andy wood Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 Has anyone been watching this series on the Travel Channel? Part of it follows the civilian Patriot team with six L-39s in California. I would be interested in other peoples views on this, because after watching a few I get the impression that this team are an accident waiting to happen. They seem a little slap dash. To give a couple of examples, the team leader goes sick, so the team manager owner steps in at the last moment for an impending show. Trouble is he has not flown with them for a significant period of time, and is still not up to scratch when they go and display. Another example is when they have not flown together for 6 months and think one practice before the first show of the year is sufficient, whilst at the same time introducing a new manoeuvre that they have not flown before (which was a basically a Vixen style break). Not cracking it, they want to practice the break again, but the owner says no because he cannot justify the cost. Out voted they do it again, but still have not got it 100% right. Never mind, display is tomorrow, we will go and display anyway! I ma no expert, but I find this approach astounding. The pilots are ex Blue Angels, T'birds or Snow birds, whom I am sure do not have the same mental approach. So I can only conclude budget forces a bit of corner cutting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bradley Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 (edited) Or it might all be a set-up for the cameras. Apparently, very few of these so-called 'unscripted' TV reality shows are actually unscripted...... Either way, one then has to question their integrity. Edited April 15, 2015 by Paul Bradley 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinbear Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 Andy - agree with you completely. It's the sort of programme that Channel 5 would be proud of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy wood Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 Or it might all be a set-up for the cameras. Apparently, very few of these so-called 'unscripted' TV reality shows are actually unscripted...... Either way, one then has to question their integrity. yes, but scripted in such a way to make the team look like a bunch of cowboys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bradley Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 As I said, scripted or unscripted, it doesn't do them any favours..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy wood Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 Sorry I thought you were referring to the integrity of the tv makers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 A lot of these American fly on the wall series are scripted, so much that it puts me off watching them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 There is no such thing as 'Reality TV', rating are what sells TV not the truth or anything close to it. Look at Formual 1 sctiprted too, it's the Dollar that drives it. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Every air display has a 'Fly Boss' to OK or Veto a display. It's on his head, and the FAA will also have to certify these guys same as the CAA. If the pilots are ex Military display team pilots, as you say, they will not be putting their lives on the line with a dangerous routine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bradley Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Sorry I thought you were referring to the integrity of the tv makers Well, them too - all they can see are dollar signs..... Conflict and danger sells, so they manufacture it. It's as simple as that. That's why there are so many of these stupid shows on TV now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stosh65 Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 I saw the Patriots display at San Francisco fleet week a couple of years ago. Slick they are not so I can well believe its not a total set up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 Andy, I saw the same show and had the same thoughts. It's just Ice road truckers/Alaskan crab fishing/etc in the air. Something dramatic has to happen every show; breakdowns, an argument, spare parts shortage, sickness etc etc but it always comes right in the end and just in time too. Trouble is, for a flying programme it looks unprofessional and dangerous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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