Best & Worst Mil Aviation Film and Why
The great sadness for me in watching Richar O'Sullivan playing at being a Harrier pilot was that, standing in the background, is a chap called Chris Humphrey. Chris was ex-20 sqn Hunters from Tengah days and he was to meet his end a just a few weeks later when his Harrier crashed at Wildenrath whilst carrying out a demo for (I think) the Swiss Air Force.
O-D
O-D
Thread drift, I know, but good to be reminded of Ian Topping - one of several excellent O/C BNSs at Waddo in the late 60s/early 70s. I think Ian came between Bill Cooper and the unforgettable Gordon MacLachlan.
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Biggles: Adventures in Time
It honestly doesn't get any worse. I don't think it is even put on daytime tv for the kids in the school holidays. Probably would qualify as a form of abuse.
It honestly doesn't get any worse. I don't think it is even put on daytime tv for the kids in the school holidays. Probably would qualify as a form of abuse.
PN,
Given a choice between True Lies and Battle of Britain....well, BoB is obviously the better aviation film by far.
However, if I had to pick between the sequences involving Susannah York and Jamie Lee Curtis then.....!!
This is a tongue in cheek comment guys - nothing disrespectful is intended to the memory of that fine actress Susannah York.
Given a choice between True Lies and Battle of Britain....well, BoB is obviously the better aviation film by far.
However, if I had to pick between the sequences involving Susannah York and Jamie Lee Curtis then.....!!
This is a tongue in cheek comment guys - nothing disrespectful is intended to the memory of that fine actress Susannah York.
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I was reminded of "Biggles...Adventures in Time" some years ago, whilst arriving at North Weald by Gazelle to find a Vickers Vimy in the circuit.....
A quick glance down at the M11 showed that, whatever the explanation, it wasn't us that had time shifted....!
Somewhat later I met Peter McMillan and he told me of the aeroplanes later exploits!
Best films...."Flight of the Intruder" and "Journey Together"
A quick glance down at the M11 showed that, whatever the explanation, it wasn't us that had time shifted....!
Somewhat later I met Peter McMillan and he told me of the aeroplanes later exploits!
Best films...."Flight of the Intruder" and "Journey Together"
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Crikey 'Biggles - adventures in time' there's a blast from the past...
Remember being excited as a nipper that Biggles film was coming out and then being utterly let-down by it - time travel? sound weapons? Flying a Bell 206 with no type rating? EH??
What was nuts about this was the source material (discounting the lack of love interest apart from the Marta Hari-style spy who breaks Biggles' heart) is rich enough anyway... messenger pigeons that go through the prop, ghostly empty aircraft landing themselves, decoy 'sitters' that have to be dealt with, (and comrades avenged), plus dropping off enemy agents behind enemy lines... And thats just the stuff off the top of my head I can recall.
Add in some of the 'stranger than fiction' REAL stuff that happened (eg Louis Strange hanging on to a jammed Lewis upside down) and done properly it'd be a corker....
Remember being excited as a nipper that Biggles film was coming out and then being utterly let-down by it - time travel? sound weapons? Flying a Bell 206 with no type rating? EH??
What was nuts about this was the source material (discounting the lack of love interest apart from the Marta Hari-style spy who breaks Biggles' heart) is rich enough anyway... messenger pigeons that go through the prop, ghostly empty aircraft landing themselves, decoy 'sitters' that have to be dealt with, (and comrades avenged), plus dropping off enemy agents behind enemy lines... And thats just the stuff off the top of my head I can recall.
Add in some of the 'stranger than fiction' REAL stuff that happened (eg Louis Strange hanging on to a jammed Lewis upside down) and done properly it'd be a corker....
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
How about that training film of the Vulcan having to ditch on the Atlantic ECM training run? Silver bone domes, no visors, orange life jackets and blue flying suits.
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Those magnificent men in their flying machines. Bloody brilliant
Airplane 1&2 (mil bit being his "flashbacks"), still funny
Hot shots, love the Gnats
Worst? The list is long and etc......
Airplane 1&2 (mil bit being his "flashbacks"), still funny
Hot shots, love the Gnats
Worst? The list is long and etc......
Might have already been mentioned, but Deadly Encounter with Larry Hagman gets my vote. No CGI, some great MD 500 flying sequences and a top story line to boot.
