useful to take a rug or fold up camping chairs (Yes they strap to the top box), small FM Radio for the commentary, and anything else to make your day comfortable – don’t forget the Sun Cream!
If it’s very wet, we won’t be going as sitting in the rain watching aircraft isn’t much fun, so fingers crossed.
See Their website at http://www.furzeyhill.com/
Ken Smale
Extract from web site:
A Natural Grandstand for the Fairford Air Tattoo
Friday 15th – Sunday 17th July, 2011
Only £10.00 per Car per Day
Have you ever wondered if there was a place from where you could watch the Royal International Air Tattoo without actually having to spend the day on the airfield, which is great fun but can be expensive and noisy?
Come to our Park and View car park in our field at Furzey Hill, and we will give you a day to remember. We are just over half a mile from the edge of the airfield, on a hill overlooking the runway. We have the best view, even better than any view you could get from the grandstand, as the aeroplanes actually choose to fly over us as this is not a built up area. Furzey Hill farmhouse dates back to the middle of the 17th century. You will find us situated just north of the runway between Fairford and Meysey Hampton at GL7 5LD. Using this in some sat. nav. systems will take you to our neighbour so see our (map and directions from A417).
You can either choose to spend the day in our beautiful grassy field and watch the show from our own natural grandstand, or you can walk down to the edge of the runway and watch from the perimeter fence (about five minutes). Many of the displays actually centre themselves on our house, and one of the most thrilling experiences is watching the Red Arrows come up as if from nowhere over the back of the house. A few years ago they created a red love heart, with their coloured exhaust smoke, with Furzey Hill house appearing in the centre of it. Our family has been running the event now for 6 years and each is better and more popular than the one before.
We provide hot and cold drinks, cold running water, a varied menu of snacks, including freshly made bacon butties, home made cakes and biscuits and much more. We also provide toilet facilities. Families are very welcome. Children enjoy playing in the field and small children often enjoy the day more than they would on the airfield where they might be intimidated by the noise level. We park the cars ensuring there is plenty of room for everyone to enjoy their own space safely.
