TV Show Flightline
 

Does anyone know about who presents the Flightline program over and over again on Discovery Wings.


Edit: We have a new policy in regard to abuse and swearing. You broke it and I have edited it. Be warned.

PPP

Brendan O'Brien is quite an experienced GA display pilot. I don't know his background nor what he flies these days but I seem to remember 20 years ago he flew a Fournier RF4 in mirror formation with another to the music of Pink Floyd at various shows. I think he also use to land Piper Cubs on top of trucks.

I disagree with your remarks, he's just the stereotypical "cool" guy with a good presenting manner for getting aviation across to the general public. Myself and my mates enjoy watching reruns of this programme, laughing at his "HEY BABY WE'RE AIRBORNE!!!" etc. remarks, and his lifejacket-wearing antics. Indeed, I think the producers are trying to induce some form of sexual implication to aviation, when they feature him "undressing" during the end credits!!!

To the professional, the show is laughable, but we are not the audience it's aimed at. I for one would put bets on he's good crack during a drinking session; certainly would be more of a laid back bloke than many other "professionals" I've met.

Give the guy a break.

In one program Mr O' Brien is piloting the Concorde (sim of course) on an approach in bad weather.

The poor guy who had too sit in the right seat had to prompt Mr Aviation to go around after the synthetic voice cried out "Windshear" a couple of times, otherwise I'm sure he would have continued down quite happily.

Allegedely, Mr O' Brien landed the Concorde on the next approach but we never got to see that footage. :)

On the other hand, there was another program in an Extra 300 and if it was really him at the controls, then he can fly aerobatics!

After all, we might just be envious of him cos he must a chick puller ;) ... Carry On Brendan!

You guys are missing the point. I'm sure Mr. O'Brien has no disrespect for an individual's experience on specific types, & basically has to blag his way "professionally" through a flight on a heavy jet, to satisfy the director as well as the audience. Would it be exciting television entertainment if he sat on the jump seat & said "I don't know anything about this, so I'm just going to watch."

I know I would find it difficult to provide a running commentary which would appeal to couch potatoes when I am flying.

THIS IS NOT A DOCUMENTARY PROGRAMME. IT IS LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT FOR NON-AVIATORS.

For crying out loud guys, day to day operations are just too boring to appeal to the man on the street as exciting. Let the public be entertained.

I've had the pleasure of the drink with Brendan, and yes it was a laugh. At the time (about six months ago) he was doing his ATPL's as he wanted to fly the 747 classic and had been offered a position with Atlas I think. He has something like 180 types in his log book. If he was flying the Extra 300 it would be good, in this field he's a real pro. I don't know how he got on with the ATPL's but would like to know, he said he has a photographic memory. That would help.

You may be becoming bored of my opinion but, even though I don't know the bloke, I think your remarks must be hurtful to him. How many of you would have the nerve to post on a thread "Mr. Smith my Chief Pilot is a tosser"? None of you I suspect.

This thread has reduced to personally-directed slander so I won't be posting any more replies on the matter; therefore you may now have the opportunity to have the last word to further reinforce your immature cowardice.

Gentleman you may not like the TV programme that I can understand ,you can always switch it off!!.I have watched this gentleman perform a mirror aerobatic routine in A Fournier RF4 motorglider it was quite simply the best airshow act I have ever seen and that includes the legendary and now unfortunately late French Connection.I have also watched this guy operate a Tiger Moth in strong winds ,he is a master of the stick and rudder.A flamboyant and larger than life character isn,t it good that we are all not the same.He is not one of life,s co-pilots are you??.Don,t watch the programme if you don,t like it.

I saw Mr O'B at Headcorn last year, and I must aggree with most of you, he is a tosser!
Had his 'Top Gun' jacket on, cowboy boots, and really cool (not) Ray Bans on. He did come accross as a being a bit full of himself.
I must say we are all a bit sad really by slagging him off, when we are all really jealous of his great job and the hundreds of different planes that he flies.

Couldn't it be that O'Brien is being paid to be a presenter, NOT a pilot? Therefore he is doing what he is being paid to do...present. I have been involved (in a minor way) in the filming of a satellite channel documentary about flying and can tell you that they certainly have a style of their own! Despite my best efforts to get my job across in the best possible light I was fighting a losing battle with the presenter and producer, who both had other ideas. The eventual edited version was cringeworthy to say the least. Perhaps Mr (capt!) O'Brien is also the victim of a producer working to his own agenda. I remember seeing his truck top landing act in the mid eighties, and as a 'yoof' remember being impressed! There is not enough of this odd-ball stuff at airshows these days, how many F16's and C130's can one be bothered to watch.
Before labelling B O'B a tosser I suggest some of the more forthright posters might like to do some research, they might then modify their hasty views.

I`ll bet he could fly your aircraft better than you could present his program.

Mike W

I bet I wouldnt wear a lifejacket presenting a program at LHR in the fog though.

Brendan is flying the 747 for Air Atlanta (Iceland) somewhere in the world. Met him a few months ago on the field I keep my plane. He admired it a lot and that just made my day. He's just a regular bloke, and to you calling him a tosser: get off bugging people somewhere else, this place is above personal problems that you might have with yourself and your low selfesteem.

I can't believe how bitchy you lot are... Brendan is one of our own... A PILOT, and probably one with vastly broader experience than most of us, a thorough aviator.

As mentioned before it is not a profeesional magazine programme (how interesting would the captains cheeseboard be on a Birdseed longhaul flight be?), but a general interest show for the people who sit in the back seats and pay our wages. And who have YOU inspired to join our profession? BOB may or may not have, and may or may not intend to, but if I was not already a pilot and was 11 years old, BOB would be an inspiring character.

And he probably pulls more chicks than all of us put together. And I think that's the real reason for all your bitchiness.

Neil Armstrong also has a show on Discovery, and I think he is a smashing chappie..(See is "Good luck Mr Gorsky" joke in the humour section.)

I happen to think that Brendan is a very entertaining guy. He certainly knows his stuff and he is a humourous and amusing presenter. Flightline is my favourite flight program- much better than 'Plane Crazy' which is nowhere near as interesting. I think that a new sewries of Flightline should be made with some other entertaining younger presenters, because Brendan is a busy 747 man these days as we have all heard. The lifejacket has just become his trademark, as has celia's flying suit. It also just makes the presenters look more 'aviatic'.

------------------

I think Brendan's colourful presentation, whilst somewhat flamboyant, is at least better for aviation than Channel 4 documentaries. You'll be having a go at Murray Walker next!....or even the late great Eddie Waring Gawd bless 'im.

I bet you didn't know that!!!! I'm brendan O'brien and i'm a pilot..

Murray Walker doesnt think he is M. Schumacher, does he?

The flying facts...from Flightline


------------------

I still fancy Celia.