Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Military Aviation
Reload this Page >

Silent Hawk pic - or film prop?

Military Aviation A forum for the professionals who fly military hardware. Also for the backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground. All armies, navies and air forces of the world equally welcome here.

Silent Hawk pic - or film prop?

Old 8th Aug 2012, 01:42
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: A better place.
Posts: 2,319
Received 24 Likes on 16 Posts
Silent Hawk pic - or film prop?

Here's a shot that may be of interest:



Speculation on Wired magazine that it is most likely a prop for the new Bigelow film `Zero-Dark-Thirty' about the operation to kill Bin Laden.

Source article here.

If it's Hollywood - looks like they've done a pretty convincing estimation; F117-era nose and fuselage facets, intake diffusers (?) arcuate BERP-type rotor tips.
Only thing I could fault them on is that the main rotor diameter looks pretty damn small for an airframe of Blackhawk size.
What say you, military helo drivers?
Mods - posted here because it seemed more military pilot than Rotorheads.

I know they're Spams - but I can't wait to see the film.
tartare is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 02:20
  #2 (permalink)  
Buttonpusher
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bloody Hell
Age: 65
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Bollocks !
FLCH is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 02:27
  #3 (permalink)  

Evertonian
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: #3117# Ppruner of the Year Nominee 2005
Posts: 12,475
Received 99 Likes on 57 Posts
Chopper used in a SEAL attack, yet US Army soldier standing in front of it? Hmmm....

Time on photo says 23:53 yet still daylight? Hmmm....

Crate 92 next to crate 37? Hmmmm....

Buster Hyman is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 02:38
  #4 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: A better place.
Posts: 2,319
Received 24 Likes on 16 Posts
US army uniform - entirely possible Buster - after all these are the blokes that fly them - right?

Clock on the camera - could be any number of reasons for that.
It's more than likely a film prop.
Guess what I'm interested in is how accurate this `supposed' Stealth Hawk looks from a military pilot's point of view.
tartare is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 02:45
  #5 (permalink)  
Hippopotomonstrosesquipidelian title
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: is everything
Posts: 1,826
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's a film prop, and the photo is being spread virally to create interest in the film.
Bushfiva is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 02:49
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia - South of where I'd like to be !
Age: 59
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"It's a film prop, and the photo is being spread virally to create interest in the film."

+1

Exactly what I was thinking. Timing is perfect.

.
500N is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 04:48
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Downeast
Age: 75
Posts: 18,283
Received 498 Likes on 207 Posts
Are you sure there are not other folks that do that sort of thing but are not military units?

Do a bit of research about Proprietary Airlines operated by various government and pseudo-government agencies and services of the US Government.

There are a lot of possible operators out there that you may not even have begun to think about.
SASless is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 05:33
  #8 (permalink)  
Red On, Green On
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Look closely at the image and I think there are some signs of Photoshopping. I'm not even sure that structure exists in the flesh.
airborne_artist is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 05:46
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia - South of where I'd like to be !
Age: 59
Posts: 4,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Their are signs of Photoshopping but that could be to
"tidy" up the image considering it looks pretty dirty
and dusty in there.

The things that jumped out to me were the soldier
looks like he has been dropped in and neither he
nor the helo seem to cast any or much shadow.

Looking at the soldier again, it looks like he has
been "sharpened" in Photoshop.


With the windows as they are on the helo all facing
different directions, I'd also expect at least one or two
of the roof windows and skylights to be reflected in them.

Last edited by 500N; 8th Aug 2012 at 05:48.
500N is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 05:48
  #10 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: A better place.
Posts: 2,319
Received 24 Likes on 16 Posts
Intriguing.
Yes - I have no doubt that there are a large number of bland looking FBO type operations in the US, staffed by men with Raybans, buzz cuts, golf-shirts etc. who don't smile much, and won't let you into their hangars...
No doubt we'll find out whether the above is real or not when the film is released.
In the meantime this is interesting

Last edited by tartare; 8th Aug 2012 at 05:54.
tartare is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 07:51
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South of Old Warden
Age: 87
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Square bullets?
goudie is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 08:09
  #12 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: A better place.
Posts: 2,319
Received 24 Likes on 16 Posts
Diamond shaped bullets.
They hurt more - becos of the sharp edges.
No... I think an imaginative Hollywood type looked at the pitot/data sensor tubes on one of these puppies...

