The 'annoying commentators at Airshows' thread….especially Flying Legends

Thank you very much for your comments. I always take on board any comments, suggestions and, yes, criticism of what I do. I don’t get it right all of the time but if I get it a little better each time I think I’ve “played strong, done good”, to quote a famous Australian Rugby League coach.

I am sure that is true but we can decide what cone of silence we would think was right for ourselves it is the principle that is important. Mustang51 has had the goodness to explain his thinking and practice which makes admirable sense to me we can adjust that to suit our environment. Maybe “threshold” of silence which I suppose will be the length of the crowd line as a minimum and preferable airfield threshold. Even that would not be adequate for the approaching and rising sound of a Balbo which I find all part of it.

With the anniversary this year we have had some very special displays for example at Biggin Hill, BoB DX and the return of 4 flights to DX following Goodwood. Here mass departures and arrivals and the tail chase dog fights were main features and the sounds that went with them is surely very much part of the 1940’s SE England and attacks on airfields.

🙂 Mustang 51 –just out of interest where is the centre of your cone of silence.Reason i ask is your cone if you are situated in the crowd line centre wouldn’t start until after the aircraft had started it’s run in for those at the outer extremes of the crowdline.

Interesting – I will keep an eye out there!

Good to hear Charlie, and that is why I haven’t been on as well! I need to post on Manston as I met a guy at BoB DX who seemed to be in the know.

I am, although a bit preoccupied with various things these days – trust you are too….:)

Baz is right, and so are you – I think!…………

Charlie (I’ve not been on for a bit hope you are well)

bazv is right. If Mustang51 had been commentating as described in his post, then this thread would not exist.

Mustang51 thank you very much for taking the time to make your excellent contribution to this thread.

As I am sure you realise there is a serious side to the thread and as you can see from the comments on your post you would be in high demand by the enthusiasts over here as you clearly understand the needs of the enthusiast and the general public.

I think the enthusiasts understand the changing nature of airshows as the immediate post war generation slowly move on to the farm but this should be better thought out by the organisers than a carpet fun fair approach.

This thread would not have started if you had been commenting, it was the fact that at the premiere warbirds airshow in the UK the commentary was continuous over everything and much was rambling memories which may be of interest but not actually during the display.

Your “cone of silence” approach shows a total understanding of what many people are there for, it is the organisers that should be laying down these sort of rules and providing music free enclosures or areas where only the commentary can be heard or even nothing at all bar public information messages.

Whilst airshows do need to attract new people and provide the sort of entertainment that they want it should also be remembered that it is these people who do not turn up if the weather forecast is not looking good or there is another event in the area. Whereas the hardcore enthusiast will turn up.

So the answer is simple really the organisers should look for best practice around the world, introduce a required “cone of silence” whoever is commentating, (that would make a good name for a book:D) provide “enthusiast” areas with suitable commentary only or silence, and provide the pop culture on the fun fair side of the show. Surely this would not be too expensive to do.

Thank you again for your valuable contribution it is much appreciated by us all, and when are you coming over? 😀

Not that I think you’ll convince everyone here!!

51 is talking a totally different type of commentary than the type we are complaining about chas ; ) – a 45 deg cone of silence sounds great to me ; )

I concur with powerandpassion’s comments about Mustang51’s commentary at the Mosquito show. I can’t add to his post as he hit the nail on the head! I’ve heard him at other shows in NZ and I’m always delighted to hear/read his name as being involved.

Mustang – many thanks for that detailed, pertinent and well argued post. Not that I think you’ll convince everyone here!!:)

Good post Mustang 51.

I have had the pleasure of listening to Mustang 51 when Mosquito KA114 was unveiled in NZ, certainly one of the most extraordinary and memorable events I have attended. It was the first time I had actually heard a commentator stop when flyovers occurred, and allow the sound many had traveled a long way to see to be heard in full throat. The 45 degree rule was allowed to become the 90 degree rule, only interrupted by the spontaneous clapping of the crowd. Certainly a thoughtful, precise commentary which also involved calling up key folk involved in wartime flying and the restoration process to come up to the microphone and share some insights. I get the idea that the people who might know the most about an aircraft are not the best public speakers, but an informed, prepared commentator can draw out with thoughtful questions the basic excitement that drives these people to do the extraordinary things we want to know about.

The solution of to all this is to pay Mustang 51 to attend other airshows so you can hear the magic. Failing this to start a breeding program by sending vials of frozen Mustang 51 DNA around the world to willing surrogates. It will be a long wait but worth it!

and in my case, obeying the 45 degree “Cone of Silence” Rule.

Unfortunately over here we have some commentators who adhere to the 360 deg constant jibber jabber rule !

Thanks for your posts 51 – obviously you take much care over how you go about commentating : )

Too add, I thought George Ellis was fantastic at the Shuttleworth Uncovered show!

First time I’ve heard him commentate, and only realised it was him after I thought to myself, “That voice sounds familar”!

A good example of how to do it right.

