Flying Legends P-51 Tail Chase

Loved it when he started to talk philosophical about how we might have come from the stars or placed here by aliens or something. I thought it was brilliant that a commentator dared to make his mind wander a bit.

Yeah definitely.:D

Agreed the commentary was a little over done but I have to admit that I look forward to Bernard Chabert’s pronunciation of several flying terms.

Loved it when he started to talk philosophical about how we might have come from the stars or placed here by aliens or something. I thought it was brilliant that a commentator dared to make his mind wander a bit.

Legends!!

Agreed the commentary was a little over done but I have to admit that I look forward to Bernard Chabert’s pronunciation of several flying terms.
Met him after the show and what I nice guy!

Great video and a wonderful day. Especially for a big Mustang fan.
What amazes me is that with what seems to be less and less aircraft each year, it is still the finest Warbird show.

Albert Patrick
http://www.warbirdsim.com/

I thought the commentators were good. They both knew their stuff and Bernard Chabbert’s flights of fancy can be quite entertaining… They were certainly better than the pair at the Spring show.

BUT, why does it have to be so relentless? To me, one of the key skills of a commentator is knowing when to shut up and let the action speak for itself. This seems to have been lost from all forms of commentary in our modern 5 second attention span society, whether it be sport, outside broadcasts or live events. What has become particularly irritating at airshows is when commentators announce they are going to shut up, so we can hear the aeroplanes, and then do no such thing. Why not just stop talking for a few moments, unannounced?

Also, not necessarily the commentators fault, but it WAS too loud at Legends. I was unable to speak to my family without shouting. It has also become too loud at Old Warden this season. It is not necessary for the tannoy to be so loud it’s uncomfortable.

Dave,

You make some very good points and these are the main gripes I have regarding the commentary/PA systems at the shows I’ve been to.

I quite enjoy Bernard’s commentary at FL and he often puts things across in a way that only an English speaking Frenchman can. And I don’t mind Melvin Hiscock either. However, it would be nice if they could both keep quite more often!

And I’m glad I’m not the only one who has noticed the high volume level of the PA system at Legends & at Old Warden (and indeed Dunsfold).

Perhaps the most annoying time at the latter OW is prior to the show when they play the 40’s music. I’d rather not have it playing at all, but if they do insist on it, then it needs only to be at a VERY LOW volume, and not blaring out like it has been for the last few years I’ve been going again.

There’s only so much I can take of Run Rabbit Run blaring out at high volume before I feel like reaching for my gun and blowing to bits the PA system! 😡

Cheers

Paul

I thought the commentators were good. They both knew their stuff and Bernard Chabbert’s flights of fancy can be quite entertaining… They were certainly better than the pair at the Spring show.

BUT, why does it have to be so relentless? To me, one of the key skills of a commentator is knowing when to shut up and let the action speak for itself. This seems to have been lost from all forms of commentary in our modern 5 second attention span society, whether it be sport, outside broadcasts or live events. What has become particularly irritating at airshows is when commentators announce they are going to shut up, so we can hear the aeroplanes, and then do no such thing. Why not just stop talking for a few moments, unannounced?

Also, not necessarily the commentators fault, but it WAS too loud at Legends. I was unable to speak to my family without shouting. It has also become too loud at Old Warden this season. It is not necessary for the tannoy to be so loud it’s uncomfortable.

Yes you are.

There are several thousand people that doesn’t know their stuff. To create an interest in something you need the background information and the stories to create that interest in the first place. If you’re not being fed that certain information it will just be a bunch of planes flying around making noise.

It’s absolutely vital to have someone blabber on for two hours even though it pisses off a minority of hardcore aviation enthusiasts who know it all. Your knowledge came from something too. Many peoples interest in aviation have been triggered by an airshow and things said there they didn’t know.

Easily sorted,a PA area and a PA free area [which can be switched on in the event of an emergency].There’s also information which can be told to the crowd prior to the planes display and then silence during the display ,not rocket science and not unreasonable.:)

Looking at that footage reminded me of a warm-up flight on a friday before the one of the old ‘fighter meet’ shows at north weald. That day the Hannas, Stefan Kolwaski and John Watts did a 4 man tail chase – got the footage somewhere.

All four of them now sadly no longer with us…….:(

John Blake + tail chase

I used enjoy John listening to John Blake – he knew his stuff.

Looking at that footage reminded me of a warm-up flight on a friday before the one of the old ‘fighter meet’ shows at north weald. That day the Hannas, Stefan Kolwaski and John Watts did a 4 man tail chase – got the footage somewhere.
Took the hairs of the back of neck and cut the grass while they were at it!

Am I? I know my stuff too and don’t want to hear it all day through a PA.

Yes you are.

There are several thousand people that doesn’t know their stuff. To create an interest in something you need the background information and the stories to create that interest in the first place. If you’re not being fed that certain information it will just be a bunch of planes flying around making noise.

It’s absolutely vital to have someone blabber on for two hours even though it pisses off a minority of hardcore aviation enthusiasts who know it all. Your knowledge came from something too. Many peoples interest in aviation have been triggered by an airshow and things said there they didn’t know.

It was more along the lines of:

“He’s taken it behind the hanger”…….. *crash*…….”and left it there…”

Thanks for the clarification ZRX61.

