That’s not the interpretation I get from reading the excerpt from the council - and how many schools would let their kids go do volunteering in lesson time? It definitely makes it read like anyone U16 needs a permit.
2 Likes
MacAviation has a live stream positioned outside the RAFAC Campsite (Site 15) - looks like it is pretty wet.
(A flight of cadets seen crossing the road at 0931)
It’s not looking like fun, I’ll say that much. Lots of cadets and staff in blues that are soaked through 
Couldn’t be further from last years heatwave!
1 Like
Lots of NFCI
Looks like the temp is meant to stay above 15C at all times, so in theory, the cold injuries training doesn’t apply 
1 Like
Also, looking at the forecast it is looking incredibly windy tomorrow! I cant see there being much of a show if I’m honest. Gusting above 40mph from 1000hrs to 1800hrs with a mix of light/heavy rain and thunderstorms!
A genuine danger of things blowing around on site and becoming projectiles.
“STAND BY FOR BROADCAST, STAND BY FOR BROADCAST”…everyone freeze in anticipation…“HRH The Princess of Wales, honorary Air Commodore RAFAC, has NOT, I repeat has NOT, visited the Camp Site. END OF BROADCAST”
Let the whinging commence…
To be fair, I didn’t either - but I am 300 miles away…
1 Like
Hope that have some serious drying facilities and places for the cadets to keep warm plus hot food constantly available such as soup tea etc, otherwise you may get the reverse of last year with given the windchill causing hypothermia.
Hope camp management and HQ RAFAC are on top of this otherwise you can see another DASB report for cold injuries.
I have never known of any drying facilities at RIAT - the best is paracord (or similar) stretched between tent poles either inside or outside tents used as a washing line for towels
there are rest tents dotted around the airfield for sole RAFAC use - these are only 12x12/18x24 extended as required so not warm but they will be dry.
TBF there is no where likely to be “warm” on the airfield other than the enclosures, everywhere is exposed so if there is wind (gusting 40+ on Saturday) it will be cold!
Cadet Control on the airfield normally has a burco running all hour of operation with tea, coffee and hot chocolates as does the canteen/logs at the campsite.
to be fair to the RIAT SMT these conditions are no unusual - in 2008 the airshow was cancelled due to the rain that was experienced in the days leading up to the show weekend and in 2012 there was more rain yet the show went ahead has lessons had been learnt - although there were no failings from a ACO (as it was then) in 2008 there was lessons learnt and this was proven in 2012.
OC RIAT and OC Eng have experience of those years so they know what to expect…
1 Like
Yellow weather warning for Wind on Saturday covering Fairford…
What’s NFCI?
That wasn’t covered in my heat injury training.
/Sarcasm
Did that consist of a VHS of a Billy Ray Cyrus concert?
Honestly, I’d still be thinking about heat injury. Jeltex in this mild level weather? They’ll be steaming themselves after only a short period of activity if they start doing anything more than light walking.
1 Like
It’s not about tickboxing.
Today, I’ve spent the day out on the hill - Cheviots.
Wearing a t-shirt and a goretex, I’ve been (repeatedly) sweating like a pervert with the zip down, hood down, and quaffing back water like my backside is on fire - I’ve also been shivering like a mad thing, my face and arms painful with cold and my hands unable to use my phone.
3 Likes
…and enjoyed every minute.
1 Like
So you have cadets having to wear wet or at best damp kit the next day, what a morale sapping situation and increases the potential of cold injury.
With the moratorium have they enough 12x12s plus with no heat, again cold wind upon cold wet kit environment.
1 Like
The lack of drying facilities isn’t restricted to RIAT, though. None of the annual camps I’ve done have ever had tent heaters. Kit washing and drying has sometimes been available when CFAV have organised ad hoc use of mess laundry rooms, but nothing has ever been formally arranged.
Took my Cadets there today from Cheltenham, it was wet, it was cold - but they loved it.
We did have to end-ex early though as waterproofs were getting beaten by the relentless rain. I felt really sorry for the Cadets traipsing around in uniform - but mainly for the many school trips we saw with really young kids who looked absolutely sodden and unhappy.
I spared a thought for those on the camp - I know from experience that they are going to struggle to dry their kit now. Saying that, they might get a reprieve as I would be very surprised if tomorrow isn’t canx.
1 Like
Wasn’t there a ridiculously swampy RIAT a number of years back?
It was the RAF 100th anniversary year, flying cancelled IIRC on the Saturday.
1 Like