"The Air Show"

[barne_as]

Does anyone know where I can find episodes of "The Air Show" which was aired on BBC 2 some years ago?

Ive seen a couple of episodes on you tube, one being landing at Courcheval Altiport: YouTube - Beech Baron landing at Courchevel Airport, France (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNFNFZq2BFY)

Any info appreciated

[IO540]

It was nearer to 20 years ago than 2 years ago, I think.

I remember it well; especially that attractive but hysterical female reporter doing her first solo, with the instructor on a handheld radio holding her hand around the circuit.

[VMC-on-top]

Interesting video! He says, "Its the only way to get to the French Alps in less than 6 hours" - but then says the journey time from Bournemouth is 3.5 hours? Surely he means 2.5 hours in a Baron?

[IO540]

Bournemouth to Courchevel should be more like 3.5hrs @ 150kt.

For amusement, I have just done an IFR route EGHH-LFLJ and the CFMU proposed route is a ludicrous 658nm with a 41% overhead over great circle. This is at any level up to FL190. The real distance, doable VFR, is probably slightly over 500nm. An IFR return is 520nm.

Who thinks the final approach in the video was very low? I though he was going to hit the bank.

[Fuji Abound]

I think he was very focused on landing on the very end of the runway with no float - I am not sure he needed to be that focused I have flown into and out of Courchevel and the runway is really not that short particularly if you take into account the up slope - that said you dont want to find you are hot and high.

[barne_as]

Interesting video! He says, "Its the only way to get to the French Alps in less than 6 hours" - but then says the journey time from Bournemouth is 3.5 hours? Surely he means 2.5 hours in a Baron?

Maybe he meant door to slope? But then still a long time.

Who thinks the final approach in the video was very low? I though he was going to hit the bank.

My thoughts too, I was putting it down to the fact that the perspective was going to be different with the up slope, also the fact that the bank of snow was pushed up against the threshold making it look more dangerous than it really was.

[IO540]

IMHO that final approach is downright scary. He left himself no way out.

Interestingly it doesn't seem to me that Courchevel has no go-around possibility - something a lot of people say about it.

[cambioso]

When you "do" your Courcheval Altiport rating, the instructors show you the circuit and also the all important "commital point" (abeam a particular hotel) beyond which, one is committed to land - there is no go-around after this point.
The landing is easy, it's the take-off that concentrates the mind!
Flew in there years ago in a Kingair (5 times).

[Adrian N]

He certainly flew a slightly flat approach compared to what one would normally do in a light single. But perhaps in a Baron that's not such a bad idea? In something small it's easy to lose excess height without arriving dangerously fast by cutting the power and sideslipping a bit, but it's hard to gain any altitude at 7000ft once you are in the approach configuration - so a steep approach is safest. Perhaps in a heavy and powerful aircraft the same rules don't apply?

As for the point of no return, it is a dangerous concept in mountain flying. Firstly, you can't use a ground reference point, as head / tail wind conditions on approach will mean that the point where you can safely throw away the approach isn't fixed. Secondly, it tempts you to think "I'm a bit too high / low / fast / whatever but I can still go around if I haven't got it right by the time I pass that hotel" - when what you should be doing is concentrating on flying towards your aiming point at the correct speed and correct rate of descent, correcting any errors immediately. The point of no return should be the beginning of final approach, with the possible exception of the case where someone starts their takeoff while you're on final.

[Tocsin]

DRIFT ALERT...

I don't think anyone has actually answered the OP's question!

The Air Show was broadcast in BBC2 a few years ago as said - there was more than one series I think, one of which was aired in 2000.

I'm not aware of a commercial DVD / video being available - can anyone confirm this?

If there is no commercial availability, can I ask the OP to PM me, as I may have something of interest to him/her ;)