10 ways to improve Avalon Airshow
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Invite a multiplayer combat flight sim company like Warbirds or Aces High to set up a few machines logged into existing arenas that exist full of people just waiting to shoot you down.
I would love to see this at an airshow.
It would be beneficial to both the show and the flight sim operator.
I've been doing it since 1995 or so and haven't stopped yet.
Most offer a month free but there are "free arenas" run in countries out of reach from patent and copywright enforcement if you desire to spend more time getting good before heading to the big time of the pay arenas.
The advantage of the pay arenas is that they are policed against hacks and cheaters as well as hosting very realistic historic scenarios with sometimes hundreds of other people in the air with you.
You won't see planes moving like they are agent smith in the matrix movies in the pay arenas but it is relatively common in the free ones.
The physics models are great, the damage models are great, and the action is addictive.
Free Massively Multiplayer Flight Combat Simulator and Tank Combat Simulator
Welcome to Aces High II
If any dare show up there, I will gladly give your airframe the pepperidge I so love to dish out.
No, I don't work for these guys.........I manage an automotive ECU/PCM rebuild facility.
I would love to see this at an airshow.
It would be beneficial to both the show and the flight sim operator.
I've been doing it since 1995 or so and haven't stopped yet.
Most offer a month free but there are "free arenas" run in countries out of reach from patent and copywright enforcement if you desire to spend more time getting good before heading to the big time of the pay arenas.
The advantage of the pay arenas is that they are policed against hacks and cheaters as well as hosting very realistic historic scenarios with sometimes hundreds of other people in the air with you.
You won't see planes moving like they are agent smith in the matrix movies in the pay arenas but it is relatively common in the free ones.
The physics models are great, the damage models are great, and the action is addictive.
Free Massively Multiplayer Flight Combat Simulator and Tank Combat Simulator
Welcome to Aces High II
If any dare show up there, I will gladly give your airframe the pepperidge I so love to dish out.
No, I don't work for these guys.........I manage an automotive ECU/PCM rebuild facility.
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I put this on Youtube JUST for you guys coz Prune is so good.
YouTube - JetPackMan
Taken at Avalon on the Sunday with a 20 knot wind blowing towards the camera.
My first ever YouTube video!
YouTube - JetPackMan
Taken at Avalon on the Sunday with a 20 knot wind blowing towards the camera.
My first ever YouTube video!
Join Date: Aug 2007
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We crossed the ditch as first-timers to the Avalon airshow. Fortunately for us, we were lucky enough to be hosted in one of the corporate chalets so didn't end up in the mud pool on the Saturday. It was a shame the weather didn't cooperate, but that's part of the joy of outdoor events! It did make the pyro and fireworks display at the night show very effective tho!
Attended the Thursday trade day, Friday night show and all day Saturday. Parking and traffic movement was relatively well organised on those days. Thought the volunteers did well, we found most of them friendly and eager to help.
There were some displays that we enjoyed very much, but there were also some irritations that left us feeling a little bit disappointed.
Bouquets:
Attended the Thursday trade day, Friday night show and all day Saturday. Parking and traffic movement was relatively well organised on those days. Thought the volunteers did well, we found most of them friendly and eager to help.
There were some displays that we enjoyed very much, but there were also some irritations that left us feeling a little bit disappointed.
Bouquets:
- Did anyone enjoy that Jelly Belly thing?And so did we. Thanks Kent P, really enjoyed it, thought the commentary was amusing and apt. Shame we didn't get to see the landing on the RV, darn those crosswinds.Personally, I thought it was a bloody good demonstration of precision flying.
- C17 and B757 - gotta love big aircraft being thrown around close to the ground.
- Super Connie - indeed! Beautiful to watch and listen to.
- B1B - a bit disappointing in that each pass was just straight down the runway about 15 mins apart. Wx was probably a concern. Lots of noise and novelty factor for Kiwis to enjoy.
- FA18 Super Hornet - very slick.
- Super Salto jet-powered glider - smooth performance, wingtip contrails just added to the atmosphere.
- Dr-107 and Su26 aerobatics.
- FA18 formation.
- Get someone who knows their a/c to do the commentary
- Agreed. The music – was annoying and too loud. Some of us want to hear the aircraft (and each other).And lastly GET RID OF THE INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC...sounds like a medal presenation at the Olympics.
- No matter who does the coordinating, and I can appreciate that the weather changed the programme around, surely the far too many long gaps could be avoided. My brother has been to several of the Avalon shows and tells me that this is normal. I also have experience as a display coordinator at a relatively big airshow over here, and dead air for more than a minute is something we work hard to avoid. One year we had a tongue-in-cheek complaint that we didn't leave any gaps for people to visit the loo! Even with scheduled airline movements, it is possible to keep it a lot tighter than it was.
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Airshow commentary:
I have been involved at close to 20 air displays (none of them Avalon) as Airshow coordinator and/or organizer and even at one as commentary.