It's a bit odd when people laud 633 Squadron (probably the ropiest special effects I've ever seen) and then decry Pearl Harbor for its appaulling CGI.
PS: I'm not trying to defend Peal Harbor - it was truely awful from start to finish....
It's a bit odd when people laud 633 Squadron (probably the ropiest special effects I've ever seen) and then decry Pearl Harbor for its appaulling CGI.
PS: I'm not trying to defend Peal Harbor - it was truely awful from start to finish....
One-vector thread drift coming up...
Anyone else here familiar with the French illustrated versions of Biggles?
Biggles - BD, informations, cotes
Remarkably faithful to the original, and very neatly drawn.
And not the only French BD (bande desinee - it's a bit inaccurate to call them comic books) to deal with subjects of interest to PPruners...
Nice P-63 you have there, comrade...
Anyone else here familiar with the French illustrated versions of Biggles?
Biggles - BD, informations, cotes
Remarkably faithful to the original, and very neatly drawn.
And not the only French BD (bande desinee - it's a bit inaccurate to call them comic books) to deal with subjects of interest to PPruners...
Nice P-63 you have there, comrade...
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I always remember 633 Sqn in 1964 as it was in 633 block at Changhi Officers' Mess that we stayed in after our jungle survival course. Never found out whether it was a standard building works number or after the sqn.
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Butch O'Hare
I’m very surprised that no film has been made to chronicle the life and times of Butch O’Hare.
The story would need little ‘Hollywoodising’ to make a great true story film (my favorite type).
I always take time out in Chicago to visit the memorial and often find it amazing that, despite the Airport being packed and despite there being hoards of service personnel passing through, I am generally the only person occupying the tribute.
For those of you wishing to know about Lt. Cdr. Edward ‘Butch’ O’Hare, here are a couple of links:
Edward "Butch" O'Hare (1914-1943)
Edward O'Hare - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The story would need little ‘Hollywoodising’ to make a great true story film (my favorite type).
I always take time out in Chicago to visit the memorial and often find it amazing that, despite the Airport being packed and despite there being hoards of service personnel passing through, I am generally the only person occupying the tribute.
For those of you wishing to know about Lt. Cdr. Edward ‘Butch’ O’Hare, here are a couple of links:
Edward "Butch" O'Hare (1914-1943)
Edward O'Hare - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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With you all the way Alber -Les Chevaliers du Ciel has some stunning flying scenes, plus I remember watching The aeronauts when I was about 6 in the summer hols. I've been entranced by Mirages ever since!
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A few clips of the series on Youtube, unfortunately none of the flying apart from a MS Fight Sim generated cover of the opening titles..
YouTube - Les Chevaliers du ciel 1967
Always remember the blond bloke crash landing a Dassault Mystere in some arid terrain, saying "I am going to pancake!" in the dodgy French accented dubbing, on his VHF.. Don't know why I remember it, must have been about 72 (I was 6 then as well!)
Oh, there was an annual as well..
YouTube - TANGUY I LAVERDURE INTEGRAL #1
Build your own Squadron of cardboard Jaguar A's !!
YouTube - Les Chevaliers du ciel 1967
Always remember the blond bloke crash landing a Dassault Mystere in some arid terrain, saying "I am going to pancake!" in the dodgy French accented dubbing, on his VHF.. Don't know why I remember it, must have been about 72 (I was 6 then as well!)
Oh, there was an annual as well..
YouTube - TANGUY I LAVERDURE INTEGRAL #1
Build your own Squadron of cardboard Jaguar A's !!
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This one is a bit unorthodox, and I'll probably be crucified for admitting it, but whilst living in Japan I got into this anime series called Area 88. It's about mercenary pilots in some fictional place, I don't really remember.
It's brainless fun; ridiculous dogfights scored to cheesy '90s eurobeat, invariably with some dramatic(/sarcasm) twist and heartwarming moral to the story.
YouTube - Area 88 F-8 vs MiG-21
Disclaimer: I'm not actually claiming this is the best military aviation film/programme... It might be an eye opener for some of you though!
It's brainless fun; ridiculous dogfights scored to cheesy '90s eurobeat, invariably with some dramatic(/sarcasm) twist and heartwarming moral to the story.
YouTube - Area 88 F-8 vs MiG-21
Disclaimer: I'm not actually claiming this is the best military aviation film/programme... It might be an eye opener for some of you though!