Just watched the 1996 film ‘Wind in the Willows’ (the one with all of the surviving Monty Python cast in it, great film even if your not a kid) and at the end theres a nice little edwardian era monoplane. In the credits, it says ‘Manning Flanders supplied by Bianchi Aviation’. I’ve been on the website, and theres a photo of it but no description, does anyone know more about this aircraft? Didn’t see ‘Wind in the Willows’ in the film credits on the website either.
Tried to get a screenshot, but the computer wouldn’t have it!
Cheers, Rob
By: Melvyn Hiscock - 6th December 2005 at 11:22
I’ve just been re-reading that section in the book and it was a dog of an aeroplane. They had to bin the rear fuselage and make a new one and fit ailerons. It was also overpowered and would exceed VNE in level flight! Mind you, the VNE was only 45mph.
In the film it was the mount of the Italian who catches fire just before the end of the film. The film people wanted to put the smoke generator between the carb and petrol tank!
M
By: G-ORDY - 6th December 2005 at 11:15
Gordon, you need to check your copy of Allen Wheelers book about the making of the replicas, the Manning Flanders was started in 1960 by Doug.
Don’t have the book, the date in my first comment was from memory of a conversation I had with Doug. Obviously he only got round to registering it in 1972 … typical Doug! 🙂
By: Melvyn Hiscock - 6th December 2005 at 10:02
IIRC Doug built the Manning-Flanders MF1 replica prior to “TMMITFM”, I believe it was pressed into service in the film because it happened to be available and “looked the part”.
NB – just realised, Doug built it in 1972:
Gordon, you need to check your copy of Allen Wheelers book about the making of the replicas, the Manning Flanders was started in 1960 by Doug.
By: G-ORDY - 6th December 2005 at 09:31
IIRC Doug built the Manning-Flanders MF1 replica prior to “TMMITFM”, I believe it was pressed into service in the film because it happened to be available and “looked the part”.
NB – just realised, Doug built it in 1972:
By: Melvyn Hiscock - 6th December 2005 at 09:28
No, the Manning Flanders did not appear in Ace’s High. In that pic it was being used to promote the movie. If im correct this A/C was built for “Those Magnificent Men” as the Vickers 22 ( or film Bleriot) by Doug Bianchi. Im sure its the same A/C but someone out there may know different.
That’s correct.
By: The Blue Max - 6th December 2005 at 08:56
No, the Manning Flanders did not appear in Ace’s High. In that pic it was being used to promote the movie. If im correct this A/C was built for “Those Magnificent Men” as the Vickers 22 ( or film Bleriot) by Doug Bianchi. Im sure its the same A/C but someone out there may know different.
By: Auster Fan - 6th December 2005 at 08:30
Ahah thats the one, cheers! Was it in ‘Aces High’? Got the film on DVD but don’t remember seeing either of those aircraft in the movie.
Don’t think so.See my first post.
By: Rlangham - 5th December 2005 at 22:26
Ahah thats the one, cheers! Was it in ‘Aces High’? Got the film on DVD but don’t remember seeing either of those aircraft in the movie.
By: The Blue Max - 5th December 2005 at 22:19
Is this the machine your looking for?
By: Auster Fan - 5th December 2005 at 21:51
Just watched the 1996 film ‘Wind in the Willows’ (the one with all of the surviving Monty Python cast in it, great film even if your not a kid) and at the end theres a nice little edwardian era monoplane. In the credits, it says ‘Manning Flanders supplied by Bianchi Aviation’. I’ve been on the website, and theres a photo of it but no description, does anyone know more about this aircraft? Didn’t see ‘Wind in the Willows’ in the film credits on the website either.
Tried to get a screenshot, but the computer wouldn’t have it!
Cheers, Rob
I think you’ll find that it was a replica built for “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines”, released from memory in 1964/5. If I’m wrong, please correct me. Blue Max might know.
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December 5, 2005 at 6:32 pm