Salthill Air Show

jamesdiver

Hi,

Does anyone know who would have originally organised the salthill airshows? Was it a privately run event, or did the Council run it?
What would be involved in organising this, something like how the Bray airshow is done on a smaller scale? Im sure you could fill a few slots with the Air Corp and coast guard, and then try and push your funding towards finding a nice military jet from UK or Europe... maybe the US might show up if we were to sell it as a 'The Gathering' event (as much as I hate the idea of the gathering). Would be great to line the prom, and have currach and hooker races along salthill.
If it were to be privately funded, how would you recoup your expenses? Could you feasible charge people a nominal fee to enter the prom area? Im sure families would pay a few euro towards the event to keep the kids occupied for a few amazing hours. Maybe you could have the event at Galway airport instead, and get people to pay in?

Opinions, suggestions, comments......?

biko

It was shut down because lack of funding so I'd start by calculating the costs and see if I could get enough funds in from local businesses that stand to gain from the crowds.
The coast guard and civil defence will probably join for free if you get some planes in.
Then it's insurance costs.

The airfield is a good idea but wouldn't draw nearly the crowds you'd get in Salthill.

Amik

I like your idea! Would be interested in helping out if you go ahead with this.

I didn't know about this Bray Air Display. For a private initiative it looked like quite a decent show this year.

jamesdiver

Maybe a good start would be to email the organisers of the Bray show. They might have a rough estimate of insurance costs, and possibly an idea of how much was raised locally etc. I have a contact so ill check that out.

The Bray air display seems to be a fairly consistent event, so they must be doing something right.

GekkePrutser

Good luck, I'd love the air show to come back. It was a great event for the city and it was always totally packed. I always went to it, my favourite was the time they got the Harrier in, hovering along the beach.

I think the main thing that shut it down was that door that fell off the helicopter and nearly hit some members of the public, I recall reading that the insurance costs were raised after that.

I don't think you could charge for use of public areas though. I've never seen that done with other events (e.g. Ocean Race, festivals, previous air shows). You could sell programmes or something, that's what they used to do.

ben.schlomo

You couldnt possibly charge anyone to enter the Prom area. Would be great to have the airshow back though, you should look up Niall Farrell and his rabble as they will be your new mortal enemies if you were to go ahead with it.

Mrs OBumble

ben.schlomo wrote: »

look up Niall Farrell and his rabble as they will be your new mortal enemies if you were to go ahead with it.

Really - does an airshow intrinsically have to involve war-planes?

jamesdiver

ben.schlomo wrote: »

You couldnt possibly charge anyone to enter the Prom area. Would be great to have the airshow back though, you should look up Niall Farrell and his rabble as they will be your new mortal enemies if you were to go ahead with it.

Yea I agree, couldnt charge the decent folk. would need major backing from local business really. And I know they struggle as is.

jamesdiver

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Really - does an airshow intrinsically have to involve war-planes?

Yes it would need military peace keeping jets to maintain public interest.

ben.schlomo

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Really - does an airshow intrinsically have to involve war-planes?

As answered above.

biko

Perhaps you could get old Fokkers, Stukas and similar planes, I'd love to see that stuff.

nuac

It was a great show. Hope it can be brought back.

Brad768

Ah might as well stick a few b-52's in as well. Oh, a Lockhead C-30 while your at it.

Thank you.

Seaneh

GAAGAAW time again!

Mike747

biko wrote: »

Perhaps you could get old Fokkers, Stukas and similar planes, I'd love to see that stuff.

There are very few Axis planes from WWII that still exist, let alone that are in flying condition. As for Fokkers, their from WWI and doubt there are many around outside museums.


There a few Allied aircraft still flying, Spitfires and Lancasters etc.

I wonder would the anti-war crowd protest against aircraft such as the Lancasters that were used in bombing raids on German cities?

jamesdiver

I was at Dunsfold airshow this summer (where they film topgear). They love the memorial stuff there. The list of stuff is here, no axis stuff, but there was a fokker biplane from ww1 era, but not sure if it was a fighter or not.

Does anyone know much about the clifden airshow? I remember seeing a few planes taking off from Galway airport for it a few years back.

jamesdiver

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056531786&page=22

good thread above, re Bray airshow, with lots of background on Salthill and other airshows over the years.

jamesdiver

Whoever was in charge of the Salthill airshow back in the day, was doing an amazing job to get the display teams that they did.

Chicken1

What a line up they had, when you look at the last and past shows, it will never happen again

http://www.salthillairshow.com/2007_index.php

Amik

That is an impressive line-up! Thunderbirds must have cost quite a bit to bring over.

Would love to see the RCAF Snowbirds here!

GekkePrutser

jamesdiver wrote: »

Whoever was in charge of the Salthill airshow back in the day, was doing an amazing job to get the display teams that they did.

Indeed. I'd never seen a harrier before, or the nimrod. The German tornado was really great to see too.

The red arrows were nice too but I think I enjoyed the thunderbirds more, maybe because the red arrows always do the same show and I'd seen them so many times already.

