R.I.P. Discovery Wings Channel

[Locobuster]

As most of you already know, this is the final day of broadcasting for the Discovery Wings Channel. It is becoming the Military Channel and will now cover all aspects of warfare, ground, sea and air. The changeover is set for 8pm Eastern time.

I will miss what was one of the few channels on my cable system worth watching. Even if it seemed they were constantly re-running shows, I can never get enough of watching planes flash across the screen...

[setter]

Hi

Perhaps it will be the same aviation level just shown less frequently in which case that would be OK - I share your concerns but I guess they would be looking at ratings models etc and not at we entheuasists..

As you say RIP - I just hope the Aviation content remains high.

Regards
John p

[srpatterson]

I never like name changes. For instance, I miss the old "Speedvision". The name changed to "Speed Channel", but they should have just named it what it is now, "The Nascar Channel".

[bdk]

I never like name changes. For instance, I miss the old "Speedvision". The name changed to "Speed Channel", but they should have just named it what it is now, "The Nascar Channel".

And Shanghai Lil became Betty Grable, now Photo Fanny.

I liked all the old 50's sports car and grands prix races they used to have on Speedvision.

[setter]

Hi Steve

You'll get a laugh out of this - I just got on to an article from the 40's which details the fact that consideration was given by Hawkers to producing Tempest and Fury/Sea Fury Aircraft with "alternative US built Powerplants" "should the current difficulties being experianced in the operation of Bristol engines continue to hamper the development of this series of aircraft to an unacceptable degree, at least as an interim solution. Ha!! See you were all ahead of your time in the US

kindest regards
John p

[srpatterson]

Please don't tell the Brits, you know how sensitive they are about those darn sleeve valve engines.

I really don't care all that much, just so long as all the little pieces keep going round and round like they're supposed to.

It's cold and icy here. Australia is sounding better and better all the time (and New Zealand, too).

[airnutz]

yes Setter...that 'ol Yankee ingenuity..."Hmmmnn..what if we do this...?"
I read a book some years back about the settling of Australia, The Fatal
Shore,...Ya'll are quite and "ingenuitous" breed as well.

Steve and BDK,
Yeah, the old Speedvision! The 50's sports cars, Form 1's, and the later
Group 5/CanAm/TransAm stuff...good days. Speedvision had one with
some rather obscure aviation stiff , too. The one I'm thinking of, I think...
was sponsored by Johnson Wax(?). The fated "speed runs" of the
clipped Mr Mulligan repro and the Red Baron 104. Yellowed films but
rare motion-film documentation.

Last edited by airnutz on Mon Jan 10, 2005 10:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[airnutz]

Setter,
Speaking of Aussie ingenuity..were'nt you in Nam looking at some Huey,
AD, and Bearcat stuff? Has the T-wave slowed down your possibilities?
How likely is a B-cat?

[dj51d]

I really don't care all that much, just so long as all the little pieces keep going round and round like they're supposed to.

While I do like the look of the 5-blade prop, I'd be happy to see any Sea Fury again, even if somebody worked out a way to fit a V-3420 to it.

[setter]

Hi

Airnutz
Bearcats and Skyraiders- in a bit of a pickle as of yesterday looks like putting a 3-6mth delay on things but nothing compared to what they have suffered in Asia.....

Regards
John P

[tom d. friedman]

yes, i'm bummed about the change to the military channel too. every time i like a show somebody has to mess it up!!! don't get me wrong, i like all aspects of military history, warfare, tactics, ground, air, & sea, ww1 to current, but i'll miss clicking the good ole discovery wings channel & counting on aviation only!!! regards, tom

[Locobuster]

I agree, I enjoy every viewing shows about every aspect of war but between the History Channel and History Chanel International I see plenty of that, Discovery Wings was the only channel where I could count on seeing something aviation related at any given time, even if it was "Airport" or one of the "how-to" shows...

Speedvision... man, I did not need to be reminded of that loss... and Steve put it best, it's become "The Nascar Channel", like that was something we needed. I do enjoy the show "Windtunnel," however.

Another channel I dearly miss, and which I only lost this past summer, was Tech TV, it was bought out and now it caters to the video game generation, effectively going from information tv to teeny-bopper garbage overnight. I learned alot from the shows on that channel and now I have it blocked...

I suppose I should wait and give the Military Channel a chance, they proclaim that there will be daily aviation coverage in one promo, but I can't imagine it being more than a shadow of what we had before.

[JohnH]

Speedvision... man, I did not need to be reminded of that loss...I do enjoy the show "Windtunnel," however.

As Tom Friedman said......"Every time I like a show somebody has to mess it up!!" And they've managed to do that by reducing Windtunnel to two hours on Sunday. I don't know about you guys.....but I never watch Sunday racing news programs....because I'm too busy catching up on the races all day. I guess I'll be watching WT much later in the week if at all. If it becomes even more Nascar and boring Nascar victory lane interviews instead of the potpourri it has been, then I'm out. By the way I am a Nascar fan, but that's all we need is one more show with: "Our car felt good today our pit crew did a great job, these guys have been working hard all month thanks to sponsors XXX Bla bla bla.." I can't hear stuff like that anymore my ears are shut!

John

Last edited by JohnH on Wed Jan 12, 2005 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Locobuster]

I just checked out the Military Channel's website and there seems to be two days of nothing but aviation-related shows this week. It's not 7 days a week, but I can live with this, provided that's going to be the line-up every week. I guess we will see.

[Robbie Stuart]

I watched the show about search & rescue they had on last night. It was pretty good. What was really cool was the story behind "Bat-21,s" rescue. Now that was amazing how they planned his egress by golf course code directions. Still gonna miss Wings though.
Best Regards
Robbie Stuart