Farnborough Airshow - AC, UA, LX and OS J
for pizza in Venice? What am I missing?
Jul 22, 2018, 4:49 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
Venetian cuisine is very different from the rest of the Italy; or what many in North American would consider "Italian." Venetian cuisine tends to include fish (baccalla mantecato); and risotto (al nero di seppia) and polenta (fegato) are more typical than other pastas. I'm sure you can find very good pizza in the Veneto as OP did, but generally (and I could speaking out of turn for Venetians), Venice is not associated with pizza.
Jul 23, 2018, 1:13 am
#22
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Location: JER
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To my lasting regret I never made it to the IWM, despite being from West London and having lived/worked there for a decade or two. Now it's a bit late/difficult/expensive to redeem that.
Jul 23, 2018, 6:12 pm
#24
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
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While the original one in London is absolutely primo, I went to IWM Duxford last fall. WOW--not to be missed!
Jul 23, 2018, 6:24 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: YEG
Programs: AC
Posts: 814
And finally it was time for the whole point of the trip. In reality everything up to this point was just to get the maximum number of flights and miles out of my aeroplan points. I woke up at seven and went downstairs for the full English breakfast offered at the Victory Service Club. It was remarkably good, except for the super liquidy scrambled eggs. I know its a European thing, but I just dont get it.
I had prebooked my rail trip out with South Western Railways online. At 17.50 pounds round trip I thought I got a pretty good deal. I only had to make one stop and total trip time was 55 minutes from London Victoria station to Farnborough Main. Upon arrival there were shuttle buses waiting to take us out to the site. A quick security check of my backpack and I was in to what they billed as the largest airshow on the planet.
Here are some of the pics I took.
Here is a short video of the take off of the A350
By far the star of the day for me was the A350-1000. It did a nearly vertical takeoff and some amazing turns in the sky. I wish there had been a bit of a larger commercial presence there but during the day, prior to the start of the airshow a lot of the planes that had been at the show took off. This included about 20 business jets and the new ERJ 195 E2 and a really nicely decorated ANA jet. All in all it was a pretty good airshow. Its always nice to see jets flying around. The F 16 was impressive and I actually liked the Red Bull air race demonstration, though I didnt think I would.
It was less impressive than the Paris Airshow I went to years ago, where the flying display included an A380, A330, A321, B787 and an A400M plus tonnes of other aircraft. This air display was 5 hours long but had a lot of breaks. Maybe companies are just cutting back???
I did the exact opposite train ride on the way back and left 20 minutes before the show ended to beat the crowds. Even doing it that way the trains were pretty busy on the way back and we arrived just one minute behind schedule. I stopped in for another order of fish and chips and a chip shop on the way back to the hotel because well you can never have enough fish and Chips. I also stopped in at the aptly named City of Quebec pub (I live just south of Montreal) for a final pint of the trip.
After that it was back to pack and get ready for a very early departure to the airport.
I had prebooked my rail trip out with South Western Railways online. At 17.50 pounds round trip I thought I got a pretty good deal. I only had to make one stop and total trip time was 55 minutes from London Victoria station to Farnborough Main. Upon arrival there were shuttle buses waiting to take us out to the site. A quick security check of my backpack and I was in to what they billed as the largest airshow on the planet.
Here are some of the pics I took.
Here is a short video of the take off of the A350
By far the star of the day for me was the A350-1000. It did a nearly vertical takeoff and some amazing turns in the sky. I wish there had been a bit of a larger commercial presence there but during the day, prior to the start of the airshow a lot of the planes that had been at the show took off. This included about 20 business jets and the new ERJ 195 E2 and a really nicely decorated ANA jet. All in all it was a pretty good airshow. Its always nice to see jets flying around. The F 16 was impressive and I actually liked the Red Bull air race demonstration, though I didnt think I would.
It was less impressive than the Paris Airshow I went to years ago, where the flying display included an A380, A330, A321, B787 and an A400M plus tonnes of other aircraft. This air display was 5 hours long but had a lot of breaks. Maybe companies are just cutting back???
I did the exact opposite train ride on the way back and left 20 minutes before the show ended to beat the crowds. Even doing it that way the trains were pretty busy on the way back and we arrived just one minute behind schedule. I stopped in for another order of fish and chips and a chip shop on the way back to the hotel because well you can never have enough fish and Chips. I also stopped in at the aptly named City of Quebec pub (I live just south of Montreal) for a final pint of the trip.
After that it was back to pack and get ready for a very early departure to the airport.
Last edited by canforce; Jul 23, 2018 at 6:40 pm
Jul 23, 2018, 6:27 pm
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: YEG
Programs: AC
Posts: 814
If you liked the IWM near Waterloo station you should go to the one in Duxford at the airfield. It is by far the best museum that I have ever been to. Its on the site of an 8th USAAF site from world war two and is simply amazing. The sheer number of aircraft and ground vehicles in mind blowing, including a B52 bomber hung from the ceiling.
