MAKS 2011 Planning Thread

[Antartis]

http://rt.com/on-air/maks-2011-air-show/ MAKS online

 

Thank you!:thumbup:

[RvEYoda]

Hey which building is ED located in? I would like to say hello but I couldn't find them today. (That is if ED is there this year, but my friend told me they have been there before)

Edited August 18, 2011 by =RvE=Yoda

[Vekkinho]

I just got back from Russia today and I must say I was slightly dissapointed with MAKS2011.

 

Me and my wife Natasa were in Moscow for last 8 days. We did a lot of sightseeing during first few days and it was fun. I also managed to plan a trip to Zhukovski, Sputnik train from Vykhino to Otdyh came really cheap (something like US$ 1,70 per ticket). We have visited Cold War museum, Kremlin, VDNH fair (there's a VOSTOK 1:1 rocket on display there). Weather was nice, not too warm like in 2007 during my pervious MAKS visit. We had rain clouds threatning almost every night but no rain came down during the day. Since this wasn't my first Moscow trip I managed to adjust fairly quickly to a Mocsow transport system, all Marshrutka, bus and metro lines to get me where we want to go.

 

I must say I'm impressed with new train from Sheremetyevo to Belorusskaya train station as it wasn't there in 2007.

 

Red square was impressive as always, however it was partially closed because of the stands being put up for a Vashnya show.

 

We also payed a visit to St.Basil cathedral...

 

 

Then came friday 19th, first day of the public airshow...we got up early,had breakfast and took a metro down to Vykhino. From there we took a train to Otdyh. Lots of folks formed a queue waiting for a shuttle bus to MAKS. Every visitor was thoroughly inspected with police and OMON officers going thru their stuff. Buses were crowded and we had to wait for few of them to leave before we could board. Bus took us to gate 3. It was 11:00 o'clock and airdisplay just started. It was 12:45 when we finally made it thru the gate...hillarious...vaiting in a queue again. Poor orgaization. I though you guys learned from the past, in fact I don't remember such problems back in 2007.

 

So we were standing in a crowd during Russian Knights and Rafale display and when we finally made it I was so pissed off that my wife had to calm me from not taking it on some of the MAKS staff.

 

We went thru static display and thanks to me being pissed off I failed to particulary notice or photograph any of the birds being displayed there. I believe I saw two A-10C Panthers from Spang sitting on the concrete...

 

I tried to get some food to eat so we went to a giant white tent just to wait in another queue. Food plates empty, beers not cool at all and waitors working there sitting with their hands in pockets. Visitiors began to riot and ask for a manager and book of complaints. I remember a guy with two kids waiting for a half an hour for some grilled chicken wings (Shashlyik), he ordered some potatos along and some salad and when grill finally arrived waitor had to wait another 10 minutes to put some potatos in a same plate and then told the guy that has to wait for his salad for another 10...by the time he finally got what he ordered meat was cold and the guy refused to pay for it...

 

It finally filled my cup (as well as everyone elses) so at 15:00 I picked up my stuff and said Dosvidanya to MAKS 2011.

 

EDIT: oooh, I managed to see F-15E and MiG-3 display on my way out. End of EDIT

 

I believe the airshow and static display was great at MAKS2011, however things I described really derailed me and I was happy when I finally made it to hotel. I believe all support companies (catering mostly) came completely unprepared. Total of 3 gates isn't enough for 220.000 vistors on each day. Football stadiums have more gates and less vistors...

 

So I've got like 10 photos from MAKS 2011 in total and a video of me and my wife waiting in a queue at the gate #3.

 

That's all folks, too bad you don't get to see much of my material...I now regret not visiting Monino, I thought MAKS would shadow it but I guess it the other way around...

 

You Russkies better shape up.

Edited August 21, 2011 by Vekkinho

[gigz-on]

@Vekkinho

At least you didn't stand a couple of hours under heavy rain trying to safe your camera like I did! :megalol: However I managed to make a few shots. They'll be here soon.

Edited August 21, 2011 by gigz-on

[dawestsides]

For me the show was a total sucess,had managed to seat in the media platform near the ATC on Friday and on Sunday for free because the company in charge of the VIP programm didn't know how to manage their guests,so they made up for the mistakes by offering me a free seat with the media representatives on the non-public side of the runway.What a treat to be so close to the action!

