The big thread on celebrities that are pilots.
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Roald Dahl - Hurricane pilot WW2
Alex James (Blur bassist; Cheesemaker)
Edit: Whoops - just noticed Alex James already mentioned on page 1
So I'll add James Martin (chef) instead.
Alex James (Blur bassist; Cheesemaker)
Edit: Whoops - just noticed Alex James already mentioned on page 1
So I'll add James Martin (chef) instead.
Last edited by rkgpilot; 22nd Sep 2013 at 19:28.
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Sorruy
If I missed it but has anyone mentioned Ewan MacGregor and brother Colin? Former trainspotting actor latter Tornado pilot?
Anyway all this guff about celebrities .... Well what have the Romans ever done for us?
The list so far contains a lot of Americans and given the freedom of USA its not surprising they take to the skies in a big way (Travolta) but James May and AlanSugar are interesting because they do it for similar reasons to us. I was in Bembridge a couple of months ago and Alan S was there having a cup of tea. Wonderful Britishness none accosted him. At Denham J May frequently is in and out and again the fantastic British respect means he is not mobbed in any celebrity way. I thoroughly applaud this native reserve but I do wish such celebrities would lend a hand to help roll back some of the serious government pressures on GA which would prefer you didn't fly more than 10k from your home field and even then would want you to fill in forms in triplicate
If I missed it but has anyone mentioned Ewan MacGregor and brother Colin? Former trainspotting actor latter Tornado pilot?
Anyway all this guff about celebrities .... Well what have the Romans ever done for us?
The list so far contains a lot of Americans and given the freedom of USA its not surprising they take to the skies in a big way (Travolta) but James May and AlanSugar are interesting because they do it for similar reasons to us. I was in Bembridge a couple of months ago and Alan S was there having a cup of tea. Wonderful Britishness none accosted him. At Denham J May frequently is in and out and again the fantastic British respect means he is not mobbed in any celebrity way. I thoroughly applaud this native reserve but I do wish such celebrities would lend a hand to help roll back some of the serious government pressures on GA which would prefer you didn't fly more than 10k from your home field and even then would want you to fill in forms in triplicate
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I thoroughly applaud this native reserve but I do wish such celebrities would lend a hand to help roll back some of the serious government pressures on GA which would prefer you didn't fly more than 10k from your home field and even then would want you to fill in forms in triplicate
I do wish such celebrities would lend a hand to help roll back some of the serious government pressures on GA
Lembit Opik was one who did do as you suggest - I'm not sure it did anybody, least of all him, any good.
G
Harrison Ford does a lot for AOPA.
And I fully agree. If some of those people stood up for aviation openly it might help a LOT. People are like that, they flock after famous people like lemmings. Some of them use this to the advantage of the hobbies they love, which is certainly what I'd do if I had the chance. Not too many people have the public exposure to make a real difference, but these people do.
What bugs me is that some of them seem to be almost ashamed to be part of the flying community... why I wonder.
Instead it can help both with public perception (if xxx flies small planes, they can't be that bad, can they?) and with recruiting youngsters to the flock. Those who have done things like that, usually report it is a very satisfying experience.
I did hear that a well known German comedian once got asked by the flying club at his local airfield to openly take sides in a dispute with the local tree huggers. He had stayed out as he tought that his contribution could actually damage the cause, but when he did enter, he managed to get the whole issue dismissed in one evening. THAT is the kind of thing we need in todays hostile anti GA world.
And I fully agree. If some of those people stood up for aviation openly it might help a LOT. People are like that, they flock after famous people like lemmings. Some of them use this to the advantage of the hobbies they love, which is certainly what I'd do if I had the chance. Not too many people have the public exposure to make a real difference, but these people do.
What bugs me is that some of them seem to be almost ashamed to be part of the flying community... why I wonder.
Instead it can help both with public perception (if xxx flies small planes, they can't be that bad, can they?) and with recruiting youngsters to the flock. Those who have done things like that, usually report it is a very satisfying experience.
