Time For Action.
Times change. Technology moves on. It is good to see this subject being discussed. The radio-earpieces, as used at at Goodwood have to be the way forward for all serious airshows. It’s the absolute solution. I haven’t attended an airshow in many a year that wasn’t ruined for me by some pillock with a microphone and ear-spitting PA. So often I have been entreated to ‘Just listen to that..!’ Yes, well, I could if the idiot with the microphone would shut his gob. As for taking a bit of video – forget it. Even paying for a Gold ticket at the likes of Legends is no relief.
The basic facts are these;-
*Most people are well informed and do NOT require the same old tired diatribe trotted out again and again ad nauseam until their ears are bleeding. They come to see and HEAR the aircraft, NOT a fool on the PA who likes the sound of his own voice and who thinks he’s interesting – He is NOT.
*If people are in need of information, SELL THEM PROGRAMS – it’s what they are FOR for Gods sake….!
*The PA does have a place;- Only, however, for safety and emergencies and for changes to the published order of display etc.
Most Commentators seem to hate silence. They seem to feel that they HAVE to gibber or the silence might offend someone. The opposite is in fact true. Even worse, much of this ‘information’ spewed-out is wrong or highly opinionated. I’d rather not name individuals, but even the likes of Legends and Old Warden are not immune from imposing this torture on the paying public. The irritation that the endless inane commentaries cause is much greater than reflected in this thread. People have been getting hacked-off with this for DECADES. People avoid airshow in large numbers because of this. I do. Many people that I know do.
The system adopted at Goodwood for the Revival etc addresses all of these issues with alacrity. One can switch it on or off at will.
As for the cost of the earpieces – it’s irrelevant. They give them out free at Goodwood, and then there are special bins for them at the exits. I’d happily pay almost anything to be able to attend airshows free of the curse of the commentary.
One last point. I was at OW last autumn. Nice weather, great venue, great a/c. During one of the few pauses to listen to the a/c, there were some selfish cretins at the fence with airband radios turned-up to full volume and unintelligible. If they want to listen to a load of boring circuit chat, fine, but why not use an earpiece…?
Many people travel a long way and spend a lot of money attending airshows. Lets make sure that the pleasure is put back into the event and that they are encouraged to attend MORE airshows – and not less…
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