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’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 asked this question on here some years ago and the answer back was MV293 is a low back XIV and normally has an even larger rudder than for example SM832 (bigger horn balance and larger chord to offset loss of fuselage area with the low back IIRC) which has a high back. RN201 also has the same rudder as SM832 and is a high back.

Perhaps our Spitfire chaps can clarify if the XIV low backs have a retro fitted XVIII rudder or if it was first introduced on the XIV?

Andy,

I don’t have them to hand at the moment, but it mentions the larger rudder with split trim/anti-balance tab as fitted to later low back XIV’s & the MKXVIII in the MKXIV pilots notes. (I can’t remember the Mod number – I’m sure Mark12 will tell us).

Looking at photos of early MKXVIII’s and early low back XIV’s, they appeared to have the earlier narrow chord rudder fitted.

SM832 actually has the larger chord rudder with anti-balance tab fitted (as MV293 does), whilst RN201 has the earlier type .

According to Charlie Brown, the later type gives your legs a real workout during aerobatics, as the anti-balance tab was designed to fight the pilots rudder inputs to help improve the directional stability during dives on the low back machines.

Cheers

Paul

Spiteful,

I hope some of today Spit pilots and restorers might be able to give a definitive answer, but my understanding is that the later broad chord rudder fitted to the MKVII, VIII, IX, XI, XII, & XVI helps a bit during take off and also during a crosswind.

Indeed, the latter reason is why Jackattack said why they kept it on MK356, and didn’t change it back to the earlier type.

As to why some of todays Spitfires have them now when they didn’t originally could be down to the above reasons, but it’s probably more for the reasons Daz gives. It’s often that rudders, wings and other bits get swapped or mixed up prior or during the restoration process, so again another possiblity why it might be fitted to a particular aircraft.

As for PL344, it was originally put back in the air by Dick Melton when it was part of the Charles Church collection, and incorporated quite a few mods, some of which were non standard like the MKVII/VIII/XIV short span ailerons. PPS then did more work when it was sold to Kermit Weeks, and ARC did even more to it when it was shipped here from the states (including fitting the correct ailerons) and I think it’s probably much like it was in 1944 thanks to them!

Do a search of the forum for it, and you’ll see some nice pictures of it taken by Steve Atkin at the Charles Church strip, as it was when it emerged from the workshop.

Speaking of ‘417, does she still fly in clipped-wing configuration in the States?

I think she’s still got them clipped Daz.

As much as I like her in her current config, I would love to see ML417 perhaps one day returned as she was in RAF service!

Cheers

Paul

Well, just to remind you that Duxford and Flying Legends welcomes all, you can even enrol in The Friends of the Fighter Collection, get a free flightline walk and £4.00 off the Legends 2008 DVD, oh and none of those nasty, noisy jetty things either.

As they say, a no-brainer 🙂

Seconded! 😀

Cheers

Paul

Someone else I spoke to said you need to be there for 7 to avoid the jams!

Well, all I can say is having been to FL for the past few years, arriving at just after 9.am has always been fine for us.

We always come in from the Royston end, and whilst sometimes once you’re in it takes a while to purchase a ticket or show yor advanced ones, the traffic flow in is pretty good.

Cheers

Paul

She hasn’t flown yet, airtest tomorrow afternoon hopefully.

Thanks for the info Fluffy.

She looks very nice indeed! 🙂

A great effort by all at ARC & BBMF.

Cheers

Paul