David Gunson What goes up might come down

This is a brilliant piece by David Gunson, telling the story of Air Traffic Control and aviation.
There is another copy of this, but the audio is crap about 1/3 of the way through.

[@templestark4779]

"Consequently the government knows where 80% of the airfields are." That's the line I remembered from decades ago. Love this!!!

[@sketchsocial4785]

My dad used to train Air traffic controllers after his national service in the RAF. Brought up with this recording. Still superb even today.

[@richardbaylis9150]

I was introduced to this recording by an ex-RAF navigator and managed to get hold of the CD pictured here and have played it to many of my friends, all of those have found it very funny indeed. When I was helping to organise the annual User Group conference for a Financial software package I managed to book David Gunson to speak to us after dinner and he was, predictably, a great hit.

[@recyclist6421]

PAN-AM negative profit...😂.......such a comical way to look at things.... yet so true to life with what companies actually report in their financials! great speech.... never heard it til 2023 although plenty of people vaguely mentioned this guy in passing over the years. now i know what they were on about!....love youtube

[@tonylowe3525]

This is excellent. My Dad was in the RAF with Dave and we’d go and stay with them of them with us on occasion. Although I was a child his manner was always very friendly and kind hearted, indeed the whole family were nice. This, along with Dylan Thomas’ - A Child’s Christmas In Wales, are my favorite audios

[@isobelperry8425]

David Gunson is magic tears running down my cheeks thrilled to have found this again

[@mkay6089]

My mum bought this for my dad on LP ....i think it was in the 70's.. not sure of that but he loved listening to this i also listened when he put it on his gramophone unit... Memories.

[@XXSkunkWorksXX]

Dong Dong Dong Dong Dong Dong Dong - You have left the steps down at the back.

[@XXSkunkWorksXX]

Always loved the deadpan delivery of the line "If we're at Tenerife, we ask them again!"

[@XXSkunkWorksXX]

' .. and we abort on the runway - and any other bodily function that takes you at the same time ...'

[@XXSkunkWorksXX]

'You have 90 seconds to get 500 people off the aircraft. Good game, good game' 'You go down the back, open the doors and shout "GET OFF"

[@molly1342]

I used to listen to this with my dad on long drives home. He died four years ago. Finding this again after all this time brings back so many memories, I can hear him laughing at all the punchlines. Thank you for posting this.

[@rubytuesday1345]

Molly. Ditto.

[@lindaashford7187]

Same here. Happy memories

[@n654us]

Fully concur. An ex-colleague who knew of my interest in aviation gave me a cassette of this. I subsequently obtained the CD of it. For 18 months (April 1997 to October 1998) I worked 170 miles from home in Bristol (UK; sorry but I don't know if you're British) and drove home every Thursday evening. As I passed the last northbound junction of the M32, I'd put the CD on. I could tell you whereabouts I'd be on either the M4 or M5 at any given point, purely by where Gunson was talking about a particular subject. The CD would always end just before I reached the M5 junction with the M42. It's almost 30 years since I first heard this and I still listen to it today, and can't help but laugh at it.

[@MrSteve2714740]

Does anyone know if David Gunson did any other comedy speeches?

[@rkmyersuk]

⁠@@MrSteve2714740yes, quite a well known after-dinner speaker in the right circles. But all variations on a theme.

[@covkid52]

I had a cassette copy of this years ago.Great to hear it again. Absolutely brilliant!!

[@EnigmasExpeditions]

I just found the cassette tape to this from a yard sale no idea what was on it I'm pretty glad i bought it

[@mrlevity1984]

I used to listen to this with my Dad and Mum in the car on journeys. Amazing memories.

[@MrGohunter]

Brilliant aviation humour. I've had this on cassette for many years, but it is always great to listen to again.

[@soniamoore9776]

This brings back lots of good memories. Thanks for posting this.

[@emsblitz]

Loved listening to this in the 80s and 90s on road trips with my dad in the Australian Outback. Absolutely brilliant.

[@georginafoord]

I first heard this about 25 years ago!!! Nice to know it is still doing the rounds.

[@doloresbeer1998]

Me too. Still love it.

[@sticksupnose]

I used to know this almost by heart, great to find it here. The line "And we will switch that OFF" is still used often!

[@Mortimer50145]

"There is nothing worse when you are panicking than to have red lights and klaxons going off"

[@XXSkunkWorksXX]

@@Mortimer50145 It's followed by the steward banging his handbag on the door ...

[@Mortimer50145]

@@XXSkunkWorksXX I bet his sexist comments wouldn't go down too well with the snowflakes of today. I think he was talking about air-traffic controllers when he said something about "there are a hundred of them and the four of them are women - well, three of them are women and one is [pause for an "either/or" hand gesture], but you're bound to get that in any organisation."

[@davidanderson4091]

David: Pierre? I have thirty for you! Pierre: I spit on your aircraft!

[@mikestrutt4676]

David Anderson and

[@richintalent]

I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!