One of the most complained about issues about Avalon and almost every other display that I have been to and/or participated in is commentary, and it is impossible to satisfy all the people all the time I can assure you. I would ask all those who are complaining on this forum to please articulate your problem with the announcer(s). did they have too many facts? Were they completely ignorant of what aircraft was actually flying? What? Who do you suggest could do it better? Maybe you could contact the organizers with your own CV for the next event and we can all hear how it is done properly.
The announcer team at Avalon consisted of several well informed and experienced people, some of whom are visitors /members of this site, and I am sure that they would be interested to know WHY you think they are so cr@p!
I totally agree with the sentiment regarding the ‘inspirational’ (vomit) music and the volume that it was blasted out at. I was standing chatting to an exhibitor on a nearby stand and we were conversing quite normally, right near a PA tower that was at a quite acceptable volume level. I remarked on this and how nice it was that someone knew how to set volume levels acceptably. My friend replied that it had been at force 11 before the rain came and some electrical problem had muted it back to a reasonable volume. Someone came and fixed it later.
The other aspect of commentary that sh!ts me is the ‘official US Pacific Air Forces (how many do they need?) announcer’ who, with the slickest USA AM Radio announcer style, proceeds to bombard us with pointless facts and endless superlatives about the F16 or the C17 or some other boring bit of kit that has “more power than the entire grid of the Indy 500” or is 6 football fields long, or burns the equivalent of 27 olimpic swimming pools of jet fuel every 3 seconds. I am sooo over that stuff.
I am not a display announcer, I do not work for ASDU, or have any association other than attending the event, but I have been involved in the air display scene for 25 years and am interested to know why the Avalon announcers in particular, and announcers in general p!ss so many ‘enthusiasts’ off when the general (admission paying) public think they are informative and entertaining.
HD
I have been involved at close to 20 air displays (none of them Avalon) as Airshow coordinator and/or organizer and even at one as commentary.
One of the most complained about issues about Avalon and almost every other display that I have been to and/or participated in is commentary, and it is impossible to satisfy all the people all the time I can assure you. I would ask all those who are complaining on this forum to please articulate your problem with the announcer(s). did they have too many facts? Were they completely ignorant of what aircraft was actually flying? What? Who do you suggest could do it better? Maybe you could contact the organizers with your own CV for the next event and we can all hear how it is done properly.
The announcer team at Avalon consisted of several well informed and experienced people, some of whom are visitors /members of this site, and I am sure that they would be interested to know WHY you think they are so cr@p!
I totally agree with the sentiment regarding the ‘inspirational’ (vomit) music and the volume that it was blasted out at. I was standing chatting to an exhibitor on a nearby stand and we were conversing quite normally, right near a PA tower that was at a quite acceptable volume level. I remarked on this and how nice it was that someone knew how to set volume levels acceptably. My friend replied that it had been at force 11 before the rain came and some electrical problem had muted it back to a reasonable volume. Someone came and fixed it later.
The other aspect of commentary that sh!ts me is the ‘official US Pacific Air Forces (how many do they need?) announcer’ who, with the slickest USA AM Radio announcer style, proceeds to bombard us with pointless facts and endless superlatives about the F16 or the C17 or some other boring bit of kit that has “more power than the entire grid of the Indy 500” or is 6 football fields long, or burns the equivalent of 27 olimpic swimming pools of jet fuel every 3 seconds. I am sooo over that stuff.
I am not a display announcer, I do not work for ASDU, or have any association other than attending the event, but I have been involved in the air display scene for 25 years and am interested to know why the Avalon announcers in particular, and announcers in general p!ss so many ‘enthusiasts’ off when the general (admission paying) public think they are informative and entertaining.
HD
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HD,
I think you answered your own question in the last paragraph. The paying public don't know any better. The aviation enthusiasts will leap on every little mistake because they know what's right and wrong ... and love to point it out. All of the following are gems I can remember from Avalon over the years (paraphrased).
"Jim Wickham's Yak-9 is fitted with a Curtiss engine" (It's an Allison)
"Let's watch the four-engined B-52 do it's flypast" (How many engines?)
"Chuck Yeager's X-1 Glamorous Jeannie ..." (Glamorous Glennis)
And I'm sure other people have others. They are simple errors that happen in the course of commentating. If you asked those people away from the mics, they would probably give you the right answer and may not have even known they made a mistake. It's just that enthusiasts are so particular and ready to heap scorn on any error.
Anyone who took over with the expectations that they would be perfect is kidding themselves. They'd just make different errors ... and we'd all laugh at them.
Walrus
I think you answered your own question in the last paragraph. The paying public don't know any better. The aviation enthusiasts will leap on every little mistake because they know what's right and wrong ... and love to point it out. All of the following are gems I can remember from Avalon over the years (paraphrased).
"Jim Wickham's Yak-9 is fitted with a Curtiss engine" (It's an Allison)
"Let's watch the four-engined B-52 do it's flypast" (How many engines?)
"Chuck Yeager's X-1 Glamorous Jeannie ..." (Glamorous Glennis)
And I'm sure other people have others. They are simple errors that happen in the course of commentating. If you asked those people away from the mics, they would probably give you the right answer and may not have even known they made a mistake. It's just that enthusiasts are so particular and ready to heap scorn on any error.
