For reasons that are not that clear to me, the powers that be have decided to change the date of the 2012 Sywell rally from mid September to the August bank holiday weekend. They seem to be determined to clash with the Blois Microlight Fair and/or the RSA Rally every year.
Sorry chaps, the Blois Microlight Fair takes precedence for many of us.
Rans6.....
Sywell Rally Date Changed - bu99er
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rans6andrew
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Sywell Rally Date Changed - bu99er
Andrew Cattell
Rans S6 Microlight.
Rans S6 Microlight.
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Brian Hope
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The 'powers that be' is the Rally Team, of which I am a member, so I can throw some more light on the reasoning for the change.
The Rally has been on the first weekend in September since it made its return three years ago, and unfortunately that does clash with Blois - I know only too well because I have been to Blois on a number of occasions and enjoy that event. However, we had to pick a date and it wasn't felt that going any further into September was wise, and going back a week took us into the August Bank Holiday, and members told us that August Bank Holiday was a ‘do stuff with the family’ weekend. On that point you are incorrect Andrew, next year's August 31/September 1/2 Rally dates are not the Bank Holiday weekend, the previous weekend is, as it was this year and for the past two years of the Rally.
It was the Olympic Airspace restrictions that threw a spanner in the works this year. They were due to be in place for two months, from mid July to mid September and we felt it unwise to hold the Rally while that was in place as it would cause problems for foreign visitors and also for many living in the SE. We therefore settled on the 14/15/16.
Murphy’s Law being what it is, the CAA/NATS later announced that the large Airspace Restriction would only last from mid July to mid August and a very much smaller area would be in place for the Paralympics. We spoke with Sywell about moving back to the first weekend because up to that point we had not announced the dates. However they had taken a booking for a large Indian Wedding party for the Saturday and rather than cause a problem we decided to stay with what we had and announced the dates.
Last Wednesday we had a call to say the wedding was off and the first September weekend was ours if we wanted it. We had a Board meeting and a National Council meeting last weekend at which I gauged opinion, and the overwhelming response was that we should take the opportunity to move to ‘our’ weekend at the start of September because a couple of weeks later in the Autumn was a risk with the weather and of course the days are getting shorter. On Saturday afternoon the Rally Team took the decision to go with the general consensus and we moved the event back two weeks,
A minor point perhaps but to the best of my knowledge Andrew, the Rally has never clashed with the RSA Rally. I have attended every RSA Rally since 1992 and not had to miss a PFA/LAA Rally to do so.
As a matter of interest, the RSA Rally for 2012 will again be at Blois, the dates are June 29/30/ July1.
The Rally has been on the first weekend in September since it made its return three years ago, and unfortunately that does clash with Blois - I know only too well because I have been to Blois on a number of occasions and enjoy that event. However, we had to pick a date and it wasn't felt that going any further into September was wise, and going back a week took us into the August Bank Holiday, and members told us that August Bank Holiday was a ‘do stuff with the family’ weekend. On that point you are incorrect Andrew, next year's August 31/September 1/2 Rally dates are not the Bank Holiday weekend, the previous weekend is, as it was this year and for the past two years of the Rally.
It was the Olympic Airspace restrictions that threw a spanner in the works this year. They were due to be in place for two months, from mid July to mid September and we felt it unwise to hold the Rally while that was in place as it would cause problems for foreign visitors and also for many living in the SE. We therefore settled on the 14/15/16.
Murphy’s Law being what it is, the CAA/NATS later announced that the large Airspace Restriction would only last from mid July to mid August and a very much smaller area would be in place for the Paralympics. We spoke with Sywell about moving back to the first weekend because up to that point we had not announced the dates. However they had taken a booking for a large Indian Wedding party for the Saturday and rather than cause a problem we decided to stay with what we had and announced the dates.
Last Wednesday we had a call to say the wedding was off and the first September weekend was ours if we wanted it. We had a Board meeting and a National Council meeting last weekend at which I gauged opinion, and the overwhelming response was that we should take the opportunity to move to ‘our’ weekend at the start of September because a couple of weeks later in the Autumn was a risk with the weather and of course the days are getting shorter. On Saturday afternoon the Rally Team took the decision to go with the general consensus and we moved the event back two weeks,
A minor point perhaps but to the best of my knowledge Andrew, the Rally has never clashed with the RSA Rally. I have attended every RSA Rally since 1992 and not had to miss a PFA/LAA Rally to do so.
As a matter of interest, the RSA Rally for 2012 will again be at Blois, the dates are June 29/30/ July1.
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rans6andrew
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Brian, I stand corrected on both points. I have not got a 2012 calendar to hand and tried to figure out when August bank holiday would fall, in my head. Also I tried, and failed, to remember which GA event took place in northern France that people had complained clashed with the Sywell do. Was it the Jodell fly-in? Whatever, both of these other events have been running for many more years than the Sywell do, the Blois event celebrated it's 31st year this year. Both are popular with LAA members so to change from a date which seemed to avoid the issue to one which is certain to clash seems a bit poor for the members.
Rans6andrew.
Rans6andrew.
Andrew Cattell
Rans S6 Microlight.
Rans S6 Microlight.
Andrew,
I was one of the many people that Brian asked and I was very much of the opinion that the success of the Rally, and I'm counting the facility to camp and stay comfortably for more than a day visit as a factor in my judgement of that, is very much dependant upon the weather. To push it any further back from the early Sept slot seems to increase the risk of 'autumn' weather.
It's a shame that it clashes with other events, but it is important that we have a succesful rally and in my own opinion, the earlier the better.
colin
I was one of the many people that Brian asked and I was very much of the opinion that the success of the Rally, and I'm counting the facility to camp and stay comfortably for more than a day visit as a factor in my judgement of that, is very much dependant upon the weather. To push it any further back from the early Sept slot seems to increase the risk of 'autumn' weather.
It's a shame that it clashes with other events, but it is important that we have a succesful rally and in my own opinion, the earlier the better.
colin
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Colin Cheese
Colin Cheese
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Brian Hope
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Hi Andrew it is the St Omer Jodel fly-in that is about the same time and they now maneuver around the Rally date so it doesn't clash. I am in touch with the organisers of that event and will let them know of our date change.
It is a shame that we clash with Blois and I know we lose a number of potential visitors, particularly microlighters, but for a variety of reasons we do not want to move farther forward into the summer months.
It is a shame that we clash with Blois and I know we lose a number of potential visitors, particularly microlighters, but for a variety of reasons we do not want to move farther forward into the summer months.
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Jonathan Holland
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rans6andrew
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Brian Hope
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Nigel Hitchman
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aaggghh, so the date has changed again, back to the busiest weekend of the aviation calendar! Oh well, going to miss my first Rally in 32 years in 2012 I think, as I'll be at Blakesburg. I was very happy with the new date, 14/15/16 Sept which didnt clash with anything I wanted to go to!
Appreciate you cant please all the people, so hard luck for me!
I wish it would go back to the first weekend in July again, nothing used to clash with that, most years, although Duxford occasionally, but it seems that now RSA have taken our favourite date! The first weekend in Sept is the worst possible date for me.
Appreciate you cant please all the people, so hard luck for me!
I wish it would go back to the first weekend in July again, nothing used to clash with that, most years, although Duxford occasionally, but it seems that now RSA have taken our favourite date! The first weekend in Sept is the worst possible date for me.
I agree with you, Nigel, I would like to go back to the first weekend of July. The last two rallies have been dogged by early morning low cloud and mist.