[@Kickamoocow1000]

Every time i fly on my holidays think of this. Has me in hysteric i tears every time

[@Alienalloy]

fantastic, not heard this tape for nearly 25 years, total blast from the past, thanks for the upload.

[@charenteshooting495]

Brilliant A true one hit wonder

[@davros303]

"I don't play golf, in fact at all. The only time I've hit two balls straight together was when I trod on a garden rake." - gold

[@garethdavies8464]

I first heard this many years ago so Im glad Ive it on here. makes me laugh every time I play it. :-)

[@NaturalBridgesPuppets]

I had this on cassette tape as well, but not the complete show, so listening to this in full was just great.

[@peejay1943]

Superb delivery by David.. as someone who has already remarked its always funny although its nearly 35 years old.

[@TheCNYMike]

I have the cassette and can't find it. Glad to find this!

[@Hasenodyssee]

Every travel courier/tour guide should have a copy of this...

[@1966man]

My Dad had this on audio tape many years ago and i used to laugh at it as a kid! brilliant

[@colinboneham7387]

shear brilliance, love it, thanks for sharing it.my dad an ATC had this when i was a child just cracking

[@savedbygodsgrace.9058]

My headphones on at work back in the mid 80s listening to this and making a mess of the surgical instruments i was producing. .thank you for a memory of a very fond time in my life. .ps i have often shared this over the years on my still working Sony Walkman...

[@hoofie2002]

Didn't realise it was you who posted that Carsten. Funniest thing I've heard in many years. Cheers mate VK6HIL

[@georginafoord]

Bring back dustbin lids and the tea lady standing on the plug - who needs Swanwick? This is much more fun! Good to hear it again.

[@Boylieboyle]

Here's to Dave Jenkins who first introduced me to this eloquent thing. Cool brother, much love.

[@Peterfitsnicly]

Thanks for sharing this, heard it years ago, and it still cracks me up!!! Funny guy!

[@NickB_Yorkshire]

Brilliant. First heard this in the early 90’s when a mate of mine played it. Subsequently bought it on cassette which I still have.

[@TheMNWolf]

I never knew where this came from, I just had a file a friend gave me entitled "atc speech" from the dial up modem days. Thanks for the post!

[@G6JPG]

Note folks: the word is SHEER. Sheer brilliance. Not SHEAR. It is, though! I had the cassette - which was OK quality-wise, but the one I had had been slightly mis-cut in the duplicating machine - so it started a few minutes in and had the start at the end, or vice versa, I forget. Lovely to have it in full - thanks.

[@MongooseTacticool]

I'd love to see this animated :D

[@davidrutherford6311]

Seen all these comments about having a copy of this on cassette and am jealous because the only copy of this I had access to was dad's record and he wouldn't let me put a record on the player on my own (granted I was 5).

[@PNWJenya]

Thanks for posting this great album

[@zobbo123]

I had (maybe still have) the commercial cassette of this and have not been able to locate it for years. Many thanks for posting this here. I've now paid for the proper version on Amazon. Brilliant stuff.

[@nevermindmyname9153]

Been looking for this since the 90's THANK YOU!!!!!

[@GillyPink99]

I too, had the copy which had drop-outs (fade outs) in the centre - been looking for this for years!

[@jeffreylevyhe-him1959]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@michaelwarnes8850]

i got this given to me ten years ago it is fantastic

[@secrettrekkie]

found this on a old tape at a bootsale was gonna use it for recordings but listened to it instead so glad i did , i still have the tape somewhere

[@BeepingMad]

My dad use to have the tape years ago... It was nice to listen to it again.

[@MrTravbad]

Beeping Mad .. mine too must be 30+ years since i last heard it

[@MichaelVanderosen]

Wonderful!!!

[@flybobbie1449]

He did the same speech 25-30 years ago at our after dinner aviation do.

[@srduke]

I've still got this on 12" vinyl.

[@tonyhonour665]

So have I.

[@rickkilimun5430]

Heard this on NPR's 'Weekend Radio' off and on over the years

[@joes9954]

That's where I first heard it. Took another five years and a trip to the UK to find the CD in those dark pre-Amazon years.

[@MikeSmithRetired]

Excellent! I had lost my tape copy.

[@marcbolland6992]

just brilliant... make good in-flight entertainment !!!

[@wjfc1968]

I love it

[@DJBoysToys]

Bravo Bravo Bravo very good

[@amaatwrk1022]

Very good indeed

[@bwilliams463]

Ah SPEET on your aircrahft.

[@neilanyon4792]

First heard this on an AEF day at Finningley in the 80s and even then the jokes were memorable. Going to play it to my 12 yo daughter who's mad about flying. Sure the next generation will forgive the slightly un-PC delivery. Long may it continue.