...and got a little carried away.
And actually - as I view the photo of said Stealth Hawk above on my giant hi-res iMac screen at home at Tartare Towers - that matte black finish looks very spray painty...

Last edited by tartare; 8th Aug 2012 at 08:17.
tartare is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 09:40
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Southampton
Posts: 859
Received 40 Likes on 19 Posts
Perhaps even a stealth helicopter would need windscreen wipers?
Saintsman is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 10:12
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Age: 54
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Way too much F117 in that. I must say I'm quite impressed the way the 'stealthhawk' has faded into the black again. I'm still not sure I'm convinced it was a relative of the Blackhawk.
Tashengurt is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 10:29
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Stamford
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I was under the impression that the F117 was angular because the computers they used back in the 70s to compute the stealth shape only had enough power to work with flat plates. Advances in computer technology since then have allowed the stealth calculations to be applied to curves as seen in F22 (designed 1986ish).

If this is supposed to be a "modern" stealth helicopter then it should be curved. The angular design implies it was designed pre 1980 which seems unlikely.
Stuff is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 11:26
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The Whyte House
Age: 95
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If this is supposed to be a "modern" stealth helicopter then it should be curved. The angular design implies it was designed pre 1980 which seems unlikely.
The RAH-66 had a fair amount of faceting...



It post-dates F-117A by ~15 years.

Agree though, almost certainly a film prop.
Willard Whyte is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 12:34
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Stamford
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Almost every panel on the Comanche seems curved on at least one axis to me.
Stuff is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 13:38
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: The Alps
Posts: 3,141
Received 95 Likes on 50 Posts
Looks 50/50 real/fake to me like something one would see at Farnborough or Paris Le Bourget or even a Heli Expo.

Could be Scaled Composites called back into action by Hollywood after Seven Days



Back to pic, the hangar looks realistic though the ground equipment vehicles look a little yellowish rather than the desert brown they're meant to be in. Light appears to be coming in the windows.

The plexiglass around the cockpit looks dusty and like used in a desert enviornment. though wheres the wire cutters springs to mind? Then the appearance of wire cutters might upset the low observability associated with the airframe?

The equipment boxes, cases look realsitic but probably can get that anywhere (not saying Argos or anywhere that sells Sansonite!!) or any tool shop.

Undercarriage looks well used

The pilot's the odd one out and as some1 suggested prob photoshopped in, so for realism, semi blank out his eyes to hide identity but flight BDUs look too clean and boots. The interesting thing is his patch on his velcro sleeve pocket. Didnt think unit patches would be allowed to be worn or something that would stick out if said aviators happen to share food in the mess tent along with other personnel.

If I am correct, looks like he has a rank of Maj or Lt Col, doesnt look like a CWO or WO.

Maybe if the pilot wasn't in the photo, it could look a little convincing?

Cheers
chopper2004 is online now  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 13:55
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Augusta, Georgia, USA (back from Germany again)
Posts: 233
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Rank/Uniform thoughts...

If I am correct, looks like he has a rank of Maj or Lt Col, doesnt look like a CWO or WO.
He is a Specialist (SPC). This is the technical-oriented equivalent of the junior NCO rank of Corporal.

He is not a pilot, he's wearing aircrew wings.

flight BDUs
BDU's? That's so last century. ACU's, please - Army Combat Uniform - and it looks like the ones I wear every day, rather than the aviator ACU's.

I'll join the "it's a prop" camp.

Terry
LTCTerry is offline  
Old 8th Aug 2012, 14:17
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: The Alps
Posts: 3,141
Received 95 Likes on 50 Posts
Hi Terry

Ah thanks for that and apologies for mis identifying the uniform a little out of touch!

Well at least Hollywood did the decent thing with the uniform unlike Tim Roths character of Captain Emil Bronsky RM exchange officer in The Incredible Hulk
where he's sporting a US Army SF captains uniform unlike a Royal Marines one.

Cheers

Last edited by chopper2004; 8th Aug 2012 at 14:18.
chopper2004 is online now  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.