BBC2 The Real Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

[yawningdog]

Give the Irish kid a break. He was the bravest of all of them, no contact with the controls, freezing & wet, and most importantly he was dealing with a phobia/post traumatic stress caused by a previous crash that his father was involved in. Also, I didn't see anything wrong with his father's flying.

[fisbangwollop]

What concerned me more than the flying was when Richard Meredith's wife was being interviewed in her kitchen.... did you see the state of the electric whisk on the wall behind her!!! Manky or what and to think she may use it to whip up a triffel one day!!!

[FirstOfficer]

Unfortunately only realised the programme was on during the late stages. However the bit I watch was like those strong winds and rain on a microlight, and the father and son landing...

Enjoyed the bit I watched, very nice views, I must get myself a gopro camera

[fisbangwollop]

For those that missed it.......
BBC iPlayer - Wonderland: Series 4: The Real Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines: A Wonderland Film

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

It was just brilliant! Poet and Stik have posted the views I would have, so I won't repeat them. But some of you need to lighten up a bit. Flying is supposed to be fun! And for many of us, it is!

[jecuk]

Was amusing but dodgy flying skills on display. Anyone heard of a go around? Competition or not it looked very dangerous to me.

[Meldrew]

I like sweeping generalisations, so here goes. Most journalists and tv programme makers need to keep the fear factor regarding aviation, particularly "Amateur" fliers. (How dangerous, shouldn't be allowed etc inferences) Its what their editors want to see. Most non specialsed journos don't know much about anything scientific,( they did media courses) I have nearly always been disappointed by the way aviation is portrayed in programmes. However, I though last nights programme was produced in a fun way, it had some interesting human stuff in it and the onboard camera material was, for the most part, great to watch. Like other contributors I would have like to see some material about the guys that came at the top.

[neilgeddes]

What was in episodes 1 & 2 ? I missed those.

[shortstripper]

I thoroughly enjoyed it! I wasn't going to even bother watching to begin with as the "real" in the title put me off (most programmes with that precurser seem to put down the original film/exploit/programme/ect).

I thought it showed the fun side of flying and I think it more likely to attract than repel new entrants. Ok it was a bit gung-ho in places, but that's what's needed to make good telly. If it concentrated on the more efficient machines and serious pilots I bet it would have been boring - certainly to me!

Also, how can anyone criticise RMH unless they have comparable knowledge of flying microlights and breaking records flying them?

SS

[Genghis the Engineer]

I've criticised RMH many times - but know him and did it to his face. He's reciprocated a few times as well The reality is, he's a brilliant pilot and a competent organiser who has done stuff most of us simply couldn't contemplate.


In the meantime (and I've not watched the programme yet, hopefully tonight if it recorded okay), I'm willing to bet that a controversial and slightly manic portrayal of microlight pilots doing the round Britain will bring far more people into flying than any amount of serious "look how serious and safe we are" programming would be.

Personally I've wanted to enter this for years - somehow something has always got in the way.

Anybody up for entering this year - I think this might finally be my year!

Round Britain Rally

G

[BWBI]

Stik,

Brilliant video thanks for sharing. Obviously brought up on Flexi wing flying!

[maxred]

Yep, lighten up, it was a spiffing yarn. The father and son team were fantastic. I liked the human touch..

However, 5500 feet over Cape Wrath, in that

Looked full IMC at one stage also

Ive been on the back of one, at 3500, (some years ago), and it scared me senseless, so maybe above the clouds staring at the sun might well be the way to go.

[mikesands]

I don't usually post on here, but the microlight egroup has highlighted this discussion on Pprune. When I started reading the posts I thought what a load of old farts, but by page 3 it seems to have become a balanced discussion. FWIW, I too would have liked to see at least some mention of the winning entries and how on earth they managed to push RMH into 6th place Although I guess a Eurostar is probably going to cruise almost 50% faster than his flexwing. It may amuse the GA brigade, but the BMAA forums are full of debates about over-regulation and hyper-safety considerations. So much so that many (well some) of us have gone entirely deregulated. We still need a licence to fly, and can still be prosecuted for breaching the licence terms, but we take full responsibility for our aircraft's safety - I've yet to come across any de-reg flyer with a cavalier attitude to this. Full marks to the participants in the RBR and to John Moore for revitalising the competition.
Mike Sands

[Matthew B]

Good in parts...

