Spirit of Adventure
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What does Jervis have to do before the RAF recognise he is at best an incapable dreamer, at worst a PC spouting self-promoter with no talent or originality and a highly dubious professional record based on minority programming.
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About 90% of that eurofighter video I posted were shown at the SofA. From 01:17 until the end of the film was shown on the screens. It might have been the Typhoon film from last year but Jervis made it their blockbuster for SofA.
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Right idea part 2.
Sirsalty,
I forgot to answer your other points I apologise, poor memory from old age!
I am delighted your good Lady enjoyed the "show" but I sincerely doubt she represented the target audience. My son, who is considering a service career, found the whole thing surreal and risible. My favorite quote is "Bloody hell, the new Doctor Who is more believable and better than that load of toss!" He is now considering the Army or Navy as a preferable career.
Secondly, thank you for volunteering me for the DPR, now properly called DDefPub(RAF), role, but I'm afraid I have already been there and done that as my son would say. Two points for you. Firstly, several of my inovations are still in broad use today, so I would say, yes I was pretty full of good ideas. Secondly, I never knowingly embarrassed, devalued or misrepresented the service in my period of service. I am afraid Turner, and his predecessor David Prowse, cannot say the same thing. Prowse must be held responsible for beginning the fiascos Turner brought to full horror. In fact, I think the last decent post holder was Air Commodore David Walker, what seems like many years ago.
Hope this answers your points fully.
I forgot to answer your other points I apologise, poor memory from old age!
I am delighted your good Lady enjoyed the "show" but I sincerely doubt she represented the target audience. My son, who is considering a service career, found the whole thing surreal and risible. My favorite quote is "Bloody hell, the new Doctor Who is more believable and better than that load of toss!" He is now considering the Army or Navy as a preferable career.
Secondly, thank you for volunteering me for the DPR, now properly called DDefPub(RAF), role, but I'm afraid I have already been there and done that as my son would say. Two points for you. Firstly, several of my inovations are still in broad use today, so I would say, yes I was pretty full of good ideas. Secondly, I never knowingly embarrassed, devalued or misrepresented the service in my period of service. I am afraid Turner, and his predecessor David Prowse, cannot say the same thing. Prowse must be held responsible for beginning the fiascos Turner brought to full horror. In fact, I think the last decent post holder was Air Commodore David Walker, what seems like many years ago.
Hope this answers your points fully.
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fantaman
I bow to your better memory! However, were you aware the original film supplied by Jervis was less than half an hour long, having been advertised as an hour or 90 minutes of Hollywood spectacular?
It was supplied on Tuesday last week, members of the Events Team and DDefPub staff spent Wednesday in the Old War Office Building editing suite cutting pieces of old RAF promotional films into it to "pad it out" to its final 55 minutes or thereabouts. Three days before the show, no wonder the quality was so uneven.
As we have discovered most of the source material between us, don't you think it might be an idea to ask Turner and Jervis what the money was spent on? Other than interviews of themselves of course?
I bow to your better memory! However, were you aware the original film supplied by Jervis was less than half an hour long, having been advertised as an hour or 90 minutes of Hollywood spectacular?
It was supplied on Tuesday last week, members of the Events Team and DDefPub staff spent Wednesday in the Old War Office Building editing suite cutting pieces of old RAF promotional films into it to "pad it out" to its final 55 minutes or thereabouts. Three days before the show, no wonder the quality was so uneven.
As we have discovered most of the source material between us, don't you think it might be an idea to ask Turner and Jervis what the money was spent on? Other than interviews of themselves of course?
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WF, your quite right. I had seen most of the footage on previous occasions. The footage that Jervis did come up with was indeed very poor, with the enemy aircraft being fictional, almost space ship like.
How the paying public were meant to take this seriously I'll never know
How the paying public were meant to take this seriously I'll never know
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fantaman,
I'd rather like to know what happened to the much trumpeted interactivity and audience participation that was still a feature of the Jervis and RAF websites just prior to the show, and a feature of their all of their press releases. If his project was supposed to be ready by August 06, what on earth were Jervis and DDefPub doing for the last year? And surely they knew well in advance of the show that this would not be available. Reason enough I feel to approach the Advertising Standards Commission?
