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Post by aeromedia on Oct 31, 2012 20:03:05 GMT 12
Here's an idea I've been sitting on of a while but have done nothing about. How would this go?
Working title "1942"
Get Discovery Channel or Nat Geo to fund NZ production where someone like Sean Perrett or Dave Phillips go into schools to pre select candidates to go through a typical wartime pilot training program. Put aspirants through the pre entry academic and physical tests, whittle down to say four or six students to train, solo and consolidate on Tiger Moths, then choose the best of them to progress to solo Harvard standard, and then (after talking real nice to Doug Brooker) get them dual circuits and mock dog fighting in the Spitfire. This could be an excellent profile builder for NZ Warbirds and bring the wartime training experience close to home for a whole new generation. Reckon such a series would have a wide marketable global audience. Done in a period way with uniforms, and general vibe of the era.
Silly idea?
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Post by jp on Oct 31, 2012 20:24:30 GMT 12
Hasn't this (or something similar) been done in the UK? They also did one where they talk some current RAF trainees, and tried to get them to a standard (on simulators) where they could successfully carry out the Dambuster raid - modern training on old technology - quite interesting
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Post by The Red Baron on Oct 31, 2012 20:29:10 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 31, 2012 20:35:08 GMT 12
Not a silly idea at all. I have given the exact same premise a lot of thought over the past few years. I was inspired originally by the excellent series "The Ship" in which people from all walks of life were selected to sale the Endeavour replica around the world tracing the voyages made by Captain Cook.
Then came along "The 1940's House" in which a family was selected to live in the 1940's wartiume conditions. That had actual historians and IWM staff both running the programme and commenting on all the things they were going through.
I began to think the same things could be done with an RNZAF wartime theme. Selecting 18 and 19 year olds to go into the Initial Training Wing style training, including the uniforms, drill training, wartime food and other historic stuff. In this the judges/historians/training staff can test the recruits and select the best four or six to go onto Tiger Moth training. From there onto Harvard and then I thought a P-40 ride. We didn't have a two-seat Spitfire in NZ when I was first thinking about this. at that time when I was first thinking about it I thought the perfect place was Wigram - sadly no more, but I'm sure it could be done at Woodbourne or Ohakea with that wartime feel still, and the Air Force Museum could still be involved with the historial side of it all.
Some time after I came up with this idea and had thought it all through, the UK series "Spitfire Ace" came out which almost word for word followed my idea. It was great. It also included interviews with real Spitfire aces, which I'm sure is a theme that would be great for the NZ version. They followed up with "Bomber Crew" which actually had a kiwi among the participants, and Canada has also done a similar bomber based reality series too where the lucky winners flew in the Lancaster. So there is precedent if NZ broadcasters need such to show the concept.
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Post by ZacYates on Oct 31, 2012 21:02:52 GMT 12
I think the key factor would be the money, and the potential ratings. It would be good to know how the foreign versions did in that area.
I'd love to see - and do - an RNZAF-based show culminating in the P-40. It's a great idea.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 31, 2012 21:22:18 GMT 12
Bring in some "celebrities" and All Blacks (Richie!) and the ratings will go up.
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Post by Luther Moore on Oct 31, 2012 23:16:24 GMT 12
Have you seen the show Bad Lads?
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Post by phil82 on Nov 1, 2012 0:54:39 GMT 12
Hasn't this (or something similar) been done in the UK? They also did one where they talk some current RAF trainees, and tried to get them to a standard (on simulators) where they could successfully carry out the Dambuster raid - modern training on old technology - quite interesting There was a book published also, "The Dambusters" by John Sweetman, of which I just happen to have a copy! They used the current 617 crews to simulate the dams attack. |
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Post by aeromedia on Nov 1, 2012 14:41:24 GMT 12
Yeah, Spitfire Ace was good, but those guys already were trained pilots. I reckon there's a gap to take young guys literally out of school, absolutely raw, and put a Kiwi perspective on it. Tiger Moth, Link Trainer, Harvard, P40 or Spit.
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Post by ngatimozart on Nov 1, 2012 18:43:55 GMT 12
Yes I think it would be a good idea especially taking the kids straight out of school. You would have to include the drill with the .303 rifles and long bayonets. The period uniforms as in the original woollen Battle Dress. The food may not be so much an issue as the training would be done in NZ but of course no maccas or kfc etc. Peter I reckon you've got a real ripsnorter of an idea.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 1, 2012 20:11:55 GMT 12
I agree Peter, the key is taking them right through the training. I would include the discipline at the beginning, drill, PT, rifle training, etc, exactly as it was done in WWII.
As for the food, it's true that it wouldn't be too different from the kiwi cuisine of today and also that there would be no take aways (and no alcohol!) but there were some peculiarities about some wartime Air Force food, like the purple bread!
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Post by Luther Moore on Nov 2, 2012 15:16:36 GMT 12
There is a show on the History channel right now about seven young RAF crew..They have to try and do what the crews did in the Dambuster raid in a simulator,they keep crashing or missing the target and are shocked at how hard it is.
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