'Blue Thunder' - 1983 film info request
 

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know who was responsible for the modifications made to the two Gazelle choppers used in the 1983 film 'Blue Thunder' and its TV series?

I know Jetcopters did Airwolf, but Blue Thunder was a lot more than just bolt-on parts.

Regards,

Andrew.

Blue Thunder info <---click here Everything you could want to know....

....courtesy of Google

I run that website, which is why I was chasing the info. :)

Thanks.

Dont you feel like an idiot now huh "Flingwing207" !!!

Rotor and Wing did a very interesting article on this movie - all about the technical side of it. If you can't find it online I can get it from the local reference library and it will probably have the information you are looking for.

I would have if I had been critical of the site. BTW, nice site, Tickle!

On this site, the claim is that the mods were done by Hughes:

Blue Thunder the helicopter <--- click

Anyway, I tried. In the immortal words of Jack Handy, "It takes a big man to admit he's wrong. It takes much smaller man to laugh at that first man." :}

Hi everyone,

It has been thought that Hughes did the work, but I believe it to be wrong. Hughes offered to supply a real minigun for the film but was rejected. Rotornut, I would be very thankful if you could get that magazine issue for me. Do you think you could get it scanned?

Thank you,

Andrew.

As a matter of fact I was at the library to-day and tried to find it. I looked at the 1983 & 84 volumes of R&W and it wasn't there. But I know there was an article as I read it years ago so I'll be happy to take another look in a few days.

Mmmmm.... I believe the gazelle used in the movie was owned and modified by a company called "Wright Airlift" who used to operate out of Long Beach Municipal Airport ..... dunno if'n they're still there ...hav'nt been back there since 1980 or so ...???

:ok: :ok:

There was a post about a year ago on pprune about this, if not longer. Maybe Heliport can dig it up. The movie is now available on DVD BTW.

Cheers BigMike

I've got the DVD. No extras unfortunately, and it's starting to look rather dated, but the flying's still awesome. The chase through the LA storm drains is amazing.

No mention of who did the mods, but the inlay says that designer Mickey Michaels and electronic special effects expert Peter Albiez, with visual consultant Philip Harrison did the research and decided on the Gazelle. Two were purchased for $190,000 each.

Oh, and if I remember correctly they were also used afterwards in another movie, painted green and minus the mini-gun. Don't remember what it was, but I think it might have been "1984". It was that kind of near-future post-apocalyptic sort of theme anyway...

Si

Simon853--the movie which you are referring to was not 1984, but a mini-series in the 1980's called "Amerika." It was a fictional account of a Soviet takeover of America after WWIII. The Blue Thunders were also repainted and used in the first episode of the popular "MacGyver" TV series.

A very ordinary Bell 47 (G2?) was used in "1984", as I recall.
Tickle, I will be heading back to the library on Tuesday and will have a good look for that R&W article.

Blue Thunder
 

To the best of my recollection one helicopter was purchased from Briles Wing and Helicopter and they were also responsible for the modifications.
The Bell 206 N200 which was distroyed in the movie spent a lot of its time flying baggage between Oakland and San Francisco as a backup helicopter for SFO Helicopter Airlines. Hope this helps.

I also meant to add that Briles operate out of the Van Nuys Airport in southern California.

Tickle,

I couldn't find that article. I did a very thorough search in R&W and all I found was a piece in August 1983 "Editor's Notebook" on Blue Thunder - I can send you a copy if you like. But I'm sure I saw an article so I guess it was in another magazine.:ugh:

Blue Thunder
 

Found this at
http://www.gregdonner.org/blue_thunder/bt_misc.html

History of the production helicopters used in Blue Thunder
Data provided by Stipe Zivaljic:

SA.341G; S/N 1066; Prod. Yr. 1973; temporary regd. F-WKQD to SNIAS; regd. 31/7/74 N57936 to Vought Helicopter Co.; regd. 2/10/74 N37LR to L.T. Ruth Coal Co.; sold to Kentucky Gem Coal Co. Inc. 10/10/74; purchased to Continental Flying Service, Inc. 19/11/76; regd. 17/12/76 same reg. to Continental Flying Service Inc.; 20/12/76 purchased to L.T. Ruth Coal Co.; reg. N37LR reserved 10/76; regd. 11/1/77 N37LR to L.T. Ruth Coal Co.; purchased 19/8/81 to Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.; allocated experimental reg. 28/11/83 N51BT to Columbia Pictures; purchased 25/10/84 to Mr. Michael E. Grube; w/o 23/6/94; dismantled for parts; NOTES: a) during 1981 modified for movie requirements on 1704.7 total hours done by R.W. Martin, Inc. (Cinema Air); b) used as mod for film "Blue Thunder" and "Amerika" TV miniserial (pilot: Jim Gavin)
SA.341G; S/N 1075; Prod. Yr. 1973; regd. 7/8/73 N94494 to G. D. Turner (Vought Helicopters Co.); re-regd. 25/9/73 N94494 to N777GH Holley & Beck; regd. 2/3/77 to F.R.B.C. Leasing Co.; leased 14/3/77 to Mocomb Contracting Corp.; leased 29/9/80 to P. Bosco & Sons, Inc. (fmr. Mocomb Contr.); 17/8/81 purchased by F.R.B.C. Leasing Co. to Moceri Management Co.; purchased 19/8/81 to Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.; allocated experimental reg. 16/11/81 N52BT to Columbia Pictures Inc.; regd. 21/3/86 same reg. to Mr. Michael E. Grube; Cof Reg. cancelled 16/8/88; dismantled (scrapped) for parts, w/o; NOTE: a) during 1981 modified as movie requirements by R.W. Martin, Inc. (Cinema Air)

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Hopefully this is not your site. Jon

Thanks for the information!!