Jul 23, 2018, 6:36 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Gateshead
Programs: BA Gold, ELAL Top Platinum
Posts: 851
If you liked the IWM near Waterloo station you should go to the one in Duxford at the airfield. It is by far the best museum that I have ever been to. Its on the site of an 8th USAAF site from world war two and is simply amazing. The sheer number of aircraft and ground vehicles in mind blowing, including a B52 bomber hung from the ceiling.
Jul 23, 2018, 7:39 pm
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: YEG
Programs: AC
Posts: 814
Well, as they say all good things must come to an end.
Having not totally adjusted to the time I was up at the crack of 0130 despite having a car booked for 0315. I watched some TV, took a shower and got ready to go. Heading downstairs to check out at 0300 I found my car was already waiting outside for me. I had booked a car through Blackberry cars due to the fact that the Heathrow Express doesnt start operating until 0530 on Sundays. And at only 30 pounds total for the trip prepaid I was very pleased with the service overall. Ontime, affordable price and one of the fastest car trips I have ever been on.
I got to the airport before the swiss counters were even open and was first in line to drop my bag off, and then wait for Security to Open. Terminal two though is not a happening place at 0415 in the morning. No restaurants or stores were open, and I was starving! Though at 0500 the Lufthansa lounge opened up and I pounced to get some food and coffee.
The food was actually pretty good but before long it was time to head down to the aircraft for the one hour and forty minute flight down to Zurich.
Swiss Airlines
LHR - ZRH
Airbus A321
They had parked this aircraft at the very end of terminal two but I won the lottery and got an actual gate for the aircraft today.
We ended up leaving the gate a few minutes late but were told we would make the time up in the air.
We taxied for about ten minutes and were quickly in the air. Service started pretty quickly and again, it was nothing special but overall a good solid service. I havent flown swiss in a while and it was better than I remembered. Here are a few pictures I took on the taxi and in the air.
Standard European business class seating
The food was pretty good
We only taxied for two minutes on landing and were parked at the D Gates before long. Then came the long trek over to the E Gates. I thought about taking the trip into Zurich during the 4.5 hour layover but the weather was not that good, I was exhausted and I wanted to check out the lounge. So off I went to the Swiss Airlines Business lounge at the E Gates.
Here are a few pictures I took of the lounge. Okay when I say a few I mean a lot. It was a really great lounge and was really impressed with it.
Having a very long time in the lounge I even decided to go and take a shower. There was zero wait and I was right in.
And E Gates has an excellent observation deck where you can sit outside after pouring yourself your own beer.
Having not totally adjusted to the time I was up at the crack of 0130 despite having a car booked for 0315. I watched some TV, took a shower and got ready to go. Heading downstairs to check out at 0300 I found my car was already waiting outside for me. I had booked a car through Blackberry cars due to the fact that the Heathrow Express doesnt start operating until 0530 on Sundays. And at only 30 pounds total for the trip prepaid I was very pleased with the service overall. Ontime, affordable price and one of the fastest car trips I have ever been on.
I got to the airport before the swiss counters were even open and was first in line to drop my bag off, and then wait for Security to Open. Terminal two though is not a happening place at 0415 in the morning. No restaurants or stores were open, and I was starving! Though at 0500 the Lufthansa lounge opened up and I pounced to get some food and coffee.
The food was actually pretty good but before long it was time to head down to the aircraft for the one hour and forty minute flight down to Zurich.
Swiss Airlines
LHR - ZRH
Airbus A321
They had parked this aircraft at the very end of terminal two but I won the lottery and got an actual gate for the aircraft today.
We ended up leaving the gate a few minutes late but were told we would make the time up in the air.
We taxied for about ten minutes and were quickly in the air. Service started pretty quickly and again, it was nothing special but overall a good solid service. I havent flown swiss in a while and it was better than I remembered. Here are a few pictures I took on the taxi and in the air.
Standard European business class seating
The food was pretty good
We only taxied for two minutes on landing and were parked at the D Gates before long. Then came the long trek over to the E Gates. I thought about taking the trip into Zurich during the 4.5 hour layover but the weather was not that good, I was exhausted and I wanted to check out the lounge. So off I went to the Swiss Airlines Business lounge at the E Gates.
Here are a few pictures I took of the lounge. Okay when I say a few I mean a lot. It was a really great lounge and was really impressed with it.
Having a very long time in the lounge I even decided to go and take a shower. There was zero wait and I was right in.
And E Gates has an excellent observation deck where you can sit outside after pouring yourself your own beer.
Jul 24, 2018, 2:08 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
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