The final 2-3 years the lineup wasn't as impressive I thought, maybe an early effect of the oncoming recession. I'd say it would be tough these days to get military planes over seeing as most air forces are under great budget cuts now.

Zyzz

Gutted I missed the Thunderbirds..in today's climate it was a once in a lifetime chance

galwayrush

How about war planes from countries the selective GAAW don't seem to mind, the Russians apparently have an excellent display team.
Then again, any Plane could be used in a 'War'

Serously, i'd love to see the Red Arrows back.:cool:

Dan_Solo

The main problem with re-introducing the airshow is that nobody actually wants it enough to put their hand in their pocket.
There's always Youtube.

jamesdiver

Dan_Solo wrote: »

The main problem with re-introducing the airshow is that nobody actually wants it enough to put their hand in their pocket.
There's always Youtube.

Yep, unfortunately so. And you can fly to the UK for peanuts these days and go to one of the world class airshows. The only way this might happen is if the show becomes a ticketed event, and someone was going to make money of it.

Mrs OBumble

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Really - does an airshow intrinsically have to involve war-planes?

Suppressing the urge to say "not this sh*te again".

Yes, it does.

Next.

bluecode

First off the airshow wasn't cancelled because the door fell off the helicopter. It wasn't cancelled because a few people in Galway objected to it while another 100,000 watched it happily every year.

It was cancelled because of the same old Galway thing which ensures the Volvo Ocean race will not be stopping here again.

Funding. For some reason the council and the business people in Galway couldn't see that an event that brought many thousands of people into town spending their money was worth sponsoring and encouraging.

The airshow unlike the Ocean race required very little money to keep it going in comparision.

On the point of military versus civilian airshow displays. The reality is that civilian acts have to be paid for particularly the professionals That's how they earn their living. Even if they don't expect to be paid they like to have their expenses covered. The military on the other hand don't expect money and do it for PR reasons. So an all civilian airshow would be relatively boring and expensive.

Plus there's the simple fact that the people who object to the presence of military aircrat are a tiny if vocal minority and are irrelevant. More people gather for a good busker in Shop street than turned up for their protests.

The airshow won't be back, neither will the Volvo Ocean race and it's seems Ironman. Same reason the airport lies empty and in danger of closing.

Money.

nacimroc

I loved the showed. It could always start off small and accept donations from the crowd whilst the show was ongoing.

On a side note, one year the Irish Aircorps did a display with 4 small planes the same year as the red arrows (?) amongst others. They were absolutely fantastic and did a fantastic display. Crowd were chearing. When the red arrows came up they were a dissapointment in comparison. I was amazed and dead proud. (Just wanted to get that off my chest)

Dan_Solo

I'm pretty sure if major events made any money for Galway then the council would give them as much supportas possible. After all, councillors and the friends and family look like exactly the type of pub/hotel owners most likely to benefit.

Aiel

The Prom was a natural anphitheatre(sp) for the air show and the pilots loved coming here.As was said above it was'nt the GAAW crowd that stopped it(even though they tried to take credit for it), it was purely funding.All the pubs and resturants love these events coming but wont cough up money for them to come,shame.

vulcan57

Amik wrote: »

Would love to see the RCAF Snowbirds here!

Would love to see them as well, but afraid if we want to see them we will have to go to the Americas. The type of aircraft they use hasn't got the range to go any further.

Storm 10

Amik wrote: »

Thunderbirds must have cost quite a bit to bring over.

US Govt you can thank for that I believe as they are the demo team for the USAF, I remember the US Hercules that landed at Galway, when they came it was piloted by a lady and she took the Aircraft on a sightseeing trip up to Clifden as her parents were from there.

Conmaicne Mara

So if it was finding that stopped it, how much do they need?

I would pay in to see the Salt Hill Airshow of old complete with - loud, fast, impressive and just really fcuking cool - so called war planes as they made the day everyday, the best I'd seen were the German Tornadoes that flew from the backs of the houses out over the bay and surprised everyone by not flying down the bay initially.

Sponge Bob

Tornados were great for noise. Mind you the B1 bomber was too.

BeardySi

*muttermutter*missedthatoneasiwasrunninglatethatday*muttermutter*

Salthill was arguably one of the best free airshows in Europe, always attracting something exciting to an otherwise (in aviation terms) quiet neck of the woods...

It's just a crying shame the the good businesspeople of Galway were all too happy to reap the benefit of the many thousands of visitors but not contribute to supporting it...

biko

I tried to find some numbers for the cost but there isn't any total costs I could find.
Apparently "every year the council allocated it €15,000, which is only a pittance in comparison to the real cost"

galwayrush

biko wrote: »

I tried to find some numbers for the cost but there isn't any total costs I could find.
Apparently "every year the council allocated it €15,000, which is only a pittance in comparison to the real cost"

I heard a figure of a little over 100K , no idea how true it is, but it seems such a small amount compared to the benefits.

Aerohead

From what I understand it cost in the region of 100k to run it, the Council only supported the event in the final few years giving it 10k and in its last year 15k, dont forget it started in 1992 so got very little support over those years, dont know how the managed to do it.