Anyone who took over with the expectations that they would be perfect is kidding themselves. They'd just make different errors ... and we'd all laugh at them.
Walrus
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First of all I would say it is a visual event, its not bloody radio, no need to prattle on endlessly.
Secondly, some announcers sound like their only experience in public announcing is calling the bingo on thursday nights. One script, one announcer. No excuse for not checking the accuracy of one script. Everyone seems to want to read the rubbish they have written themselves, it ends up a dogs breakfast.
With regards to volume, it seems as though some fool has decided that the PA must be able to be heard above the loudest of jet engines, which is just stupidity.
Finally the Yanks. Well if we had as much as they had I spose we would brag too. The Yanks spend more on defense media than our overall defense budget. Their commentary is part of the deal, we are stuck with it, no matter how much it makes us cringe.
Secondly, some announcers sound like their only experience in public announcing is calling the bingo on thursday nights. One script, one announcer. No excuse for not checking the accuracy of one script. Everyone seems to want to read the rubbish they have written themselves, it ends up a dogs breakfast.
With regards to volume, it seems as though some fool has decided that the PA must be able to be heard above the loudest of jet engines, which is just stupidity.
Finally the Yanks. Well if we had as much as they had I spose we would brag too. The Yanks spend more on defense media than our overall defense budget. Their commentary is part of the deal, we are stuck with it, no matter how much it makes us cringe.
1. Dont play the Flight Simulator 10 theme song through the speakers for hours on end... it gets annoying
majority of people go to see bang for the buck... they want military jets going fast and loud, and big passenger / cargo planes going low over the RW.
Change it up a little, I've been to the last 4 airshows (not a lot) but its all been the same, in fact this year there was no F15 which was lame.
Bring in some russian jets. I'm guessing the yanks and possibly others may not be a fan of this idea? "Oh no what if our public prefers old communist technology?!?!" who cares... bring em in, I'd love to see some competition and difference no matter who is better or worse.
More big planes. The Hercs, C17s etc are awesome, and the Lancer this year was absolutely awesome minus the fact it didnt fly over enough. Get some passenger jets do fly overs - a 747, a380... (I know its not that easy to get an airline to stick an a/c into the show as they have flights to run... but I'm sure theres a way, its all done at Euro/US airshows...)
I wont be coming next time around unless someone pays for my ticket or unless theres major changes. I'm just happy I didnt have an urge to urinate for the whole 10hours + I was there this year, so I kept my feet dry and out of those horrible urinals!
majority of people go to see bang for the buck... they want military jets going fast and loud, and big passenger / cargo planes going low over the RW.
Change it up a little, I've been to the last 4 airshows (not a lot) but its all been the same, in fact this year there was no F15 which was lame.
Bring in some russian jets. I'm guessing the yanks and possibly others may not be a fan of this idea? "Oh no what if our public prefers old communist technology?!?!" who cares... bring em in, I'd love to see some competition and difference no matter who is better or worse.
More big planes. The Hercs, C17s etc are awesome, and the Lancer this year was absolutely awesome minus the fact it didnt fly over enough. Get some passenger jets do fly overs - a 747, a380... (I know its not that easy to get an airline to stick an a/c into the show as they have flights to run... but I'm sure theres a way, its all done at Euro/US airshows...)
I wont be coming next time around unless someone pays for my ticket or unless theres major changes. I'm just happy I didnt have an urge to urinate for the whole 10hours + I was there this year, so I kept my feet dry and out of those horrible urinals!
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Avalon
10. Get rid of half of the Volunteers and make the trade days public days after lunch, with a flying display from 12-6.
Don't interfere with the trade days. Although I glimpsed parts of the flying display, the trade days provide the opportunity to visit a lot of manufacturers and suppliers grouped in a small area. If the event is to be overpopulated by 'joe public' on trade days then I'm sure a lot of potential buyers will not spend the money to attend for business purposes. I certainly wouldn't bother as the two days I was allocated were insufficient to take in all the displays, particularly in the pavilions.
Found the chalet's noisy during the afternoon displays but I guess you live with that ... just need more time with company reps to pick up the gist!
2. Have the RAAF coordinate the display.
Bring back the Russians!
Why? They have not paid their fuel bill from their last visit.
As for their flying it was just plain dangerous. History would show that you do not throw big aircraft around at low level.
Russian fighters here in Australia on display. Why? They Ruskies are aware that they are unlikely to get an ADF order for their latest MiG or SU so why expend all those $$$ to get to and from Orrstralia (where is that?) for no return.
The people who display aircraft at Avalon do not do it for the benefit of plane spotters who comprise probably less than 5% of the audience.
Why? They have not paid their fuel bill from their last visit.
As for their flying it was just plain dangerous. History would show that you do not throw big aircraft around at low level.
Russian fighters here in Australia on display. Why? They Ruskies are aware that they are unlikely to get an ADF order for their latest MiG or SU so why expend all those $$$ to get to and from Orrstralia (where is that?) for no return.
The people who display aircraft at Avalon do not do it for the benefit of plane spotters who comprise probably less than 5% of the audience.