I'm a microlight pilot sothis was a must see, but it left me seriously in two minds. Pictures taken from the air and of the aircraft were inspiring and I wish there had been more. But for God's sake when are people going to get away from this idea of a microlight being something made with meccano with a lawn mower engine strapped on? Two of those featured had Rotax 912 engines - one of the most reliable piston aero engines you can buy, from an Austrian firm that has been making them for decades now. You climb into 150 and you're sitting behind something that was old technology in World War 2. All of these aircraft have Permits to Fly issued by the respective bodies (BMAA or LAA) who operate under licence from the CAA. My own aircraft was built by Antonov engineers.

But what really worried me were the guys in the Thruster. The chap in the P1 seat was far from current. P2 was clearly not fit to fly and some of the landings they executed .... Well my instructors would have been shouting 'I have control' long before the first bounce.

I can just imagine quite a few youngsters and not-so-youngsters saying 'Love to have a go at that' and their parents/partners saying 'Over my dead body' as a result of seeing this. So we end up attracting mavericks and thrill-seekers which, if we're not careful, will cause even more misconceptions and prejudices. On balance, I wish they hadn't shown it.

[willy wombat]

I've never looked at this forum before. The only involvment with private flying I've ever had was ballooning (I have a long lapsed PPL B). My involvement with aviation has always been with the commercial side and I have seen enough inaccurate documentaries about commercial aviation to know to take what is presented on TV as "factual" with a pinch of salt. I thought it was a great programme and its made me google "microlighting in Sussex" so surely in that respect it was a success. I may just wander along to Deanland and take a look when the weather gets better.

[flybymike]

But what really worried me were the guys in the Thruster. The chap in the P1 seat was far from current. P2 was clearly not fit to fly and some of the landings they executed .... Well my instructors would have been shouting 'I have control' long before the first bounce.

As has been pointed out many times this was a programme made as much for entertainment as reality. It is just as easy to simulate alleged choppy flying conditions, hairy landings, Instructors who fly without a second thought to a bad back or even a token interest in flight planning, as it is to simulate alleged overweight aircraft, stress, and all the gung ho attitudes necessary to make a programme like this entertaining. I can't believe some people on here are naive enough to believe everything they see on the tele. Presumably they also believe what they read in the newspapers. It was piece of (absolutely excellent) entertainment that's all. Not a treatise on responsible flying Godammit!

[Craven Moorhed]

The Thruster

I competed in the RBR and also was on the team that organised it a few times. I'm sure it's planned professionally & safely today as when I was involved.
In the defence of the Thruster, I flew it for years & safely completed >700hrs. I did not, therefore, appreciate some of the comments at the start of the program about 'homemade' & lawnmower engines etc etc.
It's a great way to fly & the RBR is fabulous.
Shame the TV show had so many teeth-sucking moments which overall unfairly showed microlighters as gash.

[treadigraph]

My only complaint about it was all my bloody digital channels disappeared for 10 mins about three quarters of the way through (anyone else in the Sydenham transmitter area have that problem?).

Other than that enjoyed it and will watch the missing bit on iPlayer tonight.

[jecuk]

I thought the Irish guys came over well and the dad made some sensible decisions.

The solo chap seemed great but I was worried for him with the jury rigged mid air refuelling - risk of fuel spill onto his flight suit, ignition from engine etc...And I am not sure his aircraft is certified for VFR on top (although I think the UK rule on that is silly).

Most concerned about the other two actually.

On people commenting here I am afraid that if you put yourself up for something like that show you have to live with others commenting on how you are portrayed.

[oggers]

I enjoyed it