 

Whenever I look at my pictures,I can't still believe that they are mine.Will post them soon.

[lester]

Hey which building is ED located in? I would like to say hello but I couldn't find them today. (That is if ED is there this year, but my friend told me they have been there before)

 

AFAIK, ED wasn't presented on MAKS 2011 due to their partner and official distributor in Russia, 1C company, hadn't participated in exposition this year.

[lester]

Then came friday 19th, first day of the public airshow...we got up early,had breakfast and took a metro down to Vykhino. From there we took a train to Otdyh. Lots of folks formed a queue waiting for a shuttle bus to MAKS. Every visitor was thoroughly inspected with police and OMON officers going thru their stuff. Buses were crowded and we had to wait for few of them to leave before we could board.

 

Vekkinho,

 

It's possible to save your time a bit by tooking train to 42 kilometer station instead of Otdyh (it's second station after Otdyh: Otdyh-Kratovo-42 kilometer and it takes about 5-10 min longer). Same shuttle buses are following to the MAKS from here (and airfield is closer to this station then to Otdyh btw) but usually there are less people here (most people from Moscow usually take train to the well-known Otdyh station). Gates are located on another side of airfield (right near to the USAF exposition this year).

 

Hope it helps next time.

[Vekkinho]

Thanks Lester, I'll take it into account in 2013. With my russian language being resurrected occasionaly (last time I actively used it during MAKS 09 and I had obigatory russian and english language lessons during my primary school years) I managed to get along pretty good. Yes the shuttle bus drove us back to Platform 42km on our way back to Moscow leaving from Gate 3 (near Citroen camp).

 

One thing I noticed is that more people than in 2009, especially younger folks, speak english language. I guess internet helped a lot, however older folks are not familiar with it even the customs officers or airport personnel.

 

I wasn't dissapointed with MAKS but with some support companies, such as this specific grill restaurant.

 

In Moscow I had my coffees usually at Coffee House located at Staraya Ploshad on station Kitai Gorod. I liked their double cappuccino and a WiFi hotspot theyhad running there!

 

I'll upload my photos to my Photobucket public gallery and post you all a link to it.

 

Thanks!

[lester]

One thing I noticed is that more people than in 2009, especially younger folks, speak english language. I guess internet helped a lot, however older folks are not familiar with it even the customs officers or airport personnel.

 

Yes it's a big problem for our country (comparing to Europe and Baltic countries). Even in Moscow many people doesn't understand / speak english. I can't understand why, for example, road pointers even on main roads in capital of not-so-small country aren't dublicated in english. Is that such a hard thing for officials?

 

I wasn't dissapointed with MAKS but with some support companies, such as this specific grill restaurant.

 

I do understand and share your disappointment. Considering that prices for food / beer etc were several times higher than usual I too wondered why they couldn't organize it even on minimally accepted level for people who ready to pay such a high price. That is why many people take sandwiches, drinks etc (even alchogol without any problem at the gates as I read) with them from Moscow. So poor organization (relative to people and corresponding services) is another big problem for our country.

 

In Moscow I had my coffees usually at Coffee House located at Staraya Ploshad on station Kitai Gorod. I liked their double cappuccino and a WiFi hotspot theyhad running there!

 

I'll upload my photos to my Photobucket public gallery and post you all a link to it.

 

It's great that your visit to Russia left some good impressions as well. You and all other guys are always welcome! I'm looking forward to see your photos (my camera was broken about a month ago and hasn't been repaired yet, so I was unable to get some photos of MAKS this year :( ).

Edited August 22, 2011 by lester

[Thor77]

Well I was at MAKS Wednesday till Friday and always took the Otdyh station... for friday, I knew big crowds are gonna be there, so I went from the center at 7am and got to the MAKS 1 hour before the flight programme started. I understand your grief with that shashlyk tent, but there was a big number of them - I never had to wait for more than 5 minutes...

[gigz-on]

I never had to wait for more than 5 minutes...

 

And I never had to eat this piece of ... really unhealthy food. :D

A few sandwiches from home + a bottle of water = good meal. :)