Being an arm chair aviator like most of you (However, I have first hand information to back up my dribble, a father who has 5,000 hours on C-130s, 6,000 hours on B-25s and another 2,000 hours on other assorted aircraft ie: DC-3s, Single Otters, DC-4Ms, 172s, 185s, Expediters, C-119s, Yukons, Cariboos, Tri-pacer and the list goes on) Some of you may have read some of my previous posts regarding my father’s B-25 stories. I couldn’t refuse commenting on the documentary of the five B-25s that were ferried to England in 1978 for the filming of “Hanover Street” Just last week my father and I watched the DVD (thanks for the copy Keith) and I couldn’t stop laughing at the running commentary my father gave this production. First off, he was wondering how much experience these pilots had flying B-25s as he was surprised they didn’t kill themselves (especially when flying through the cloud cover without a radio, he shuddered at the thought) Regarding the operational side of handling a B-25, my father was wondering why it took these guys so long to start an engine. The camera showed a close up when they were priming the engine and he was surprised they didn’t burn out any starters on the trip (If you are going to prime a Wright engine you don’t toggle the primer on & off, you hold the priming switch on) Regarding oil pressure indicators, the system on a B-25 is the ****s. The narrator continued to mention throughout the film about one Mitchell which was suffering with bad oil pressure on an engine. If the engine hasn’t seized within 10 minutes then ignore the pressure gauge. In one scene after landing they showed the crew replacing an exhaust stack. When landing, you must always keep about 12” of boost on the engines otherwise you will blow exhaust stacks, which seem to be the case here, the pilot pulling all the power off when landing. I think the biggest thing that made my father cringe was when one of the crew opened up the rear fuselage personnel door without supporting it as it opened (good way to wreck the hinges) As a boy growing up, I often had the opportunity to go flying with my father when he was a B-25 water bomber pilot and his only request to me was to assist the door when opening.
I know my thoughts are trivial, but when you’ve been in the aviation racket for as long as my father (40 years) you get fed up with aviation films that show incompetence on part of the pilot or do it just to add some conflict to the story line.
By: Wingnut - 26th July 2009 at 09:45
“B-25 Mitchells do fly IMC” on youtube:
First part: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Me81QS-AGY
–
By: mike currill - 26th July 2009 at 08:55
B-25’s do fly in IMC was a brilliant documentary in my oppinion. I like the point made about that one mountain in the middle of all those square miles of ocean yet people still manage to fly into it. I can’t think of a better reason for making sure that your nav and height above MSA are spot on.
By: Rlangham - 22nd July 2009 at 18:57
Just watched my copy of this, great documentary. Didn’t realise that in ‘Hannover Street’, the part where the B25 flies at night with flak bursting and the searchlights on it was real – when I watched it, I thought it was a really bad model!
By: stangman - 29th March 2008 at 19:41
Thanks Robbo will do
By: stangman - 29th March 2008 at 00:06
Damm it will not let me join it says i need to be invited to join /recommended by a friend. Can anyone help?
By: Propstrike - 27th March 2008 at 23:15
If you can’t wait, it is on You Tube.
‘the man even his friends call ”Mr Disturbed!” ‘
30 years ago now.
By: Newforest - 26th March 2008 at 19:17
Hi Blue Robin,
Excellent work!
Have been in cantact with someone only about 10 miles away from me and they are doing me a copy.
Regards
Clive
Don’t tell everyone, they’ll all want one, I missed out on mine last time around!:D
By: Arabella-Cox - 26th March 2008 at 16:47
b25 mitchells do fly imc
bsac – this crops up on an annual basis so I have merged the threads to help out everyone. Take a look from the beginning.
Hi Blue Robin,
Excellent work!
Have been in cantact with someone only about 10 miles away from me and they are doing me a copy.
Regards
Clive
By: BlueRobin - 26th March 2008 at 16:01
bsac – this crops up on an annual basis so I have merged the threads to help out everyone. Take a look from the beginning.
By: Arabella-Cox - 26th March 2008 at 15:30
b25 mitchells do fly imc
B25 Mitchells do fly imc
Bit of a help really, does anybody know where I can get a copy of this documentry from the early 1980’s?
My video copy went missing and I have tried unsuccesfully to track down a dvd ever since.
It was when a group of B25’s flew over to the U.K from America for the making of the film Hannover Street.
The documentry was much better than the film I seem to remember!
Hope someone out there can help me re-live a part of my youth.
Regards
Clive
By: 1958biggles - 15th September 2007 at 18:11
You LUCKY LUCKY b****r! Any chance your good feelings will stretch to another copy? Full refund on postage or whatever of course!:D
By: msteggalls - 15th September 2007 at 13:06
This was one of the best aviation documentaries – ever….
I already have my VHS version copied over to DVD if that helps at all for making other copies…
Martyn
By: DazDaMan - 15th September 2007 at 12:57
Me too? I’ve never seen this and have been wanting to for ages.
Funnily enough, I seem to recall Hanover Street was on recently – possibly even last weekend?
By: stangman - 15th September 2007 at 09:19
I would second that i would REALLY like a copy mine won’t play anymore!!
By: Propstrike - 15th September 2007 at 09:13
I would REALLY like a copy!
By: Propstrike - 15th September 2007 at 09:03
Some of the flying in this is horribly scary, and the title about IMC (instrument meteorlogical conditions) is well chosen. As I recall, just one of the aircraft was equipped for blind flying, but weather conditions forced the flight from low level over the sea, up through cloud into clearer air.
They formed a close line astern formation (four a/c) and followed the leader into the murk, each hanging onto to the vaque misty shape ahead. To lose visual contact in those conditions could well be fatal, since you simply cannot fly a VMC aircraft in IMC conditions- usually you will end in a spiral dive and quite probably overstress the airframe.
One of the flight of five was an FAA inspector, who gave short shrift to Hawke’s press-on bucaneering style of aviating. He elected to take the northern route, with shorter hops. In a way, you can’t blame him!
By: Old Fart - 14th September 2007 at 23:41
ive got a copy of this exellent programme, recording the ferry flight of mitchell bombers to the Uk for the “hanover Street “Film,john hawke was the driving force behind the sortie what happened to him ?:cool: 😎 😎
Lucky bl:mad: 😉 dy you.
My copy died many many years ago, I reorded it off the TV when Video recorders were bigger than a house! tape must have lasted a good 20 years or more before it litrally committed suicide and became unwatchable.
By: stangman - 14th September 2007 at 20:13
I beleive he died flying a light aircraft over the sea, not exactly sure where.
RE Mitchells do fly in IMC very good documentary wish it was shown more often or even released on dvd
By: DGH - 14th September 2007 at 20:12
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=30226&highlight=jeff+hawke
By: victor45 - 14th September 2007 at 20:09
Mitchells do fly in IMC
ive got a copy of this exellent programme, recording the ferry flight of mitchell bombers to the Uk for the “hanover Street “Film,john hawke was the driving force behind the sortie what happened to him ?:cool: 😎 😎
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June 23, 2006 at 9:09 pm