Cheers

Paul

Trumper and Propstrike… thank you for the comments. I do appreciate them and I do take them onboard. One thing I neglected to mention. When you are in the commentary box you are not simply there talking about the aircraft. There is a constant stream of people, officials etc who are trying to get your attention to pass on information and that is a continual distraction, you are actively listening in to the Air Boss/Display Co-Ordinator every second for changes that are happening in real time and also listening in to both the air and ground frequencies at the same time while keeping situationally aware of the display in front of the crowd, aircraft transiting from hold points etc all while trying to ensure a mistake and stumble free dialogue and, in my case, obeying the 45 degree “Cone of Silence” Rule.

Good post Mustang 51.

A coherent, thoughtful post is always appreciated, especially when coloured by personal experience.

Again, it is easy to criticise but hard to do.

But alot if not most/all i have heard in the UK don’t listen,don’t learn and think THEY are the stars of the show.It may be hard to do ,the hardest bit is for them to shut up and stop talking drivel.Climbs like a homesick angel–heard at every O/W airshow,The Frenchman who -ooh i don’t want to think about him.
In this day and age people can pick out all the relevant info on smartphones,programmes airshow radio via headphones.
If anyone can ever tell me a commentator is more important and better sounding than a Merlin,D-Benz or P W in flight or throttling back in a Merlins case then they are welcome to them.
There needs to be an area where people who don’t want to listen don’t have UNLESS it’s an emergency situation.

Commentators are not there for the “enthusiasts”. Commentators are not there to entertain……… commentators are there to inform and to pass on information to the crowd whether that be information concerning the operation of the show or, God forbid, in the event of an emergency. With the exception of some of the major warbird events like Legends where the ratio of Joe Public to enthusiasts is possibly less than normal, Joe Public is the ‘target’ audience. It is impossible to please everyone at a public event. The balance point is information and silence. I have a 45 degree rule that I try desperately to adhere to. 45 degrees either side on aircraft approach and departure and completely when above is relegated to silence. Take-off and initial airfield departure is the same. I love the sound of a Merlin or big radial at full song as does everyone else and keep quiet when that is happening. When they are repositioning I talk about the aircraft. I do not rabbit on. Small pieces of data that Joe Public should/could find interesting is what I try to achieve despite the fact that I do about two months prep for each major show and have a bookfull of notes that I can draw on. I take on board criticism when it is constructive and actively seek comments on how I perform but I do object to ill informed comments about me or those that are simply totally incorrect as are some on this forum. Commentary is not about the commentator. It is about the aircraft and to that end my ego does not suffer when I never announce who I am. Does the crowd knowing my name add to the airshow experience – I think not !

When there are two commentators I just stick to the facts. I believe that it is NOT a competition between commentators to see who can get out the most and it has happened on occasion when commentating with others where I have remained silent rather that try and get my ‘two cents worth” in. I have worked with commentators – or those who have been asked to commentate – who have done no preparation at all, with others who have made numerous mistakes in fact but, again, its not a competition and I do not jump in and make a correction of their statements. I have been to shows where I literally cringe both as a commentator and a spectator. By far and away the worst are – and I apologise here – radio jocks who are there due to their ‘popularity’ on the noise box. The vast majority of them – and again here I apologise to those who don’t – treat the show as if it is peak hour drive time with a captive audience of numbskulls locked in their vehicles and at their mercy for whatever innane drivel they wish to espouse. I have worked with other radio guys who have done their prep, who understand that an airshow is not radio and who respect the aircraft and the crowd. That is enjoyable. I have worked with other commentators with whom there is an instant understanding and the commentary just flows with both of us knowing when to remain silent. I have worked with commentators who inexplicably have to wave their arms around giving signals every second like a demented orchestra conductor or animated fighter pilot. Why they do this is a mystery to me. I have a good friend with whom I have often worked and when commentating with him it is just a pleasure and I know this comes through the PA. Should there be areas where the PA system is silent for those who do not wish any commentary – I wholeheartedly agree. Those areas still need the PA system for emergencies and that area could certainly be blacked out till needed.

All commentators have a style. What mine is I do not know and I shall leave that up to those who have heard me to describe. I hope that it is informative but not for me to say.

As to those who think being a commentator is easy, just try it sometime. Its very easy to be critical or derogative when you have not done it. Try sitting in a commentary box and talking about a show that lasts for four hours without making a single mistake, stumble of just talking for a second or two too long. The public cannot see you but the pressure is still there. Better still, try commentating when standing in front of a crowd for three or four hours without notes, in full view of the crowd and not making a mistake but trying to keep it interesting. When you have done that I am more than happy to sit down with you and hear your comments. Each show is also different from a small, intimate fly-in to a major military show, regional display or something like Legends. Each must be treated differently and with due deference. Just in case you are thinking, “Well, you are paid handsomely to be able to do all of those things….”, I shall say now that it is a very rare occasion in the last 18 years that I have received any payment for what I do. I do not ask to be paid just to be accommodated and to get something to eat.

It is a very long time since my first commentary, (an impromptu affair standing on a hangar forecourt hardstand with a guitar amplifier, newly purchased, (that morning), microphone all sitting on a rolling toolbox in front of about 20 people) to what I am privileged to do now and I am very thankful for all the opportunities I have been given and the experiences I have had both at home and overseas. I try to improve each and every time but – as mentioned above – it is impossible to please everyone. I just do the best job I can thinking it is me out there listening to me in the box. Again, it is easy to criticise but hard to do.

They are 🙁

Rob is far and away one of the better US airshow announcers

YIKES ,the others must be —