How they can justify a price hike like that is beyond me
I can`t remember the pilots name, but he he used to scream the airfield in an old A26 invader.
I last saw one of his best displays at the old RN Daedalus site many years ago
I was sad to learn some time later that he had overcooked it & lost his life thrilling the crowds.
I suppose there must be millonaire collectors & flyers out there, but the majority of owners must have to watch their budgets very carefully.
Extremely simple really ... the regulation, registration and monitoring regime is about to increase dramatically. Risk Assessments, Auditing and Oversight of displays will also increase. This will require far more staff and inspectors, as well as may more site visits prior to the event.
All these folks require salaries, mileage costs, overnight subsidence (where applicable), and many other expenses.
So, who is going to pay for it all if the fees don't go up ?? General Taxpayer would be a tad pissed off if the costs for a limited number of folk - airshow lovers - were all paid from "normal" taxes.
Just like the BBC & ITV everyone seems to be crying out for more to be spent .. but no-one wants to pay for anything.
Safety costs .... full stop.