Page 34 - World Airshow News Final

ANNOuNCER ROb REIDER REtIRES fROM AIRSHOWS By Craig Scaling

‘Are You Ready for an Audio Book?’

“It is the Soldier, not the poet
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier, not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer
Who has given us freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.”

— Charles M. Province

f or each of us, there has come a time when someone we Above: Rob is known for his narration of the poem “The Soldier” by Charles M.
knew and admired, someone who made a difference in
Province during the USAF Heritage Flight (photo by Craig Scaling).
their industry and in our lives, is no longer there. Walter
Cronkite, Johnny Carson, Paul Harvey…just to name a
live commercials and announcing demos for aviation manufactur-
few. When it was time for them to sign off, it left a void, an #4), and as that trust grew, Rob was given bits of “airtime” doing
emptiness. Although there were capable and competent re- ers. The rest (as they say) is history.
placements, things were never quite the same. For the airshow
family, that time has now come with the retirement of airshow ROb tHE AIRSHOW ANNOuNCER
announcer Rob “8.5” Reider. In 1995, Rob joined the International Council of Air Shows
(ICAS), and for the last 18 years, he has been on the airshow cir-
ROb tHE ENtERtAINER cuit full time. Performing at as many as 29 shows per season, Rob
Rob was not just an airshow announcer, he was (and is) an has entertained airshow crowds from coast to coast and has been a
entertainer. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati College- permanent fixture at some of the biggest shows in North America,
Conservatory of Music, Rob had a very successful “first” career including Dayton, Ohio, where it all began. His warm, friendly
as a singer and cast member on the Bob Braun show. Scheduled voice mixed with his personality, his enthusiasm, and his ability
every weekday at noon, the Cincinnati-based television variety to “put his audience into the cockpit” have become the standard in
show was broadcast for viewers across six states. Everything, the business. He was a perfect blend of aviation expert, entertainer,
including commercials, was done live – no teleprompter and and storyteller.
no script. Rob was part of that very talented cast for thirteen A seasoned pilot himself, Rob often chose to fly his own plane
years and won five Emmy awards. to and from the shows he appeared in. His experience as a pilot
Eventually, the Bob Braun show was replaced with other and his passion for the art of flying were evident in every show
programming and Rob was downsized, but it was his career on he announced. Whether it was a historical aircraft, a jet team, or
the Braun show that he credits with teaching him the impor- a civilian performer, his enthusiasm was second to none. His love
tance of timing and the ability to ad-lib. Those would become for what we were all watching came out, and each airshow he an-
two talents that he would find most helpful in his second career. nounced became an education as Rob described each aircraft, its
It was through the Bob Braun show that Rob was first in- significance, and the pilots flying them. He often said that he was
troduced to airshows. In 1978, the Braun show traveled to the lucky because he got to work with his heroes, and his excitement
Dayton Air Fair for a remote telecast, and while there, Rob was became our entertainment. He also shared of himself time and
asked by then show communications officer Jim Hagedorn if he time again for his airshow family.
could utilize his ham radio skills to help with show communi- One of the more memorable Rob Reider moments was his nar-
cations. Rob was hooked, and he volunteered at the Dayton Air ration of a poem by Charles M. Province during the USAF Heritage
Fair for thirteen years, handling everything from ham radios to Flight. The combination of modern day fighters flying in formation
hot air balloons. It was also during this time that Rob gained the with warbirds from past generations, the song “We Remember”
trust of then Dayton announcer Bill Bordeleau (ICAS Member written by Dwayne O’Brien, and “The Soldier” narrated by Rob

www.airshowmag.com 34 The Final Issue