I did hear that a well known German comedian once got asked by the flying club at his local airfield to openly take sides in a dispute with the local tree huggers. He had stayed out as he tought that his contribution could actually damage the cause, but when he did enter, he managed to get the whole issue dismissed in one evening. THAT is the kind of thing we need in todays hostile anti GA world.
Carlo Pedrosoli, better known as Bud Spencer, was a very active GA pilot, both fixed wing and helos. He also founded an airline (Mistral Air) which he sold on later and which exists to this day. Apparently he became interested in flying after a movie where he portrayed a pilot and subsequently took up training, first for helicopters and 2 years later for fixed wing planes. I believe he owned and flew a Jet Ranger and a King Air.
I once saw an interview with his then movie partner Mario Girotti (Terence Hill) who related that Pedrosoli had not told anyone that he had made his license between some movies and then scared the living daylights out of them by flying a Jet Ranger during the filming. Apparently he also did most of the flying involved in some later movies. I was also told that in his time he was quite active in Italian GA at and around his homebase Napoli.
Don't know if he is still flying, might be too old by now (he is almost 84 years old).
I once saw an interview with his then movie partner Mario Girotti (Terence Hill) who related that Pedrosoli had not told anyone that he had made his license between some movies and then scared the living daylights out of them by flying a Jet Ranger during the filming. Apparently he also did most of the flying involved in some later movies. I was also told that in his time he was quite active in Italian GA at and around his homebase Napoli.
Don't know if he is still flying, might be too old by now (he is almost 84 years old).
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I seem to remember that Dale Robertson was a very accomplished pilot but I think he is now deceased?
Also Nicki Lauda (spelling?) founded his own airline but I have no idea whether he flew personally.
Also Nicki Lauda (spelling?) founded his own airline but I have no idea whether he flew personally.
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flybymike:
; at one of the first reno air races I saw Dale Robertson taxi up in his own plane.
also
fellow actor, but not related, cliff robertson, was also a pilot..doing some unusual things too.
Craig Ferguson, of the late late show is a pilot...I even sent him a book about flying which he may or may not have received.
journalist and documentarian, Miles O'brien, now of PBS and NOVA and Frontline...used to be with CNN...covered destruction of Columbia...he owns a cirrus and has enough time to have an ATP.
; at one of the first reno air races I saw Dale Robertson taxi up in his own plane.
also
fellow actor, but not related, cliff robertson, was also a pilot..doing some unusual things too.
Craig Ferguson, of the late late show is a pilot...I even sent him a book about flying which he may or may not have received.
journalist and documentarian, Miles O'brien, now of PBS and NOVA and Frontline...used to be with CNN...covered destruction of Columbia...he owns a cirrus and has enough time to have an ATP.
Originally Posted by rkgpilot
Alex James (Blur bassist; Cheesemaker)
I am fairly sure that Donald Pleasence (yes, Blofeld), was a Bomber Command pilot. He was certainly a member of a crew shot down over Germany and became a POW. Life/Art interface there, given his role in 'The Great Escape'.
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Cliff Robertson owned a Spitfire for many years and was a Tiger Club member, as was Dick Emery I think.
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Wasn't it Lidle who flew his Cirrus into an apartment building on the East River side?
Last edited by AdamFrisch; 25th Sep 2013 at 11:12.
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I can remember eons ago seeing a documentary about the rock group, Cream. It briefly showed Jack Bruce, the bass player, flying a Cherokee 140. Some air-to-air shots from memory. This must have been in the early 70's, when Cherokees were being imported in droves.
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I think Dave Clark of the DC5 pop group owned Robin DR400 G-BALH after it was sold from Sportair at Biggin Hill. I think I did the last flight in the aircraft before it was delivered to him in 1977.
Last edited by john ball; 25th Sep 2013 at 13:39.