I'd rather like to know what happened to the much trumpeted interactivity and audience participation that was still a feature of the Jervis and RAF websites just prior to the show, and a feature of their all of their press releases. If his project was supposed to be ready by August 06, what on earth were Jervis and DDefPub doing for the last year? And surely they knew well in advance of the show that this would not be available. Reason enough I feel to approach the Advertising Standards Commission?
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The following was published on the Oxford Mail website on the day of the show (Saturday morning) at 7am:
From what we understand from people who went to the event, a sizeable chunk of the attractions never showed up, or were not "as advertised". As has been mentioned, Advertising Standards and Trading Standards might prick up their ears at this kind of thing.
RAF spectacular ready for take-off
By Gordon Rogers
A STUNNING star-studded spectacular takes to the skies over Abingdon for two days this weekend, when the RAF launches the biggest aerial and ground-based event ever staged in the country.
Billed as the most spectacular air show ever". The Spirit of Adventure at Dalton Barracks - formerly RAF Abingdon - tomorrow and Sunday is described as the ultimate live action event.
It combines the best in military aviation and a host of ground-based activities, including live music, G-force rides and extreme sports.
Organisers are expecting up to 100,000 visitors over the two days. Demand for tickets was so high, the box office telephone system crashed and had to be replaced.
Apart from aerial gymnastics by the famous Red Arrows display team and the pin-point accuracy of the RAF Falcons parachutists from RAF Brize Norton, a major attraction will be the chance to take part in an interactive movie, called Battle for Britain, displayed on huge screens.
The organisers say it will be a fascinating experience, with each scene having three alternative endings which the public decide on - live via text vote or a broadband broadcast.
The plot involves UFOs and shadowy villains who want to take over the world. With the help of the public, the RAF is the first line of defence in the Battle for Britain.
Broken into six, five-minute segments, the fantasy film will feature an official RAF spokesman at each break point, and introduce live display aircraft to reinforce the video messages.
The show will move effortlessly from fiction to fact with the Red Arrows - who will unveil a new display routine, which the team has been practising in Cyprus.
Once the performance is over, crew members will be on the ground to talk to the public about their displays and the work and planning that goes on for months behind the scenes.
Squadron Leader Jas Hawker said it took seven months of training - six times a day, five days a week - to prepare the display sequence.
He said: "The display needs to look as exciting as possible, but within strict safety limits. I hope that people watching it will enjoy themselves as much as we do in the air."
The key themes of adventure, lifestyle, sport and technology will be conveyed through aircraft demonstrations and direct contact between RAF service- men and women and the public on the ground.
In addition to ground displays, fly-pasts, role demonstrations and static exhibits, the event will feature live music, extreme sports, theme park activities, competitions and many other attractions.
Apart from the Red Arrows, there will be displays by Typhoon, Tornado and Harrier attack jets, Merlin helicopters from RAF Benson, a C130 Hercules transport plane and a Second World War Spitfire fighter plane.
Some of the aircraft are based a short distance away at RAF Brize Norton and will fly to Abingdon to perform their displays.
Among the attractions down on the ground will be the JCB DieselMax car, which holds the world land speed record for a diesel-powered vehicle, set last August, of 350mph.
The car's driver, RAF Wing Commander Andy Green, who also holds the absolute land speed record of 763mph, set in the jet-powered Thrust SSC car in 1997, will be on hand to talk about his exploits.
Group Captain Andrew Turner said the Spirit of Adventure would "cut past" all previous air shows the country had seen and would place the RAF at the centre of activities.
He said: "Mixing high-quality film with flying, and blending ground demonstrations with demolitions in the movie, the event will showcase the RAF, our people and the role we deliver for the country."
For more details of the event, see www.spiritofadventure.info
By Gordon Rogers
A STUNNING star-studded spectacular takes to the skies over Abingdon for two days this weekend, when the RAF launches the biggest aerial and ground-based event ever staged in the country.
Billed as the most spectacular air show ever". The Spirit of Adventure at Dalton Barracks - formerly RAF Abingdon - tomorrow and Sunday is described as the ultimate live action event.
It combines the best in military aviation and a host of ground-based activities, including live music, G-force rides and extreme sports.
Organisers are expecting up to 100,000 visitors over the two days. Demand for tickets was so high, the box office telephone system crashed and had to be replaced.
Apart from aerial gymnastics by the famous Red Arrows display team and the pin-point accuracy of the RAF Falcons parachutists from RAF Brize Norton, a major attraction will be the chance to take part in an interactive movie, called Battle for Britain, displayed on huge screens.
