Joker... In all seriousness

[warbirdcrew]

Could someone please educate the uneducated as to what exactly a "joker routine" is? I've only ever seen it referring to Stephen Grey's act at Duxford. What makes a "joker routine" any different than other single-airplane warbird acro acts? Is it merely a name for one individual's routine? If there is more to it, I'd love to hear the history behind it.


- Warbirdcrew the joker

[51fixer]

Could someone please educate the uneducated as to what exactly a "joker routine" is? I've only ever seen it referring to Stephen Grey's act at Duxford. What makes a "joker routine" any different than other single-airplane warbird acro acts? Is it merely a name for one individual's routine? If there is more to it, I'd love to hear the history behind it.


- Warbirdcrew the joker

Stephen Grey does his routine to fill in dead air while the show ending Balbo fly by is ready.

Rich

[warbirdcrew]

Thanks Rich... I watched a couple year's worth of Joker routines from Duxford on Youtube and couldn't find any great variation between them (except for the aircraft used), which has led me to my question. In every Duxford review I've read they usually quote Mr. Grey "doing his usual 'joker' routine" or "flying the 'joker' slot", but other than providing a distraction for the crowd and filling the time while the Balbo is assembled, it doesn't seem to be anything overly unique.
Plus the fact that it has a name... I couldn't think of any other people who do Warbird acro (or even non-warbird acro) whose routines have a unique name. Still hoping some of those in the know might be able to shed a little history on this...


In any event I hope to witness it in person when I make the trek to Duxford.

[JDK]

Thanks Rich... I watched a couple year's worth of Joker routines from Duxford on Youtube and couldn't find any great variation between them (except for the aircraft used), which has led me to my question.

It's an aerobatic (not the US term 'acro' in the UK) routine which as has been said fills the slot as the Balbo forms up, and then fills in between passes of the Balbo, which, as between 20 - 35 W.W.II era aircraft take a bit of time to circuit. Normally there are two passes, IIRC. In that sense, given that it is an interrupted aerobatic warbird display, it's unusual, and like in the pack of cards, the 'joker is wild' i.e. not part of the formation, which is (I'd guess) where the name comes from.

The absolute best ever was Stephen Grey in his Bearcat and (the late, great) Ray Hanna in the Sea Fury running it as a two joker routine - two of the best warbird pilots in two of the best piston warbirds in one routine was something else.

HTH

[Dudley Henriques]

Could someone please educate the uneducated as to what exactly a "joker routine" is? I've only ever seen it referring to Stephen Grey's act at Duxford. What makes a "joker routine" any different than other single-airplane warbird acro acts? Is it merely a name for one individual's routine? If there is more to it, I'd love to hear the history behind it.


- Warbirdcrew the joker

As others have correctly said, it's a "fill in" that solves the "dead air" problem when a formation needs time to maneuver. This was exactly the thinking when the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, and other TEAMS inserted solo pilots into their program planning. The overall objective is continuity. It keeps an aircraft over the crowd and makes for maneuver spacing and repositioning without gaps in a routine.
Dudley Henriques

[Mudge]

The absolute best ever was Stephen Grey in his Bearcat and (the late, great) Ray Hanna in the Sea Fury running it as a two joker routine - two of the best warbird pilots in two of the best piston warbirds in one routine was something else.

HTH

James, You don't, by any chance, recall what year(s) that was, do ya'?
I seem to remember seeing that but, as I've said many times, my memory sucks.

Mudge the curious

[warbirdcrew]

Thanks guys... learn something new every day eh

[Mudge]

Thanks Rich... I watched a couple year's worth of Joker routines from Duxford on Youtube and couldn't find any great variation between them (except for the aircraft used), which has led me to my question.

It's an aerobatic (not the US term 'acro' in the UK) routine which as has been said fills the slot as the Balbo forms up, and then fills in between passes of the Balbo, which, as between 20 - 35 W.W.II era aircraft take a bit of time to circuit. Normally there are two passes, IIRC. In that sense, given that it is an interrupted aerobatic warbird display, it's unusual, and like in the pack of cards, the 'joker is wild' i.e. not part of the formation, which is (I'd guess) where the name comes from.

The absolute best ever was Stephen Grey in his Bearcat and (the late, great) Ray Hanna in the Sea Fury running it as a two joker routine - two of the best warbird pilots in two of the best piston warbirds in one routine was something else.

HTH

James,
I asked Friends of the Fighter Collection about the "two joker" routine. Here's the answer I got:

"We’ve discussed this at length and we are pretty sure the occasion you remember is the ‘ultimate piston tailchase’. This was never a joker routine.
Regards
Ken Gray


Mudge the researcher

[JDK]

James, You don't, by any chance, recall what year(s) that was, do ya'?

No, I don't, my memory for dates being pretty rough at best. I'll add it to the 'list of things to bear in mind while looking for other things', so don't hold your breath, but who knows...

I asked Friends of the Fighter Collection about the "two joker" routine. Here's the answer I got:

"We’ve discussed this at length and we are pretty sure the occasion you remember is the ‘ultimate piston tailchase’. This was never a joker routine.

Sounds quite possible. I'm certain it was Hanna in the Fury, Grey in the Bearcat, and it was, I think, late in the day's programme, but quite possibly not the 'joker' bit, I agree. For logistical reasons, a two aircraft routine would be a lot less likely in that slot of course.

Cheers!

[Mike]

Memory suggests it was 1996. The best of shows, the worst of shows.

[ZRX61]

Back in the day there was a different joker routine.... Stephen & Ray would each have the commentators make annoucements about the other. The earliest one I remember was an announcment asking for Ray Hanna to go to the tower as someone had handed in his white stick...

Followed up about 20 minutes later when a request was put out for Stephen to "please pick up your wallet as it is blocking the taxi way"

[Ken]

In military aviation, a flight will brief both a Joker and Bingo fuel level. Joker is an advisory that it's time to wrap up any final maneuvers and prepare to head for home, while Bingo means it's now time to head for home so as to arrive with calculated reserves.

Any chance this "Joker" was so-named because it's the wrap-up that precedes the finale? Kinda similar or just cooincidence?

Ken

[merlot]

It would appear a definitive answer has been forthcoming tonight: http://friends-of-tfc.blogspot.com/

[Mudge]

Well done piece. And funny.

Mudge the amused

[JDK]

Most amusing - and to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Incidentally, credit where due. While no-one would dispute the quality and breadth of the Flying Legends airshow, before the juggernaut swept all (including some memories) before it, Duxford had a rather good warbird show called Classic Fighter in the 1980s, several of which were excellent warbird shows. In the UK there was also the Fighter Meet at North Weald and the Great Warbirds shows (mostly) at West Malling. In all cases they offered the best of what was available then, and some that is sadly no longer with us.

Legends is unique, but did not appear from infertile ground.

Regards,