Any advice

[lindaweaver]

I'm planning to attend an upcoming airshow and I'm keen on getting some insider advice to enhance my experience. Could anyone share their recommendations on essential gear to bring for a day at the airshow? I'm particularly interested in advice on photography equipment, but also tips on comfort items that might not be obvious to a first-timer. Additionally, if there are any particular aircraft or aerobatic teams that are considered a 'must-see', I'd love to hear about them. Lastly, any advice on navigating the event to make the most of the exhibits and flying displays would be fantastic.

[passedgas46]

I'm planning to attend an upcoming airshow and I'm keen on getting some insider advice to enhance my experience. Could anyone share their recommendations on essential gear to bring for a day at the airshow? I'm particularly interested in advice on photography equipment, but also tips on comfort items that might not be obvious to a first-timer. Additionally, if there are any particular aircraft or aerobatic teams that are considered a 'must-see', I'd love to hear about them. Lastly, any advice on navigating the event to make the most of the exhibits and flying displays would be fantastic.

Here's 45+ years of experience going to airshows:

Essential gear? For the most part, a folding chair (the ones that fold into a bag are perfect), a refillable water bottle or sealed bottled water (as for sealed bottled water, freeze them overnight), put a cooler in your car with food and drinks (this'll help with when you leave), wear comfortable clothing based on the weather (sneakers, not flip flops or anything uncomfortable, you'll be putting in thousands of steps), hearing protection, sunglasses/hat/sunscreen, small umbrella. Get there early.

Photography? This is one where others will give you advice. Your smartphone can take some good photos and videos. I'm a binoculars only airshow fan. I've seen lots of DSLR cameras out there with large lenses and it seems like it's a balance of Canon and Nikon cameras. I've shared the crowd line with many videographers too... most with smallish handheld cameras and one with a giant handheld camera. I couldn't tell you what's what.

Must-see TV...I mean airplanes? Obviously the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds fit this. Other than that, in general, you'd have to be an airplane nut to answer this one.

Navigating the event? All airshows handle this part differently. The bigger ones will have either really nice drawn-out maps overlayed on Google Maps imagery or really nice art that is close to what you see at the airshow's location. At most airshows if you get there when the gates open to the public you could sit your chair down somewhere and walk the entire ramp and return in time for the flying display to begin.

I've only scratched the surface here. A lot of this was passed down from my father to me and I've passed it to my nephews.

Which airshow are you talking about? You might have some people here who will give you some insider tips on that particular airshow.

[timqu]

First, congratulations on attending your first airshow. Depending on which one you're going to, it's like nothing else.

Passedgas46 pretty much covered all the comfort items. Be sure to check ahead of time to see what items are not allowed to be brought in. Some allow backpacks, some don't. I was just at the airshow on Sheppard AFB and even bottled water was not allowed, but you could bring a reusable water bottle as they had stations to refill one. It's better to know ahead of time than to have to make a long trek back to the car to put something in it.

One random piece of advice that I learned at Sheppard was don't get in a rush when you go through the security checkpoint if there is one. I carry way too much stuff and felt bad holding up the line to re-load everything after emptying pockets and everything so I rushed to get out of the way. 90 minutes into walking around the static displays and a few minutes before the show began, I take out my phone to take one selfie and have an alert on it that my AirPods had been left behind. I looked to see where and it showed the checkpoint so I make a fast walk back there to hopefully retrieve them. I asked one of the MPs if they knew where they were and he asked one of the other Airmen. He said if they had been found, they'd be over there in a box. Someone had even left their keys. I thought what an idiot to leave keys behind. When we got to the box, turns out they were my keys too. Very glad I had my AirPods that day or I would've been in a huge mess when I got back to the car later.

Now to gear. If you're going to use something like a DSLR camera, I'd go with a zoom lens somewhere in the 100 to 300-400mm range. I use a 60-600mm lens but, as we've already established, I'm not the brightest. I have seen a lot of people using larger lenses and smaller lenses, even their cell phones, and seem to be very happy with the photos and videos they're getting. I would suggest for your first airshow, use what you already have. Unless you know for sure that you're going to use a camera/lens combo often or attend a lot of airshows, don't spend a lot just to find out you have no desire to attend another airshow or any use for the gear you bought. One option is renting also.