The organisers say it will be a fascinating experience, with each scene having three alternative endings which the public decide on - live via text vote or a broadband broadcast.
The plot involves UFOs and shadowy villains who want to take over the world. With the help of the public, the RAF is the first line of defence in the Battle for Britain.
Broken into six, five-minute segments, the fantasy film will feature an official RAF spokesman at each break point, and introduce live display aircraft to reinforce the video messages.
The show will move effortlessly from fiction to fact with the Red Arrows - who will unveil a new display routine, which the team has been practising in Cyprus.
Once the performance is over, crew members will be on the ground to talk to the public about their displays and the work and planning that goes on for months behind the scenes.
Squadron Leader Jas Hawker said it took seven months of training - six times a day, five days a week - to prepare the display sequence.
He said: "The display needs to look as exciting as possible, but within strict safety limits. I hope that people watching it will enjoy themselves as much as we do in the air."
The key themes of adventure, lifestyle, sport and technology will be conveyed through aircraft demonstrations and direct contact between RAF service- men and women and the public on the ground.
In addition to ground displays, fly-pasts, role demonstrations and static exhibits, the event will feature live music, extreme sports, theme park activities, competitions and many other attractions.
Apart from the Red Arrows, there will be displays by Typhoon, Tornado and Harrier attack jets, Merlin helicopters from RAF Benson, a C130 Hercules transport plane and a Second World War Spitfire fighter plane.
Some of the aircraft are based a short distance away at RAF Brize Norton and will fly to Abingdon to perform their displays.
Among the attractions down on the ground will be the JCB DieselMax car, which holds the world land speed record for a diesel-powered vehicle, set last August, of 350mph.
The car's driver, RAF Wing Commander Andy Green, who also holds the absolute land speed record of 763mph, set in the jet-powered Thrust SSC car in 1997, will be on hand to talk about his exploits.
Group Captain Andrew Turner said the Spirit of Adventure would "cut past" all previous air shows the country had seen and would place the RAF at the centre of activities.
He said: "Mixing high-quality film with flying, and blending ground demonstrations with demolitions in the movie, the event will showcase the RAF, our people and the role we deliver for the country."
For more details of the event, see www.spiritofadventure.info
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The thought of contacting the Advertising Standards Commission has been mentioned on another forum WB. Its a good job we didn't have the chance to interact really. £25 for a text message, £5 for a transaction fee, £3 for a booking fee and the usual network charges.
It would be interesting to see what the ASC has to say on the whole event.
It would be interesting to see what the ASC has to say on the whole event.
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The ASC? Quite so, I shall be on to it with and old chum on Tuesday morning, I'll let you know how I get on.
The sooner these idiots are stopped, the quicker we prevent further damage to the RAF's aleady badly tarnished reputation. Sorry to all the front-liners out there, but at the moment I shall quote from the First World War, "Lions, led by Donkeys".
The sooner these idiots are stopped, the quicker we prevent further damage to the RAF's aleady badly tarnished reputation. Sorry to all the front-liners out there, but at the moment I shall quote from the First World War, "Lions, led by Donkeys".
Red On, Green On
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From the Oxford Mail report:
"Tornado strike jets, a Second World War Spitfire and the new Eurofighter Typhoon jet were on display at the RAF's Spirit of Adventure airshow at Abingdon airfield on Saturday. About 16,000 people descended on the former RAF base at Dalton Barracks to see famous planes from the past and state-of-the-art superjets swoop across the airfield.
Members of the RAF's world-famous aerobatics display team, the Red Arrows, arrived by helicopter to give young and old fans a rare chance to speak to the magnificent men in their flying machines.
Later the flying aces caught a helicopter back to Brize Norton to board their planes and perform daredevil stunts () in the sky over Abingdon."
Look at the comments posted by the Oxford Mail readers. Seems they are not too impressed with the journo's regurgitation of the PR spin/fluff.
Eg:
"Posted by: Roy Lairforce, Oxford on 12:57am today
Your reporter should be disciplined over this. Surely the first thing a journalist learns is to check and double check any facts that are given to him? Reports across the aviation community are suggesting maxium attendance figures of 2400, with lower estimates of 1600. The losses will have to be borne by someone, and it will either be this company Jervis or the RAF (ie the taxpayer). Either way, the Mail's shoddy reporting is appalling.