[@DaimDibs]

Genius

[@Dave2108]

OMG i haven't heard this since the 80's . I found a recording in a customers car who was given it by a friend or something. I was an old C90 cassette. There is a gap in the recording and a few drop outs, but i made a copy and played it for years. So glad to have found it again. ( seem the copy i have is the naff copy mention in the description ) Always made me laugh about the putty melting in the windows, wafting things with your cap and the classic bit about frosted glass in the toilet. Everything turns left at Dover ! shear magic. Is this a real after dinner speech thing or all scripted ?

[@n654us]

It's a real speech. If you Google him, Gunson is still available for after dinner speaking. He must be cracking on in years seeing as this was recorded in 1981 (the Civil Service dispute with the government) but you can still hire him.

[@stinkypants1]

Thanks for upload, I just picked this bad-boy up in a charity shop, and now I can happily keep it in mint condition!

[@stinkypants1]

..Just trying out your driving playlist sir, and I must say, a fine choice of Miami Vice track to kick my journey off with!

[@joes9954]

Why does he not have a whole bunch of comedy albums by now? There must be a lot more he has in him.

[@lioii]

There was another ATC guy who did stand up comedy a few years ago who's name escapes me.

[@critch1901]

Great to hear the whole album again! Still wittingly funny. A little bit historic now too with references to defunct airlines and Concorde. Thanks for uploading this as I have lost the oroginal LP due to divorces, moving etc.and have been looking for this on-line for quite a while as a whole album and not in parts with bits missing!!! I wonder what David Gunson is doing now? Cheers Mate. .

[@MongooseTacticool]

If you have £1000 you can ask him yourself ;) www.comedians.co.uk/profiles/david-gunson/

[@Mortimer50145]

Every time I go on a Caribbean or North Sea cruise I wonder whether he'll be giving the lectures. I'd love to meet him and thank him for all the wonderful quotable lines that he has given the world: "and we will switch those OFF" (talking about distracting warning lights while you are panicking", "dark as a [censored]'s armpit - or any part of his anatomy", "you go crazy with the stick and watch what happens - because if you want it to do that again, THAT is where you put the stick" (how to fly a helicopter", "their voice goes up a couple of octaves - and then it disappears down the hole in the middle" (the reaction of the ATC when "the tea-lady" treads on the plug and turns everything off, making the picture on the shrink and then disappear).

[@raystewart6524]

I do believe he passed away in 2016..after he was knocked off his bike

[@captclivemason]

Fab

[@brendansheerin8980]

Fred housego used to play this on his LBC comedy show

[@nevermindmyname9153]

Is there a Transcript of this?

[@zzzaphod8507]

Funny stuff! The bit at 23:04 isn't cool--I've heard versions with that part edited out

[@critch1901]

I meant original (Typing Error) :-)

[@Boylieboyle]

"...all we have to do is land this heap and we can quit..." hope he didn't leave the tannoy on. Tannoy?

[@daverowell7541]

First time I've heard this for years. Now a bit dated but you may enjoy.

[@Shamrock100]

Oh, for the days when it was OK to suggest that the Irish (or any other nationality) were a bit thick.

[@brendansheerin8980]

I know

[@DanielsPolitics1]

Is that the joke? I worried it might be, but hoped it was some sort of topical joke about something the airline did.

[@lizhoward-k7627]

ALBERT HOWARD

[@Werrf1]

There's definitely something wrong when the US President's policies are reminding me of this incredible talk...

[@bruceinoz8002]

Oddly enough, here in 2021......Same or worse stuff, different pResident.

[@lgpmichael]

This was hilarious, back in the 1980s However after loving this all of my life, I've come to the realisation that I can no longer recommend it to people. The whole thing is littered with racism, homophobia, nationalistic stereotyping, and misogyny. I thought it was just a single instance that I could just gloss over, but when the instance count got into double figures... This was amazing for its time, but its time has passed. There is no place for casual racism or sexism in a modern society. Cue responses from straight white males that I'm over-reacting.

[@rubytuesday1345]

I’m straight and white but I think you’re fishing for a red herring. I think our so-called modern society could do with some well- considered offence. Why are we so terrified of offending people now? As a society, we have lost the ability to laugh at ourselves and at each other and we are the poorer for it.

[@lgpmichael]

@@rubytuesday1345 It's important to be able to laugh up, or laugh at our peers. But laughing down at people is just bullying.

[@paulsharp3865]

I agree. But it is of it's time. I suspect that David Gunson is still doing this, he will have amended it, and will not be doing exactly the same routine that he did back in the 1980's

[@lgpmichael]

@@paulsharp3865 I'd hope ao, I'd love to hear that version.

[@richard6440]

Cue responses from straight white males , well , thats me , but i'm more interested in the " littered with " , than any over reacting. The definiton of most of those is hatred against a type of person. Ive listened to it , and would be interested in what " racism, homophobia, and misogyny. " is in this speech . I'll miss out the nationalistic stereotyping, as it was an insult to the French , and to be honest, they deserve it. But the others , i'd be interested in where he spoke ' hatred ' against any type of person , and not just mild humour. Thanks :0