Warbird Information Exchange

Kind of a conclusion from a few years ago. Remembering watching the old Wings programs on the Discovery channel. I always wondered who was the narrator for many of these shows. It was Ron David! That guys voice and a airplane documentary as got to be the best that went together!

He even has a website and email address!
http://www.rondavid.com/

On youtube is a 1989 Wings episode on the XB-70. Ron narrates this show if anyone is interesting. Easy to find on youtube just type in XB-70!

I very much enjoyed the old Wings show. Lots of details and film! Wish it would come back WITH Ron narrating!

_________________
Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

I miss the Wings TV show and Discovery. I wish they would release it on DVD.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Just read Ron David is a pilot and is/was a airshow performer! Cool!

_________________
Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

That's why I've got a paper ream box in the back closet full of 'WINGS' programs on VHS. I agree about the quality and finish of the 'wINGS' series over the 'Worlds Deadliest Aircraft' that runs now and is full of wrong aircraft to the type being discussed, the engine sound tracks all sound like 1 cylinder John Deere tractor engines, generally just a tossed together mish-mash to fill 44 minutes.

_________________
Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

You guys know the AeroCinema guys started Wings back in the day...

Matt

_________________
Listen Live!
www.warbirdradio.com

I did not know that!

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Ron's a good friend, and will be pleased to hear this! Yes, he used to be an airshow performer at the Bealeton Flying Circus. He flew a Stearman with his wife as a wing walking act back in the 70's/80's. I don't believe he flies any more, but he does announce at the Circus from time to time... which is an amazing airshow if any of you have had the chance to visit. They run every sunday from May until the end of October in Bealeton, Virginia. It's a really family friendly atmosphere too, and you can usually get a ride in a nice WACO or Stearman biplane for a very reasonable rate... you all should visit some time if you can!

Cheers,
Richard

http://www.flyingcircusairshow.com/

_________________
Richard Mallory Allnutt - Photography - http://www.rmallnutt.com

I remember staying home from a school party one night beacuse WINGS the B-17 was going to be on, and I had never seen it. it was all worth it to hear Ron say at the start "Tonight on Wings The Boeing B-17" while seeing images of Sentimental Journey taking off. Good memories.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Is there anyway of getting another Wings series going with the help of Ron David and AeroCinema?

There are some airplanes that need to be covered(unless it already has that I have forgotten)

-C-133
-Any of the Century Series fighters
-How about the forgotten F-89 and F-94?
-How about a show on JATO?
-Lots of material that could be covered!

There are a lot of Wings shows on youtube. Type in "Discovery Wings". They got the B-52, XB-70, C-130, etc.

Here is a link to the C-130 program!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7o9xFc1tww

Nathan(A big Discovery Wing nut)

P.S. Need to get Ron David a member of WIX!

_________________
Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

He has a website. Simply put:

http://www.rondavid.com/

_________________
Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

I agree that Wings was one of the best aviation shows on t.v. I used to watch it religiously. I doubt it will ever come back because it is too much of a "niche" program. At best, they might be able to put it on the Military Channel, but let's face it - t.v. programming is driven by money, which is produced by sponsors, which is driven by viewership, which is driven by people with an interest in the subject - which is not too many, unfortunately. Even the History Channel has problems with "niche" shows like that. Take "Dogfights", for example. That was probably one of the best ever produced aviation shows in the history of cable television, but even that had problems and eventually was dropped.

Where I think a show like "Wings" might be good is in some kind of "pay per view" or "video on demand" service. BUT, before they do that, they would have to greatly enhance their product and show something that no other documentary would show. It would have to be dammn near perfect in information, accurate use of film, and video and have totally life-like realistic Hollywood CGI, not like "Dogfights" had. To me the "Gold standard", was the now defunct, "Aircraft Films" series of DVD's. They did everything right and perfect. Unfortunately, their fan base was much too "niche" oriented and they couldn't make any money off of it. If the "New Wings" could offer something that no other show could offer, I could see it being popular as a PPV, or VOD format series. I know I would certainly be interested and would even pay a monthly subscrition fee to get the kind of quality programming that I desire. If it was a simple "hodgepodge" of standard war film stock and a glaringly inaccurate narration track like 90% of all warbird documentaries are, I wouldn't even turn the t.v. on.