Flyboys
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Flyboys
Just read an article in the Air & Space Smithsonian on Flyboys, a movie about the Lafayette Escadrille, due for release in October. Looks good. Anyone involved in the filming? 
They refurbished and used Kermit Weeks Nieuport 17, a replica 2 1/2 strutter, another Nieuport, 2 Fokker DR I triplanes, a Bristol F2, a Bleriot XI and an SE-5A. They then got Robert Baslee to build 4 additional full scale, light weight, flying replica Nieuports using aluminium tubing and volkswagen engines, he built the 4 in 52 days.
Filmed at Halton and over the Stamford PTA to avoid modern roads and traffic.
I noted that the Baslee replicas got grounded late in the flying when one lost control and almost rolled into another during a formation take-off when the filming helicopter repositioned alongside the runway. Any idea of their status now? Airworthy, scrapped, exhibits?
They refurbished and used Kermit Weeks Nieuport 17, a replica 2 1/2 strutter, another Nieuport, 2 Fokker DR I triplanes, a Bristol F2, a Bleriot XI and an SE-5A. They then got Robert Baslee to build 4 additional full scale, light weight, flying replica Nieuports using aluminium tubing and volkswagen engines, he built the 4 in 52 days.
Filmed at Halton and over the Stamford PTA to avoid modern roads and traffic.
I noted that the Baslee replicas got grounded late in the flying when one lost control and almost rolled into another during a formation take-off when the filming helicopter repositioned alongside the runway. Any idea of their status now? Airworthy, scrapped, exhibits?
Last edited by ORAC; 19th Jun 2006 at 06:56.
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I think you mean premiere, Ferny! 
A Premier is the head of government of a state or province.
There was a thread or two on another (non-commercial) Forum associated with a certain UK aviation magazine featuring some great pics of the aircraft during the filming.
See: http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=44804
And: http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42169
Certainly good pics here: http://www.jhs.flyer.co.uk/Flyboys%2...ton/index.html
A Premier is the head of government of a state or province.There was a thread or two on another (non-commercial) Forum associated with a certain UK aviation magazine featuring some great pics of the aircraft during the filming.
See: http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=44804
And: http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=42169
Certainly good pics here: http://www.jhs.flyer.co.uk/Flyboys%2...ton/index.html
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Hi ORAC,
I was not involved in the filming but I did meet some of the pilots, including Andrew King (who is a very nice guy) when they were filming down at Stapleford last summer. They had two nieuports and two Fokker triplanes and they let me sit in both at the time.
As I recall, one of the Triplanes had to make two emergency landings that day due to engine trouble!
I believe the nieuports were designed only to last for 40-50 flying hours (probably why they were so quick to build!) so the were going to be scrapped when filming was completed.
I was not involved in the filming but I did meet some of the pilots, including Andrew King (who is a very nice guy) when they were filming down at Stapleford last summer. They had two nieuports and two Fokker triplanes and they let me sit in both at the time.
As I recall, one of the Triplanes had to make two emergency landings that day due to engine trouble!
I believe the nieuports were designed only to last for 40-50 flying hours (probably why they were so quick to build!) so the were going to be scrapped when filming was completed.
What a terrible waste of the Nieuports! I know it's probably only a drop in the ocean of the film budget but still, what a waste.
It would be interesting to know how they are registered British Permit to Fly or US Experimental?
It would be interesting to know how they are registered British Permit to Fly or US Experimental?
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The Nieuports are registered as N117DD, N117KP, N117MR and N217TB.
Owner Name: ELECTRIC TELEVISION HOLDINGS I INC
Airworthiness Certificate Type: Experimental
Approved Operations: Exhibition
Owner Name: ELECTRIC TELEVISION HOLDINGS I INC
Airworthiness Certificate Type: Experimental
Approved Operations: Exhibition
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Tiger Moth, is that the same Andrew King who restored the beautiful Ryan M-1 in the USA?