Your reporter should be disciplined over this. Surely the first thing a journalist learns is to check and double check any facts that are given to him? Reports across the aviation community are suggesting maximum attendance figures of 2400, with lower estimates of 1600. The losses will have to be borne by someone, and it will either be this company Jervis or the RAF (ie the taxpayer). Either way, the Mail's shoddy reporting is appalling."
"Tornado strike jets, a Second World War Spitfire and the new Eurofighter Typhoon jet were on display at the RAF's Spirit of Adventure airshow at Abingdon airfield on Saturday. About 16,000 people descended on the former RAF base at Dalton Barracks to see famous planes from the past and state-of-the-art superjets swoop across the airfield.
Members of the RAF's world-famous aerobatics display team, the Red Arrows, arrived by helicopter to give young and old fans a rare chance to speak to the magnificent men in their flying machines.
Later the flying aces caught a helicopter back to Brize Norton to board their planes and perform daredevil stunts (
) in the sky over Abingdon."Look at the comments posted by the Oxford Mail readers. Seems they are not too impressed with the journo's regurgitation of the PR spin/fluff.
Eg:
"Posted by: Roy Lairforce, Oxford on 12:57am today
Your reporter should be disciplined over this. Surely the first thing a journalist learns is to check and double check any facts that are given to him? Reports across the aviation community are suggesting maxium attendance figures of 2400, with lower estimates of 1600. The losses will have to be borne by someone, and it will either be this company Jervis or the RAF (ie the taxpayer). Either way, the Mail's shoddy reporting is appalling.
Your reporter should be disciplined over this. Surely the first thing a journalist learns is to check and double check any facts that are given to him? Reports across the aviation community are suggesting maximum attendance figures of 2400, with lower estimates of 1600. The losses will have to be borne by someone, and it will either be this company Jervis or the RAF (ie the taxpayer). Either way, the Mail's shoddy reporting is appalling."
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
A_A, I don't think that there will be many readers writing in to agree with Roy Lairforce.
They obviously weren't there
A STUNNING star-studded spectacular
the biggest aerial and ground-based event ever staged in the country.
Billed as the most spectacular air show ever".
Demand for tickets was so high, the box office telephone system crashed and had to be replaced.
Finningley used to get over 100 000 in ONE day. A show I ran had over 7 hours of activity with the runway in use every MINUTE. We use BOTH runway directions, we had a RHAG engagement and we had an unscheduled arrival and departure that we only just managed to squeeze in. We had 12 Spitfires, Lancaster, Mosquito etc etc. We also had a 6v4 F4-F2 and not ABOVE 2000 feet.
I am sure even the pre-war Hendon displays were big. They had dog fighting and bombing too.
They obviously weren't there
A STUNNING star-studded spectacular
the biggest aerial and ground-based event ever staged in the country.
Billed as the most spectacular air show ever".
Demand for tickets was so high, the box office telephone system crashed and had to be replaced.
Finningley used to get over 100 000 in ONE day. A show I ran had over 7 hours of activity with the runway in use every MINUTE. We use BOTH runway directions, we had a RHAG engagement and we had an unscheduled arrival and departure that we only just managed to squeeze in. We had 12 Spitfires, Lancaster, Mosquito etc etc. We also had a 6v4 F4-F2 and not ABOVE 2000 feet.
I am sure even the pre-war Hendon displays were big. They had dog fighting and bombing too.
See http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/d...pectacular.php
Some pretty pi$$ed-off teddies, it seems.
Are Jervis Media going to be shown the door after this farce - or is it still intended that the Kinross 'event' will take place?
Some pretty pi$$ed-off teddies, it seems.
Are Jervis Media going to be shown the door after this farce - or is it still intended that the Kinross 'event' will take place?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Googling RAF Spirit of Adventure gets a first hit:
http://www.spiritofadventure.info/ which gives a full description of the event NOT
It is a simple one-page cancellation message. One of the two names quoted is an MOD PR Bod. Sue Harris may also be MOD.
And this site gives (18 May) the programme so it must be true:
http://www.airshows.org.uk/newsfiles/sofa.html
Even the Benevolunt Fund is in on it:
http://www.rafbf.org/Events/Archive/...fadventure.htm
Even Google gets it wrong
Less than an hour from London by car, RAF Spirit of Adventure is the ultimate ... RAF Spirit of Adventure will be taken forward jointly by the RAF and its ...
spiritofadventure.info.truecp.co.uk/default.aspx?id=1243 - 28k - as this takes you the the cancellation page.
