Best & Worst Mil Aviation Film and Why
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That B-25 film, which I have not seen or heard of, sounds quite like the book & ( poorly done with Robert Powell ) film 'The Survivor' where a 747 captain is the only survivor of a crash, and seeks down the corrupt company guy who shed safety standards for profit - point is once he's sorted the chap out, he finds HE's dead all along too but sent back to seek justice...
On a slightly serious note, there seems something about air accidents which encourages ' paranormal ' stuff...plenty of 'evidence' if one has an open mind, though what it actually is, is way beyond me or anyone else it seems - I did meet an ex-hostess of the 'Ghost of Flight 401' fleet, and she seemed a thoroughly normal person ( esp. by hostie standards - sorry ! ) , also utterly convinced.
Maybe this is just 'Jet Blast' material, but thinking about it how about a thread on airfield / aircraft 'Ghosts' for want of a better term ?
Military airfields seem particularly prone, which doesn't seem surprising...
On a slightly serious note, there seems something about air accidents which encourages ' paranormal ' stuff...plenty of 'evidence' if one has an open mind, though what it actually is, is way beyond me or anyone else it seems - I did meet an ex-hostess of the 'Ghost of Flight 401' fleet, and she seemed a thoroughly normal person ( esp. by hostie standards - sorry ! ) , also utterly convinced.
Maybe this is just 'Jet Blast' material, but thinking about it how about a thread on airfield / aircraft 'Ghosts' for want of a better term ?
Military airfields seem particularly prone, which doesn't seem surprising...
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Maybe this is just 'Jet Blast' material, but thinking about it how about a thread on airfield / aircraft 'Ghosts' for want of a better term ?
Military airfields seem particularly prone, which doesn't seem surprising...
Military airfields seem particularly prone, which doesn't seem surprising...
Bugger....
Or, of course, it could be a rumour put out amongst the female cabin staff by visiting airline pilots, "Don't worry, I'll keep you company, darling..."
MS
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That's not too much of a surprise either, on several levels - at the range at West Freugh a rather attractive secretary (indeed a rarity in that area ) had a lot of zaps on her window, which visiting A-10 pilots naturally used as an aiming point - not on approach there, but over the 'field, I quite often saw them less than a wingspan up, inverted...
It's possible Harrier 2 pilots did similar but more skilled & sensible things - I couldn't comment - though I did see a Tornado F3 head flat out very very low for the hangars, to the extent knowledgable people were running, to pull up sharply & carry straight on skidding on the same trajectory, jetpipes around 6' above the grass they were blowing away - the thing eventually scraped over the hangars, I imagine those on the ground were not the only ones to find ' adrenaline is brown' - felt very sorry for the backseater !
As for my previous comments, yes might sound a bit weird but try spending a night at Brooklands or Dunsfold !
It's possible Harrier 2 pilots did similar but more skilled & sensible things - I couldn't comment - though I did see a Tornado F3 head flat out very very low for the hangars, to the extent knowledgable people were running, to pull up sharply & carry straight on skidding on the same trajectory, jetpipes around 6' above the grass they were blowing away - the thing eventually scraped over the hangars, I imagine those on the ground were not the only ones to find ' adrenaline is brown' - felt very sorry for the backseater !
As for my previous comments, yes might sound a bit weird but try spending a night at Brooklands or Dunsfold !
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Most of my flying these days is in the back of an Air France 777 sipping cheap champagne...but on the last CDG-LAX I saw a film (in French naturally) which revolved around the theft of a Mirage2000 & the efforts to recover it by a couple of yo-yos & a couple of nice ladies. The plot was pants but some great aerial sequences. The chase scene where a Mirage & Alphajet play tag is especially good.
Cheers
rich
Cheers
rich
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B.25 Film
Re the comments on the film about the B.25 in the desert. I have seen this film twice over the years, and it is one of the most imaginative and intriguing films I have ever seen. My wife adored it. As well as Richard Baseheart, it also starred William [Star Trek} Shatner as a military lawyer. I would love to acquire this film on video or DVD, but I think the title, Sole Survivor, may be incorrect. I can find no reference to it. If anyone can point me in the right direction to obtain this, I will be delighted, and , if anyone sees it advertised on television, I urge you to watch it. As someone says, Top Film.
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B.25 film
I have just discovered that the correct title of this film is indeed 'Sole Survivor',so apologies for all those thousands of you who were trying to help me.
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Sole Surivior
Is this the film?
If so, according to the Internet Movie Data Base, it wasn't a Speilberg film. William 'James T' Shatner was in it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065007/
A B-24 is found deep in the Libyan desert which was reported missing in action - except for the navigator who had bailed out over water. The story is told by the Air Force investigators, the navigator who was brought along to help identify his old aircraft, and the ghosts of the crew who have been at the plane since it went down due to lack of fuel. It is a story of panic, courage, survival and the conscious thoughts of the navigator. Does not end as how you expect it.