Conmaicne Mara

If everyone who went gave €2 or more you'd imagine it'd be more than do able, but how to collect it on the public street

jamesdiver

Its got to be a commercial event, pay entry, otherwise Galway will never have an airshow. The least we can hope for is if we get the VOR again, and they book a few jets. Im going to go back to my original idea of using a large private facility, such as an airport, and charging people in. Adult ticket prices to Dunsfold Wings and Wheels was £22. But there was serious bang for your buck there. I mean you didnt have time to get around and see all the cool stuff.

Wompa1

bluecode wrote: »

The airshow won't be back, neither will the Volvo Ocean race and it's seems Ironman. Same reason the airport lies empty and in danger of closing.

Money.

Money, Greed and Corruption.

Gambas

galwayrush wrote: »

I heard a figure of a little over 100K , no idea how true it is, but it seems such a small amount compared to the benefits.

I've yet to see any concrete set of figures for 'the benefits'. It seems most people are prepared to simply assume that the return to the city would justify the investment. And yet the people who they expect to pay for it, and would theoretically benefit the most, disagree.

Gambas

Wompa1 wrote: »

Money, Greed and Corruption.

Seriously? We have 2 international airports west of the Shannon and one city of less than 100k. Galway Airport might be able to sustain a (expensive) flight to London, but that is about it. The rest were totally dependent on subsidies. The Ironman is a minor event with little profile. The Ocean race heightened the city's profile nationally, but it is a non-event elsewhere. I would consider it a success both times, but can't see the value in bidding again a\s it is a case of diminishing returns as the novelty factor is gone.

Your comment is lazy and way off the mark.

jamesdiver

Gambas wrote: »

I've yet to see any concrete set of figures for 'the benefits'. It seems most people are prepared to simply assume that the return to the city would justify the investment. And yet the people who they expect to pay for it, and would theoretically benefit the most, disagree.

How about the benefit for the hundreds of families who can take their kids to a free family friendly event.

biko

Even though entertainment is a benefit to the families it's hard to say this alone is worth it for the businesses around the area.
They invest in the airshow in that they give money and expect a rise in sales in return that exceeds the investment. If this doesn't happen they would be reluctant to do it again, particularly with these hard economic times.

I suppose you could look at sponsoring from various major companies around Galway but without numbers it's difficult to say how many companies you'd have to approach.

jamesdiver

Yea, I do agree with these points, and Gambas above is probably the most realistic. Would need some big corporate sponsors. But corporate sponsors will want corporate hospitality. Perhaps some of the hotels along the prom could be bases for the corporate stuff, with good elevated views. I know ill be hiding out on Mutton Island myself watching it

Dan_Solo

jamesdiver wrote: »

How about the benefit for the hundreds of families who can take their kids to a free family friendly event.

This might be great for families with kids, but it doesn't really address the fact that a "free event" is exactly the problem. It costs money to run. Nobody wants to pay for it, even the local businesses who we have been told are allegedly benefiting from it.

bluecode

Some of you seem to making the argument to do nothing. Makes you wonder how other towns can manage to organise things. What's the story with Bray exactly. How is that paid for?

Similar shows are held at seaside towns all over the UK including Northern Ireland. Portrush a little seaside town organise an airshow every year. Apparently the people of Coleraine appreciate it enough to sponsor. Yet we here in Galway just wring our hands and say it isn't possible.

Never mind the airshow, we're going to lose the Volvo Ocean Race for good using much the same reasoning. Quote:'it's lost it's novelty value.':rolleyes: Yeah let's cancel the races, the arts festival and everything else. They're getting boring. What kind of attitude is that?

Some other place will pick it up and not make the monumental financial mess that was made in Galway.

What the hell is the problem with Galway? There's the airport that's threatened with closure even though everyone agrees it's good thing and even needed. Yet the much less busy Sligo Airport carries on apace?

Is there some strange self destructive instinct in Galway?

Laviski

there is no need for a commercial airport airport for galway. at most make it into a flight school and keep it for private charted planes also for emergency's. Galway chamber of commerce(majority stakeholder) have no one else to blame but themselves. in the boom time the government offered them the military lands to build a proper runway cause the one currently is too short which what makes the current airport nonviable commercially.
Any time i leave ireland its through dublin. I did however flew out of galway for lulz to london, but never again cause it was far too expensive. this is a tiny island of under 5 mill ppl. if things were done properly shannon should have being built near ennis/gort and knock airport in sligo.

Gambas

biko wrote: »

Even though entertainment is a benefit to the families it's hard to say this alone is worth it for the businesses around the area.
They invest in the airshow in that they give money and expect a rise in sales in return that exceeds the investment. If this doesn't happen they would be reluctant to do it again, particularly with these hard economic times.

I suppose you could look at sponsoring from various major companies around Galway but without numbers it's difficult to say how many companies you'd have to approach.

Numbers? You must be one of those cold-hearted, bean counters who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing! Can you not see the possibilities man!

biko

Call me Scrooge...