I see Sue Harris (see above) even joined the Student Room to publicise the event - http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=391194 - 10 days in advance, I ask you. This opportunistic entry gained just 444 hits and 2 of them mine. No comments whatever.
At real air shows the basic costs are usually covered by advanced sales well before this. A bank is usually 'on board' as a point of sale. Railways and local town can put on buses and trains and park and ride.
http://www.spiritofadventure.info/ which gives a full description of the event NOT
It is a simple one-page cancellation message. One of the two names quoted is an MOD PR Bod. Sue Harris may also be MOD.
And this site gives (18 May) the programme so it must be true:
http://www.airshows.org.uk/newsfiles/sofa.html
Even the Benevolunt Fund is in on it:
http://www.rafbf.org/Events/Archive/...fadventure.htm
Even Google gets it wrong
Less than an hour from London by car, RAF Spirit of Adventure is the ultimate ... RAF Spirit of Adventure will be taken forward jointly by the RAF and its ...
spiritofadventure.info.truecp.co.uk/default.aspx?id=1243 - 28k - as this takes you the the cancellation page.
I see Sue Harris (see above) even joined the Student Room to publicise the event - http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=391194 - 10 days in advance, I ask you. This opportunistic entry gained just 444 hits and 2 of them mine. No comments whatever.
At real air shows the basic costs are usually covered by advanced sales well before this. A bank is usually 'on board' as a point of sale. Railways and local town can put on buses and trains and park and ride.
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A chunk of humble yet tasty pie from the Oxford Mail comments webpage:
At the beginning of every May(the Early-May Bank Holiday,to be precise)there was the Abingdon Air & Country Show which for about a third the admission cost provided a far superior day out for all the family and the aviation enthusiasts.
Our early estimates are about 8000 visitors....we certainly had a fuller car-park than was seen on the airfield this past weekend.
Abingdon Air & Country Show is the ONLY aviation event to have run in Oxfordshire successfully without a gap throughout the 21st Century(and proceeds from our event go to charity....in 2000-2006 it was the Helen & Douglas House Hospices in Oxford,in 2007 it was the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance) and thoughts are already turning towards 4th May 2008 for the next event.
To see what was at the 8th Abingdon Air & Country Show at Abingdon airfield on May 6th 2007 take a lookim at our web-site www.abingdonfayre.com
cheers
Colin Smith
Prss/PR/Sponsorship Officer
Abingdon Air & Country Show
Oxfordshire's ONLY air event to run without a gap in the 21st Century
Our early estimates are about 8000 visitors....we certainly had a fuller car-park than was seen on the airfield this past weekend.
Abingdon Air & Country Show is the ONLY aviation event to have run in Oxfordshire successfully without a gap throughout the 21st Century(and proceeds from our event go to charity....in 2000-2006 it was the Helen & Douglas House Hospices in Oxford,in 2007 it was the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance) and thoughts are already turning towards 4th May 2008 for the next event.
To see what was at the 8th Abingdon Air & Country Show at Abingdon airfield on May 6th 2007 take a lookim at our web-site www.abingdonfayre.com
cheers
Colin Smith
Prss/PR/Sponsorship Officer
Abingdon Air & Country Show
Oxfordshire's ONLY air event to run without a gap in the 21st Century
Last edited by Talking Radalt; 28th May 2007 at 10:00.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
TR, you need to take the RETURN out of the web address.
Oh FFS, I didn't realise TWO air shows at the SAME airfield on successive bank holidays? Who thought that one up?
Oh FFS, I didn't realise TWO air shows at the SAME airfield on successive bank holidays? Who thought that one up?
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TR, you need to take the RETURN out of the web address.
(Edit: Oops, just spotted it, fixed now!
)
Last edited by Talking Radalt; 28th May 2007 at 10:01.
Red On, Green On
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Worth bearing in mind that the Abingdon show referred to above is run entirely by volunteers. Colin Smith is a postie in Didcot. What does Jervis do for his daytime job? 
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What does Jervis do for his daytime job?
Brace yourselves folks, his contract with MOD has another eighteen months to run.