Inspired by the discovery of an almost intact B-24 in Libya in 1954 by an oil exploration team who discovered both it and the remains of the crew with the plane.
Inspired by the discovery of an almost intact B-24 in Libya in 1954 by an oil exploration team who discovered both it and the remains of the crew with the plane.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065007/
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Off topic, (sorry about that), but I think the B24 in question was the victim of a jetstream (before anyone knew they existed). Coming back from a raid over Italy, the aircraft picked up unusually strong tailwinds, which went unnoticed, as they were IMC, and when they tried to get a homing on their base's beacon, (or it might have been a VDF - [anyone else out there old enough to remember VDFs?], or even a Radio Range), they got the back beam (there were no needles in those days, just a null, which you tried to stay on to aim for base).
They correctly stayed on the null ... and flew further and further into the desert, their base behind them, until they ran out of fuel.
They correctly stayed on the null ... and flew further and further into the desert, their base behind them, until they ran out of fuel.
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Apparently the B-24 "Lady be Good" did fly a back beam, this being deduced from documentation in the a/c. IIRC they thought they were only about 12 miles from the coast , hence some elected to walk North.
The aircraft in "Sole Survivor" was indeed a B-25, set up with broken fuselage in such a way that it seemed to be inspired by "Lady be Good".
It was shown in the U.K. on television in the early 70's. A very intriquing film and I wouldn't want to spoil anybody's enjoyment of it by discussing the plot.
The aircraft in "Sole Survivor" was indeed a B-25, set up with broken fuselage in such a way that it seemed to be inspired by "Lady be Good".
It was shown in the U.K. on television in the early 70's. A very intriquing film and I wouldn't want to spoil anybody's enjoyment of it by discussing the plot.
Avoid imitations
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Hey Shytorque!
"Tales of the Golden Monkey"
"One bark for yes, two for no" Remember??!
Anyway I thought you loved that series!
lsh
"Tales of the Golden Monkey"
"One bark for yes, two for no" Remember??!
Anyway I thought you loved that series!
lsh
I remember! Which of your eyes got the piece of grit in it? "Somewhere over Germany", wasn't it?
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All the usual suspects BoB; SAC; Toko Ri (Grace Kelly - swooooon); Dam Busters .....
The less said about the dross the better.
But what about the films that HAVEN'T been made, but should? I'd suggest a film based on the courts martial of Broughton and his men in the 355th TFW. A mixture of F-105s and a legal drama .... not sure how to work in a love interest (have to think 'Hollywood' if you want the film produced
)
All I would really ask of budding film makers (not just of my suggestion, but of ANY aviation film) is that they get the little details right. It wouldn't cost any more, and it would give the film authenticity and authority.
The less said about the dross the better.
But what about the films that HAVEN'T been made, but should? I'd suggest a film based on the courts martial of Broughton and his men in the 355th TFW. A mixture of F-105s and a legal drama .... not sure how to work in a love interest (have to think 'Hollywood' if you want the film produced
) All I would really ask of budding film makers (not just of my suggestion, but of ANY aviation film) is that they get the little details right. It wouldn't cost any more, and it would give the film authenticity and authority.
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Best film
If you are only interested in the 'facts of life' in flying in WW2 on bomber operations, I can highly recommend Night Bombers, made with a cine camera by an Air Commodore. As I experienced operations in '45 I can assure you that that was how it was.
Appointment in London is also one I recommend as it concentrates on the stresses involved in WW2. I am not a fan of Dirk Bogarde but I think his portrayal of a Lancaster pilot is as close as you will get.
Appointment in London is also one I recommend as it concentrates on the stresses involved in WW2. I am not a fan of Dirk Bogarde but I think his portrayal of a Lancaster pilot is as close as you will get.
Odd Angry Shot.
Little known film about the Australian SAS in Vietnam. One of the leads (Bryan Brown) went on to be in one of the crappy soaps that have invaded our screens, anyway, cracking film about comradeship under fire, under training, under the table and under the drudgery of "normal" life. As is the best way, read the book first then watch the film.
Little known film about the Australian SAS in Vietnam. One of the leads (Bryan Brown) went on to be in one of the crappy soaps that have invaded our screens, anyway, cracking film about comradeship under fire, under training, under the table and under the drudgery of "normal" life. As is the best way, read the book first then watch the film.
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Sloppy
Not a lot of aviation in "The Odd Angry Shot" IIRCC.
Actually, while the book was written by someone associated with the SAS in Vietnam it does not portray their operations in that theatre. However, I agree with you about the mateship thing.
Not a lot of aviation in "The Odd Angry Shot" IIRCC.
Actually, while the book was written by someone associated with the SAS in Vietnam it does not portray their operations in that theatre. However, I agree with you about the mateship thing.