I can't speak for Leuchars but all the air shows I attended last year (& I went to at least one event every weekend of the season) were great value for money. Some of the displays lasted for over 5 hours which isn't bad value by any standards. They put on the ground displays & funfairs to attract families as these things cost an awful lot of money to put on. This shouldn't detract from the air show itself & I find it adds to the atmosphere.

Farnborough won't be until next year (2006) as it's now a biennial event & alternates with the Paris show. I don't know what you're expecting but it's a mere shadow of its former self & I no longer bother with it. The air display gets shorter every time I go. This is a trade show & more ground display orientated than the ordinary air displays you're complaining about. Here's a list of the major events for 2005. http://aeroflt.users.netlink.co.uk/shows/showdate.htm

Well everything I have seen is European. Most airshows in the US still feature solid flying. The latest one I have been to was at the Joint Reserve Base in Ft. Worth, Texas. It was really great. The JRB is huge and they had every kind of plane I could imagine. AA had a 777 there, FedEx flew in a cargo 727. Tons of military planes. The best thing I saw, other than the Harrier flight which was downright awesome and the FINA pilot setting a world record, was watching a P-51, P-47, and C-130 fly in formation. It was really touching to watch 50 years of aviation fly around together (though it did sound a little odd...).
Though I compare it to an airshow I went to on 9-8-2001. The flying was a little more freestyle then, now after 9-11, it's tighter and some things aren't done. But still a wonderful display in the US!

Well according to his profile Budd lives in Scotland.

It really depends what you're interested in. If you like warbirds & you're willing to travel I suggest the Flying Legends event at Duxford. For older rare vintage types you can't do better than any event at Old Warden which isn't that far from Duxford. The Waddington show is a tad closer to you & advertised as the RAF's biggest air show. http://www.waddingtonairshow.co.uk/

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PPS. Seems the first 2 weeks in July is fully booked for me.

1-3 July 2005 PFA International Air Rally 2005 Kemble, Glos. 
2-3 July 2005 RAF Waddington 2005  RAF Waddington, Lincs. 
3 July 2005 Shuttleworth Summer Air Display  Old Warden, Beds. 
9-10 July 2005  The Flying Legends Air Show  IWM Duxford, Cambs. 
10 July 2005 British Aircraft Fly-In Popham, Hants.

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Well, I'll be at two of those but with only a week between Wadington and Legends I'm going to have to keep the credit card locked away
First show for me will be Duxford in May and I'l really looking forward to that now.

Hmm and as of mid-June I should be on the ground in Blighty once more... Roger, Doug its party time for the warbird fans
Oh and no complaining about airshows eh? We get 1 every other year in Hungary (thanks to the tight-assed government, who have just given themselves a massive pay-rise, and lots of lovely freebies like top-of-the-range laptops etc and upped the taxes, and still won't go back to an annual airshow )
Right now I want to marmalade MSzP!!!! Anyone got a spare Lanc or B-17 I could borrow?

Hey Doug I'm starting Emi with airshows this year, we can push prams together

Looks like I'll be going to 3 or 4 airshows this year. When I can drive and have my own car that number will increase drasticly!

I'm going to EAA Airventure(SS1 will be there)
La Crosse Airfest(Thunderbirds)
Milwaukee air and water show(Blue Angels)
Maybe Manitowok(Just aerobatic stuff)

CANT WAIT!!!!!