The UK Airshow Review Podcast

[CWS]

Well this will be an interesting listen. Thanks as always for organising this

[Wissam24]

In our latest episode we literally fail to get past our opening segment, for nearly an hour and a half.

[Ian G]

Happy new year (have we gone past the threshold for saying that yet?)

Our latest podcast episode is now out. I'm sure the discussion of things the listener can't see will really catch on soon....

[Wissam24]

Dom, Ian and Sam run through some of the updates we've had for the 2025 airshow season!

[Wissam24]

We're joined once again by Ben Dunnell to catch up on the last five years!

[CWS]

Nice!

Can't wait to give a listen to this one. I've grown up with hearing Ben at Riat and other shows. Always thought he is a very commentator.

[aviodromefriend]

Nice!

Can't wait to give a listen to this one. I've grown up with hearing Ben at Riat and other shows. Always thought he is a very commentator.

No. He is not only a commentator. Would be surprising if someone can live from what he gets for commentating at airshows, especially because airshows tend to be for less then half of the year.

[CWS]

Nice!

Can't wait to give a listen to this one. I've grown up with hearing Ben at Riat and other shows. Always thought he is a very commentator.

No. He is not only a commentator. Would be surprising if someone can live from what he gets for commentating at airshows, especially because airshows tend to be for less then half of the year.

Yep, I'm not saying he is only a commentator. Just saying he is a very good one. Always thought he was very good and knowledgeable when I have listened to him at shows over the years. I'm sure he does other ventures but I'll have to listen to the podcast to know what they are.

[Wissam24]

Full time Ben is editor of Aeroplane Magazine. You can also listen to episode 9 of our podcast to hear more!

[aviodromefriend]

Just saying he is a very good one.

No, you don't. Just re-read what you typed. Your post:

Always thought he is a very commentator.

No mention about good, bad, knowledge or whatever.

[BenTheBritishGuy]

Just saying he is a very good one.

No, you don't. Just re-read what you typed. Your post:

Always thought he is a very commentator.

No mention about good, bad, knowledge or whatever.

Does it really matter? You aren't being very friendly aviodromefriend! Calm down - he was only being nice.

[Wissam24]

Just saying he is a very good one.

No, you don't. Just re-read what you typed. Your post:

Always thought he is a very commentator.

No mention about good, bad, knowledge or whatever.

It was clearly a typo, he missed a word. Leave it alone.

[CWS]

Managed to drag myself out of a very early run, so managed to listen to the whole podcast. Very good as always. I have always thought that Ben has been very good as the commentator at most shows. Very knowledgeable and has that 'radio' voice. I have probably learnt a lot over the years from him. Getting into aviation more and more listening to his facts at Riat

[Wissam24]

New podcast has us chatting about helicopter displays at airshows

[CWS]

Good podcast as always. Not sure if this needs it's own thread, maybe 'Airshow displays' or something. I'm interested to know what people actually think and look out for at airshows.

Although I am not a heli fan, I still like seeing the odd display. Especially if it is rare or a beast of a machine. If you said right now, Black Hawk or Gripen from Sweden, I'd chose Black Hawk every day of the week. If it was a choice of a Hungarian Hind or Gripen I'd take the Hind.

But ... if the show ends up having 6+ heli displays I will personally be a bit disappointed. I won't be bored, but just feel a little flat. If we end up with 4/5 displays it will be fine, especially with how rare some of the heli's are.

The perfect airshow is a mix. Although, I am one of those 'fast jet' fans you were eluding to, I'm not fast jet or bust. I've seen so many Typhoon displays I don't find them 'interesting' anymore. Having the Spanish this year is a rarity, so a nice change. But seeing/hearing a fighter jet is why probably most people got into aviation. It can't be replicated. My perfect airshow is when it will roughly go - fighter, heavy, heli, display team. Then throughout the day the odd 'special item' or flypast.

Don't forget that not everyone has seen the airshow scenes 'heyday', or has had the opportunities some of you have had or taken. The stuff some of the more 'hardcore' enthusiasts have seen is mental. It takes something rare for you lot to go to an event. Last year was my first time as an adult going to more than one show in the year! Let alone it used to be just 1 day at Riat. So the novelty of fast jest hasn't worn off just yet.

Lastly, although you did make a point of saying this to be fair. Unless you are in Friat or one of the many posh tents, you don't see the display of helis. The 2022, 2023, 2024 all had it's problems for this. Us 'plebs' in the corners could barely see the Sokol, Mangusta, Chinook role demo ... even as a fast jet man I was looking forward to seeing them ... shame you can't see a ******* thing unless in show center or in a posh tent.

PS .. B1 display tops any fighter jet demo or ... any heli