Air Show Announcers

I enjoyed AirAdventure. I just have one comment. The announcers for the air shows seem to be out of sync with what's happening. Once in a while they'll describe a maneuver that is not what is happening or they'll predict something that doesn't happen at all! Easy for some to ignore but the majority of attendees are probably not that familiar with aerobatic maneuvers and are getting misinformation. I'm pretty sure the shows are carefully choreographed. Perhaps a little more study of the menu is required. I enjoyed the performers that just played music during their routine the best.

Personally I think the shows are spectacular enough without the ringmasters commentary. They seem to be airheads and I don't think babbling is really a skill. Maybe it doesn't matter. It's all part of the show.

I think airshow announcers are geared for the airshow at your local metropolitan field where the audience is a group of non-aviation people looking to be entertained on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Unlike Oshkosh, where most of the attendees are knowledgeable aviation people who don't need/appreciate the commentary.

I've said for years that I'd love for one day of the airshow to be just the airplanes and their sounds - no announcers.

Wouldn’t that be a nice change of pace. Could we get a day without military jets trying to destroy what’s left of my hearing too?

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Originally Posted by Airmutt

Wouldn’t that be a nice change of pace. Could we get a day without military jets trying to destroy what’s left of my hearing too?

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This year I carried earplugs with me for whenever the Navy or Air force arrived. They've never really bothered be too much except for Harrier, but better safe than sorry I suppose.

After the 2019 "Year of the Jet", I suggested that it would be nice to have a "Year of the Sailplane".

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Originally Posted by bmckinney

After the 2019 "Year of the Jet", I suggested that it would be nice to have a "Year of the Sailplane".

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I'd enjoy even a "day of the sailplane".

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Originally Posted by Kyle Boatright

I'd enjoy even a "day of the sailplane".

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Jet powered sail plane in the night shows:rollseyes:

A day without Bell 47 helicopters flying over HBC would be most welcome.

Yes. I camped over in Vintage this year. That was one of the perks. No helicopters. Unfortunately we had the DJ that tried to walk us up at 7am by hollering and singing or whatever he was doing. They did play some nice music after that assault.

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Originally Posted by mmarien

Yes. I camped over in Vintage this year. That was one of the perks. No helicopters. Unfortunately we had the DJ that tried to walk us up at 7am by hollering and singing or whatever he was doing. They did play some nice music after that assault.

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That was a recording that is a long standing tradition at Oshkosh, I don't recall the gentleman's name, but it is a recording of his yodeling from many years ago, and is always played over the PA at 7am. Don't like it, don't come to Oshkosh. Same with the helicopters, long standing tradition, like saying don't fly any airplanes because I don't like the noise.

I believe Bill Rickett was the original yodeler. He passed away quite a few years ago.
I know it was all done in good fun but he was not the best. Never paid much attention to it quite honestly. But personally I liked the recording of the radial engine start with the whine of the inertial starter being cranked up better.

I liked Ray Hegy’s low altitude, high RPM, passes over the campground in El Chuparosa.


BJC

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Originally Posted by steve

A day without Bell 47 helicopters flying over HBC would be most welcome.

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Funny. Lots of things get on my nerves (see:airshow announcers), but the helicopters don't even register for me and I've spent 25ish years in HBC. Go figure.

My favorite announcer moment this year was Danny Clisham gushing about David Martin during his performance at the Wednesday night airshow. He eloquently described David's routine and told us about the thrilling part of his show where he shuts off his engines and does his energy management routine capped off by landing dead stick and rolling to a stop at airshow center! Then he said that David didn't do this as part of his night show........ then why did he blab on about it???

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Originally Posted by BJC

I liked Ray Hegy’s low altitude, high RPM, passes over the campground in El Chuparosa.

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Ah yes, what a treat that was. I don't think there are many noisier props than Ray's on El Chuparosa.

That announcers irritated me too. Just announce who they are and what they are gonna do and shut up. Lee

At least we weren't subjected to the 6am departures of the AeroShell T-6 team, proptips supersonic, every morning this year. OTOH, it was extremely annoying that he airshow military jets seemed to take every opportunity to turn their tails to the crowd, cut in the afterburner, and deafen every living soul out to US41. My job on the field will not allow me the luxury of earplugs.

It's been more than a decade since I've actually sat through a show. The announcer's bs has a lot to do with that, as well as the afterburner aimed at the crowd, and neck snapping acro in over powered monoplanes. I far prefer the savvy energy management of the (non-jet) biplanes, Duane Cole, and Bob Hoover. I know those folks aren't in the picture anymore, but that shouldn't preclude actual airmanship in the show. Well, at least they listened to the hue and cry when the announcers were shouting advertising during the shows. "Look at those beautiful goodyear tires as he pulls vertical!" and quit doing it. Man, that was ridiculously obnoxious.
The yodeler and Paul buzzing the the campground in the Consolidated trainer, trailing six feet of white scarf and shouting "WAKE UP!!" over the side were just unique facets that made the whole thing a bit more amusing and memorable.
I don't know how many other people feel the way I do and took action, but I do know that I wrote about the endless strings of hyperactive monoplanes and there has been an uptick of graceful, lower power to weight ratio aerobatics since then. I recommend that anyone who feels strongly on these (or any other relevant) issues do the same. You might not get what you want, but you might be surprised at what you can trigger.

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Originally Posted by Aviatrexx

At least we weren't subjected to the 6am departures of the AeroShell T-6 team, proptips supersonic, every morning this year. OTOH, it was extremely annoying that he airshow military jets seemed to take every opportunity to turn their tails to the crowd, cut in the afterburner, and deafen every living soul out to US41. My job on the field will not allow me the luxury of earplugs.

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I've taken to always having a set of earplugs at the ready while tram conducting, especially on the Blue and Red routes that go along the flightline. I do realize that AirVenture IS a rare opportunity for folks to see the capabilities of our military jets, but DANG they are truly deafening and IMHO without good hearing protection that intense volume 'can' cause damage, temporary or permanent.

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Originally Posted by CHICAGORANDY

I do realize that AirVenture IS a rare opportunity for folks to see the capabilities of our military jets

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This is incorrect. Every other airshow in the country has the military participation. You can see that anywhere else. Why are we wasting valuable Oshkosh show time with all the military performances. One DoD act per show is more than enough.

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Originally Posted by krw920

That was a recording that is a long standing tradition at Oshkosh, I don't recall the gentleman's name, but it is a recording of his yodeling from many years ago, and is always played over the PA at 7am. Don't like it, don't come to Oshkosh. Same with the helicopters, long standing tradition, like saying don't fly any airplanes because I don't like the noise.

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Didn't mean to step on any traditions, annoying or not. But I think there is a common complaint in this thread about the noise. As mentioned a few of the aerobatic routines were nice to watch especially the ones that were graceful energy management and were not spending time hanging on their prop or blasting the crowd with afterburners.

I did enjoy the show as a whole. I spent my mornings at the Pines lingering over coffee and listening to airplane stories. I was close to the flight line so sometimes I watched the morning arrivals and seen Thursday's mass exit. I had the rest of the day to peruse the planes and exhibits. I didn't spend a lot of time at my plane, but when I did, I listened to lots of old guys tell me their story about when they had a chance to fly a Luscombe back in the day or about the one they are rebuilding. That was worth it. I'll probably come again.

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Originally Posted by mmarien

I listened to lots of old guys tell me their story about when they had a chance to fly a Luscombe back in the day or about the one they are rebuilding. That was worth it. I'll probably come again.

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That's what it's all about.

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Originally Posted by Aviatrexx

At least we weren't subjected to the 6am departures of the AeroShell T-6 team, proptips supersonic, every morning this year. OTOH, it was extremely annoying that he airshow military jets seemed to take every opportunity to turn their tails to the crowd, cut in the afterburner, and deafen every living soul out to US41. My job on the field will not allow me the luxury of earplugs.

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The only vote you really get is with your feet. Don't like it, do go anymore. I guarantee complaining about it on a chat site is not going to change a thing.

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Originally Posted by krw920

The only vote you really get is with your feet. Don't like it, do go anymore. I guarantee complaining about it on a chat site is not going to change a thing.

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While I disagree with Aviatrexx's post, your response is pretty harsh.

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Originally Posted by krw920

The only vote you really get is with your feet. Don't like it, do go anymore. I guarantee complaining about it on a chat site is not going to change a thing.

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Are you saying that nobody reads this forum? I believe constructive criticism goes a long way in affecting change no matter how it's delivered. I filled out the EAA feedback survey and pointed them to this thread of the forum. There is some good discussion going on here.

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Originally Posted by mmarien

Are you saying that nobody reads this forum? I believe constructive criticism goes a long way in affecting change no matter how it's delivered. I filled out the EAA feedback survey and pointed them to this thread of the forum. There is some good discussion going on here.

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Meh - it's a method. I personally don't think most of the suggestions here have that much merit nor will gain any traction with the EAA even if they do. This forum is tiny and not very active to boot so statistically not relevant in presenting the views of the EAA membership on any particular issue so a handful of posts aren't likely to garner a huge amount of attention with EAA Hq. Heck a lot of the suggestions don't even garner consensus with the small group of posters here. Bottom line is it doesn't hurt to post, but the reality is it will just give folks a place to talk amongst ourselves. YMMV....

I think the likelihood of a complaint aired in these forums getting action depends on the specificity of the complaint.

First off, understand that FAA staffers *do* read these forums. Some post occasionally. But rarely; when Hal posts, for instance, he's going to be viewed as an official EAA statement on the matter, no matter how much he might claim something is his own personal opinion. EAA legal probably has established some pretty solid restrictions.

If someone posts that "There weren't enough porta-potties in XXXX section," or "Access to the XXXX was poor," I suspect these complaints get forwarded on, for possible action. We won't see a response reflecting that, here, because again, EAA legal doesn't want the rank-and-file types to be committing to action by the corporation.

General policy complaints, though, probably don't go anywhere. None of the EAA folks participating here have a high enough pay grade to mandate those changes. They may bring them up at meetings, but they've got no way to push through any action.

Two types of complaints probably have little chance of success...those which affect the profitability of the event, and those where folks respond by dancing into circles, singing "Tradition!". For better or worse, EAA transitioned the "Annual Convention of the EAA" from a member event to a public airshow. Much of EAA's income comes from the non-flying public coming in to hear the jets roar, want to hear the breathless hyperbole from the announcers, and are willing to pay to swoop about the grounds in a helicopter. Not going to be too much enthusiasm for changing that. Even if there were, it would be a very, very, hazardous undertaking. Massive downsizing would be hard to manage, and the PR kickback from the non-pilot populace could lead to further problems. EAA has this tiger by the tail, and they certainly don't dare turn loose. Won't see any major policy changes.

Again, you may not agree with that. Might I suggest, then, the Brodhead Pietenpol Fly-In, usually scheduled the week before AirVenture. But dollars to navy beans says that as the years go on, some people will press for airshow acts, military fly-overs, better food, special parking areas for RVs, etc....

The "tradition" ones, like the yodeler wake-up call, are hard to fight as well. To some, they DO represent the traditions of the EAA Fly-In, going back to the '60s. So it's hard to get rid of some of these, especially when they don't really cost anything. I'm amused by the complaint about the yodeler, because most of the EAA staffers LIVE in Oshkosh, and thus are snug in their own beds, miles away, when it happens. Doesn't wake THEM up... :-)

Anyway, the FAA forums are a good place to air issues about AirVenture. I'm sure they're heard. But they may not be answered or implemented. Like the famous line from the MASH TV Series..."God answers all prayers. But sometimes, the answer is 'no'."

Ron Wanttaja