Yes, I agree, all the paranoia and restrictions are spoiling it for the genuine enthusiasts...but no matter what they try and do, if someone really wants that picture they will still get it.
I had a guided tour around RAF Valley in the back of an RAF Police car a few years ago, I was taken onto the Flight Line and was allowed to take all the pictures I liked and even stood on the Apron with Hawks Taxi-ing past whilst I took pics and the Pilots were giving me the thumbs up (must have been the Top Gun T Shirt I was wearing at the time
) I was taken all around the base on all the Flight-Lines to take as many pics as I liked.
We got to one part where there was an American F-111 being prepared for next flight. I stood outside the car about to take a pic when the RAF lads said not to as the Yanks get a bit touchy, they said sit in the car and take it. So I got back in, wound the window down and the pic below is the result....Excellent !!!
This pic has been resized to fit on here, I have the much larger version as my desktop background on my pc.
Mark.