I knew I should have dug out my copy of ‘Airborne’ before posting that! 😮

Cheers

Paul

And I believe (I might be wrong) that he didn’t endear himself to the late Neil Williams after he had an accident in a Stampe at a show when he said to the crowd after he crashed “He’s taken it behind the hanger”.
Paul

It was more along the lines of:

“He’s taken it behind the hanger”…….. *crash*…….”and left it there…”

I’m just grateful that I never hear a certain R*g*r H******* commentating these days, he used to bore the pants off me with all his measurements and statistics, IMO never anything interesting to say.

The Guinot girl did seem to get over excited and noisy, perhaps if they just turned the volume down, but commentators do occasionally have something interesting to say

I must say that I do miss John Blake (does he still commentate?), I always enjoyed his commentaries.

Apologies for taking this thread off topic further, but I consider Roger Hoeffling (smnbc – I assume that’s who you are refering to Mark) to have been one of the best commentators I’ve heard at an airshow.

I remember being struck by his professionalism when he was at Old Warden and I was only a small kid! Maybe he should start up a school for would be commentators!

He was obviously a knowledgeable bloke on all things aviation, and not one bit up himself with it either, and indeed, I seem to recall him still carrying a large folder full of notes and referring to them whilst commentating. He also knew when to keep quiet, both of those things that probably cannot be said of the majority of today’s commentators! 🙂

I guess though in the end it’s all down to personal preference, and I must admit, I never took to John Blake, as I found his style a bit too pompous, especially his pronunciation of the word Daimler! And I believe (I might be wrong) that he didn’t endear himself to the late Neil Williams after he had an accident in a Stampe at a show when he said to the crowd after he crashed “He’s taken it behind the hanger”.

I agree though, you do need commentator who is not boring, but this needs to be backed up with good knowledge, a good sense of humour, and knows when to keep his/her mouth shut!

Cheers

Paul

I’m just grateful that I never hear a certain R*g*r H******* commentating these days, he used to bore the pants off me with all his measurements and statistics, IMO never anything interesting to say.

The Guinot girl did seem to get over excited and noisy, perhaps if they just turned the volume down, but commentators do occasionally have something interesting to say

I must say that I do miss John Blake (does he still commentate?), I always enjoyed his commentaries.

I think you guys are a bit harsh. The commentators know their stuff. .

Am I? I know my stuff too and don’t want to hear it all day through a PA.
Give us an area without PA speakers so we can soak up the sight and SOUND of an airshow:cool:

We were between the American Hanger & Tanks. It was impossible NOT to hear the commentary which was very loud. Some info is always good, but not during the fly past please. The engine sound is “Music” to our ears. If I listen to what’s on youtube now chills run down my spine when I hear the commentators drowning out the engine sound. Those two gentlemen perhaps did their best to entertain, but please……not again next year!

I do agree with what you say to an extent, thats not to say the commentary as you say wasnt of great interest, but it was quite funny when the French commentator was rambling off on almost philosophical tangents which does definitely affect the music of the engines at times. Got to love Legends though best show in the world without a doubt.

We were between the American Hanger & Tanks. It was impossible NOT to hear the commentary which was very loud. Some info is always good, but not during the fly past please. The engine sound is “Music” to our ears. If I listen to what’s on youtube now chills run down my spine when I hear the commentators drowning out the engine sound. Those two gentlemen perhaps did their best to entertain, but please……not again next year!

I am not disputing they know their stuff,very clever and very lucky chaps,BUT we had no choice but to listen to it
I would love to know where you stood so you could’nt hear it,there will be one hell of a queue to get there next year

Very evil. :diablo:

I was seated between the B-17’s. It gave me a little less view of the flying but I heard NO sound from the commentators. Just some background noise which I didn’t pay no attention to.

Since it’s nagging time again, I’ll just chip in and say that the woman who did the Guinot thing was absolutely horrible. I guess she just must have been very pretty because her commentating was not.

I think you guys are a bit harsh. The commentators know their stuff. Yes, they may speak a little TOO much at times, but they also give out some good trivia that I didn’t know in the middle of all the information most of us here know anyway. We have to realize that we are not the regular airshow goer. W

On Saturday I placed myself so I didn’t hear one thing from the commentators and on Sunday I was in the Gold Pas section and really enjoyed the commentating. Best of both worlds. Easy.

I am not disputing they know their stuff,very clever and very lucky chaps,BUT we had no choice but to listen to it :rolleyes:
I would love to know where you stood so you could’nt hear it,there will be one hell of a queue to get there next year:diablo:

I think you guys are a bit harsh. The commentators know their stuff. Yes, they may speak a little TOO much at times, but they also give out some good trivia that I didn’t know in the middle of all the information most of us here know anyway. We have to realize that we are not the regular airshow goer. We know all the stuff and we want the engines blah blah. You can’t simply satisfy a crowd with such an extreme difference and knowledge and interest. Yes, I dare to say it, some people actually thinks the Merlins are noise pollution and just like the look of the thing (disclaimer: I am not one of those!)

On Saturday I placed myself so I didn’t hear one thing from the commentators and on Sunday I was in the Gold Pas section and really enjoyed the commentating. Best of both worlds. Easy.

Why can’t they just print all that crap in the program? Then they could just announce each aircraft & promptly STFU 😉

Maybe next year someone will show up with an 18ft step ladder, place it in front of the tower & at the right time climb to the top, hold up a large sign for the commentators that just says “STFU!”:cool:

wire cutters 🙂

You are not alone,i did’nt even bother getting the video camera out as i new i would never watch it whilst the over the top incessant verbal noise pollution persisted.
Why can’t they accept we pay to watch and hear the aircraft, – – -NOT listen to them,oh well.
:mad::mad: