Shuttleworth Evening Air Display this Saturday 21st August

[PPRuNe Pop]

The Shuttleworth are having a great evening display on 21st August (Saturday next). Why not have a good evening out with a picnic.

The details are here:

http://www.shuttleworth.org/main/index.htm

[Airbedane]

Thanks PPP - will you be there??

A

[PPRuNe Pop]

Airbedane, oh how I wish but sadly we have visitors arriving on Saturday and neither of them like aviation. :=

Must get their soon and try out my new photo gear though!

I am sure you will have a good time and I will look forward to Nick and Rob's brilliant pics - such talent!

[Duxford_Eagles]

Thanks for the kind words PPRuNe Pop

Rob

[Man-on-the-fence]

Thanks very much Pop, I wouldnt miss Saturday for the world.

[redsnail]

Checkboard and I went. Loved it. Fantastic display. The flying display was worth it. Great to see the old and very old aeroplanes out and about. Good to see them nice and low too.
Great atmosphere, the aerobatics in the Sukhoi was amazing.

Only minor and I mean minor gripe was the commentator. Please don't waffle. Also, regarding the aircraft, you can hype them up a bit more. Eg, why this particular a/c is valuable, what was it's place in history etc. What technological advantage did it bring? The Honda Dream commentator was spot on, copy his style and you'll be brilliant. :)

[Airbedane]

Thanks for the constructive critcism of the commentator, Redsnail - people are always quick to criticise, but rarely do they come up with an alternative. I'll make sure he (and the others) see it.

We use several commentators over the year at Old Warden and spookily enough, for every critical review we get, we have an equivalent number of supportive letters. A certain commentator was classed as 'never again' by one writer, the following described him as a 'refreshing change'.

So, we can please some of the people some of the time, but nevertheless, we'll still pass on the comments. 'Just can't promise that anything will change.....................:) :)

VBW
Airbedane.

[TD&H]

Airbedane:

You are right about not pleasing all the people all the time. Last year you got a very good response from people as feedback for the Shuttleworth shows. Do you plan to do the same this year?

I know I critisised the choice of Jeremy for the 4th July display, prefering the more informed and less excitable tones of John Blake (correct name from a few years back?) or David Ogilvy. IMHO more in keeping with the atmosphere.

Does John Farley ever commentate at airshows? He certainly has a good reputation as a speaker. Could he be persuaded to come along? Or others from the test pilot's speaking circuit (if one exists!). At least have someone with knowledge of the subject.

Some praise where it is due, the Proms were simply wonderful, well done to all involved.

Regards H

[treadigraph]

If I recall aright, G-KEST is handy with a mic as well - Didn't you do Flying Legends one year, Trapper?

[redsnail]

Airbedane,
I gave it some more thought last night as to how it may be improved.

The main purpose of the commentator is to excite the crowd. Not every one who goes to a show knows why they should go ooh ahh at aircraft. The enthusiast is already excited and interested. Now to spark some excitement in the kids and the "general public".

We all know that line ups change on the day. To avoid stuff ups with scripting, how about laminated cards with a clear photo on one side with pertinant facts on the other. These can then be grouped in accordance to how they fly on the day. They can be made during winter and kept in a box somewhere and dragged out on the day of the display.

The commentator wouldn't necessarily read all the details, just the main ones and if required, link in some finer details. Eg on Sunday, the Ryan PT-22 Recruit was flying at the same time as the Tiger Moths. The link? The Ryan was the US trainer while the Tiger Moth was the Brit trainer.

Another one, one aircraft flying had a production run of 5,000. Ok.. so what was special about this one? Was there only 2 left or something? Theatre of operation? Technological advance?

Little hints and links can make something zooming past interesting to a variety of folk. With the laminated info cards, the commentator has that info at hand.

With the streamer cutting, the skill required could have been boosted.

We were sitting quite far away from the "tower". Often the commentator said "xxx is coming towards me". Where's "me"? It took us a while to work out he was at the base of the tower. Small point but instead of saying "me", how about "landing to the west" or " near the tower". Something we can all relate to.

Remember to welcome the boys and girls too. Keeps the family included.

Silence is fine. Just letting the Spitfire do it's stuff was excellent. Where the waffle really made me laugh was with the cars, bikes and trucks. Fair enough, not necessarily his point of expertise but remember, keep it simple and relevant. :)

It was a great display, really good day out. We hope to be back next year. :D
Thanks for reading.

[Grandad Biggles]

I get to see (but not hear) each commentator’s idiosyncrasies closer than most. Personally I think it good that we have variety in the presentation. The differing styles, the wealth and breadth of knowledge, bring much to the knowledgeable and the not so, alike. Interspersed with the occasional specialist from time to time makes us all the more able to satisfy most in some form or other

Each commentator has their own methods and notes that they use. Remember they also need to be prepared for the unexpected and often need to review their format/brief as the choreography changes. How often can you notice the seams?

Like most I have my favourites but my favoured of all is John Blake. Sorry guys (commentators) but he is the roll model. I wonder if we can tempt him back?

Ever thought how you would cope? Maybe we should give some who feel inclined, the chance to do your party piece from time to time? Any volunteers? No promises though.
I wonder how Terry Wogan would do!

A point of note is that the commentator used for the vehicle parade is often not the same as that for the display, which again reflects the variety of knowledge and commitment from the team.

Keep the comments coming they help us understand where we can improve and I am sure Airbedane will be resurrecting his thread after the 2004 season is complete.

Thanks to all for supporting us again this season and hope the remaining displays are safe and enjoyable.

[Zlin526]

Ahhh, the great John Blake.....

Commentary is something that needs to be learnt over the years. John Blake has that experience and has passed it on to several others, notably Stratton Richey who has taken over at Farnborough.

Unfortunately, appearing in a tacky fly-on-the-wall series about an airport does not really prepare one for commentating at a vintage air display, as Jeremy Spake seems to have found out.

James Gilbert is also very good. Roger Hoefling, Shuttleworth's regular commentator in the 70's and 80s seems to have disappeared but was pretty good in his time at the collection.

What makes the ideal commentator? Knowledge, respect, restraint, ability to hold the spectators attention when required?Who knows? What I do know is that incessant talk about the Lysander is irritating and does not do the collection's reputation any good at all. Maybe this is why we never see jeremy Spake at Farnborough.....

[TD&H]

But Zlin526 judging by your other Shuttleworth thread I was under the impression you wouldn't be visiting anymore, only looking at the photos here on Pprune?!:confused: :E

You certainly know what makes a good commentator, and I'm sure all of us who whinge at (sorry, constructively critisise) the not so good would not even dare to put microphone to lips. It just a shame some of the others don't think the same!

Grandad B, yes a variety of commentators can mean a fresh insight given when we are seeing an aeroplane some of us have seen many times (but never too many times). My guess is that a certain JS has not impressed himself on the more discerning public. Zlin and me definitely in that group!!

Shuttleworth is wonderful :ok:

Thanks to all who make it so.

Best Regards H