Farnborough International Airshow 2014
Public day: Sunday.
Today the longest flying programme, 12-15 util 5-30.
Flying opened with Red Barons, Meteor and Vampire, Breitling Wingwalkers and World War One aircraft.
A solitary Lancaster made a fly pass, followed by Vulcan, both designed by the same engineer.
Another impressive display by the Red Arrows.
The flying programme ended with a Typhoon, followed by a Spitfire.
Richard Gardner from FAST (aviation museum) was handing out leaflets. What was the point when the museum was closed? A massive own goal, close an aviation museum at a time when the maximum number of people may wish to take a look around.
A break for lunch at the Nepalese restaurant across the road. Not busy, indeed it was empty, which meant the buffet had been sitting there for some time. Being empty, meant a choice of tables, therefore could sit by the window and watch the planes. Sadly yet another local business that sees the airshow as an excuse to rip people off. And yet, on other days, apart from Sunday, they were closed during the afternoon.
As a pleasant evening, a drink in the garden of The Swan Inn. Bad service experienced a couple of days ago, not a one off. An Indian lady was experiencing problems, told she could not eat in the garden, even though she had previously been told she could. Her food did not take long to come, which begs the question freshly prepared? The two waitresses who brought the food, one had a face black as thunder. Friendly welcoming atmosphere? It was meagre proportions and looked disgusting. She said the food for her, her husband and two small children, came to over £40. She was not pleased
The Swan Inn claim a stylish garden. A patch of grass with cheap plastic tables and chairs, or another patch of grass, with wooden benches. The ground was carpeted with rubbish, half eaten food trodden into the grass, cigarettes, paper. Whilst it is the customers to blame, throwing their rubbish on the ground, it is the staff too lazy or do not care to keep the place clean and tidy.
Sitting in the gardens, loud moronic pop music blasting out.
The garden, is as I suspected, not an ideal place to watch the planes. On the centre line of the runway, all you see is the underside of the planes as they come into land. And of course being within the Public Safety Zone, it is not safe.
Since it was refurbished, The Swan Inn has gone rapidly downhill. It is owned by TAG who own the airfield. Maybe they are deliberately running it down, so they can demolish, to then expand the airport.
Wonderful sunset from the garden, as the sun set behind the old wind tunnel.