Passedgas46 said he is a binoculars-only guy. I am the opposite in all honestly. I spend most of an airshow with my glued to the back of a camera. You probably want to be more like him and not like me. I enjoy the sights and sounds but am always hunting for that one perfect photo. I believe it's impossible to be photographing something and truly experiencing it at the same time though. Take a few photos or videos of each act if it seems to be one you want to remember but then put the camera down and enjoy the experience. That may sound heresy to say on this forum but it is very important to enjoy your experience while you're there.

And please do let us know which airshow you will be attending or have attended by now and how it went.

[ClickJ]

When we got to the box, turns out they were my keys too. Very glad I had my AirPods that day or I would've been in a huge mess when I got back to the car later.

New fear unlocked!!

I attend shows solo so I usually sacrifice comfort for being able to easily carry everything myself. Aside from the standard sunglasses/sunscreen I keep a pair of earplugs and a poncho/trashbag (if rain is in the forecast) in my camera bag just in case, and the only other comfort item I bring is a not-so-comfortable 3-legged camping stool because it folds up small enough that I can carry it in the tripod straps of my camera bag. If it's a smaller show not on a base I might bring a full-size folding chair, but it's definitely the exception. For a water bottle, I usually just buy a bottle at the show and refill as I'm able.

Photo-wise, I have a messenger-style camera bag that fits either my 60-600mm lens (for flying & statics) or my DSLR with a 16-80 lens (for statics) comfortably...or both a little less comfortably if it were to rain and I needed to cover them. Without knowing what if any photography equipment you have, I would suggest taking what you've got (even if it's a phone) for your first show just to get a feel for it, or maybe renting a camera and a telephoto lens (there are some other posts here in the Photography forum that may help you with suggestions on specific equipment). As timqu mentioned, be sure to check in advance and ask for clarification if needed for what's allowed and what isn't.

As far as navigating the event, I usually take a look at the event map and try to decide where I want to park it ahead of time - and the first thing I do when I get through security is go put my stool down to save my spot...then go check out statics, merch, etc. I would strongly suggest arriving early especially if it's a base show (gate time at the latest - although arriving before the actual "gates open" time has burned me once or twice).

After the show, I usually stick around as long as I can to let traffic clear out. I'm in no rush to get to my car and wait in the exit line...if I can kill time slowly packing up and making my way back to my car I will. Might even get a few people-free static shots on your way out.

[passedgas46]

You guys speaking of losing AirPods and keys are one of the reasons why I went from Android to Apple! (That, and my wife convinced me to do so when we first met.)

I'll be honest about the camera thing. I've tried it. I do own a point and shoot camera with a halfway decent zoom. I bought it about ten years ago with the idea that it goes on trips where we're doing family photos or going places and seeing the sights (scenery, buildings, animals). I brought it to a few airshows but I didn't get any good photos; nothing like what you all get. The binoculars are great, especially for my poor eyesight, and I have an excellent pair of image stabilizing binoculars that are great for airshows as well as nature.

I couldn't tell you how many airshows all across the USA my father took me to when I was little. My first wife went to several with me. Nowadays my current wife will come along if she finds an airshow interesting or the location, she loves the beach... err shore... we're from NJ and for some of the local shows like AC, Dover, and McGuire my parents and a chunk of the extended family will join. But there's also a few shows a year I go solo.

One thing I left out was merchandise. If you go to any larger airshow that is at an airfield big enough to have military planes, you might be able to buy shirts/coins/patches/other goodies from military squadrons who have airplanes on display. And then you have places like NAS Oceana where there is an entire section devoted to squadrons selling stuff, aka swag. You can easily spend $1,000 or more doing so and end up with a closet full of shirts and stuff you've bought at airshows. I know I have!

Open ended question for those who have attended airshows in 2024. How much did food vendors charge for food and drinks? Cost isn't a factor for us, it's just to compare. My nephew was at Lincoln Financial Field recently and mentioned $8 hot dogs, $16 chicken cutlets/tenders, $16 cheesesteaks, $17 fries, $7 bottled water, and other ridiculous prices. Makes me curious what spectators like myself will have to fork over at Dover in two weeks...