Does anyone own this DVD?

The Play.com website also lists among future releases “Cold War Jets Of The Air Force”. This is due out in August and is described as follows:

“Packed with rare and never before available footage, this title profiles the aircraft that made the Royal Air Force of the Cold War era such a formidable fighting force – the incredible V-Bombers, the Lightning Interceptor, the Canberra, Hawker Hunter, Phantom and later the Harrier. Highlights include the last taxi of Vulcan XH558 before it went into refurbishment, new footage of Vulcans and Valiants in America, stunning Lightning Firebird aerobatic team displays, 74 squadron taking delivery of the first operational Lightnings, air-to-air film of Vulcans testing and launching Skybolt, two Lightnings air-to-air refuelling simultaneously, newly found material of RAF Transport Command Comets, a Phantom QRA, early Harrier operations in Germany and air-to-air and in-cockpit footage of Jet Provosts training new pilots in the 1960s. There are also exclusive interviews with Valiant, Vulcan, Harrier, Lightning, Victor and Buccaneer pilots and crew.
Packed with rare and never before available footage, this title profiles the aircraft that made the Royal Air Force of the Cold War era such a formidable fighting force – the incredible V-Bombers, the Lightning Interceptor, the Canberra, Hawker Hunter, Phantom and later the Harrier. Highlights include the last taxi of Vulcan XH558 before it went into refurbishment, new footage of Vulcans and Valiants in America, stunning Lightning Firebird aerobatic team displays, 74 squadron taking delivery of the first operational Lightnings, air-to-air film of Vulcans testing and launching Skybolt, two Lightnings air-to-air refuelling simultaneously, newly found material of RAF Transport Command Comets, a Phantom QRA, early Harrier operations in Germany and air-to-air and in-cockpit footage of Jet Provosts training new pilots in the 1960s. There are also exclusive interviews with Valiant, Vulcan, Harrier, Lightning, Victor and Buccaneer pilots and crew.”

Sounds like another “must have”!

Brilliant! I was wondering when that would be out on DVD. I’ll shortly be handing in my video copy of Jets of the Fleet Air Arm and replacing it with a DVD. Now there’s jet another thing to add to my must have list. Here’s hoping that Battle For the Skies (including the editions on the V Bombers and the Lightning) and the two-part Battlefleet about the history of the Navy are released soon.

Incidently does anyone have Battlefleet on VHS? I know it comprises two volumes of double videos and each volume’s about 4 hours long with volume one covering the Navy up until either 1939 or 1945 and the second volume going up to the present day. Is it detailed? Is there much coverage of the postwar carrier force?

The Play.com website also lists among future releases “Cold War Jets Of The Air Force”. This is due out in August and is described as follows:

“Packed with rare and never before available footage, this title profiles the aircraft that made the Royal Air Force of the Cold War era such a formidable fighting force – the incredible V-Bombers, the Lightning Interceptor, the Canberra, Hawker Hunter, Phantom and later the Harrier. Highlights include the last taxi of Vulcan XH558 before it went into refurbishment, new footage of Vulcans and Valiants in America, stunning Lightning Firebird aerobatic team displays, 74 squadron taking delivery of the first operational Lightnings, air-to-air film of Vulcans testing and launching Skybolt, two Lightnings air-to-air refuelling simultaneously, newly found material of RAF Transport Command Comets, a Phantom QRA, early Harrier operations in Germany and air-to-air and in-cockpit footage of Jet Provosts training new pilots in the 1960s. There are also exclusive interviews with Valiant, Vulcan, Harrier, Lightning, Victor and Buccaneer pilots and crew.
Packed with rare and never before available footage, this title profiles the aircraft that made the Royal Air Force of the Cold War era such a formidable fighting force – the incredible V-Bombers, the Lightning Interceptor, the Canberra, Hawker Hunter, Phantom and later the Harrier. Highlights include the last taxi of Vulcan XH558 before it went into refurbishment, new footage of Vulcans and Valiants in America, stunning Lightning Firebird aerobatic team displays, 74 squadron taking delivery of the first operational Lightnings, air-to-air film of Vulcans testing and launching Skybolt, two Lightnings air-to-air refuelling simultaneously, newly found material of RAF Transport Command Comets, a Phantom QRA, early Harrier operations in Germany and air-to-air and in-cockpit footage of Jet Provosts training new pilots in the 1960s. There are also exclusive interviews with Valiant, Vulcan, Harrier, Lightning, Victor and Buccaneer pilots and crew.”

Sounds like another “must have”!

I would highly recommend cold war jets and civil aviation, I got both recently and they are very interesting and suberb quality.

This ‘Military Aviation’ DVD only has SIX films on it, which are the same ones that are on the “Look at Life – Cold War Jets” DVD apart from two different ones, one on helicopters (Sycamores & Belvederes) and one on the Shuttleworth Collection. Unless you really want these two films, the “Cold War Jets” version is better value as it has NINE films on it.

Just An Update

I was in my local branch of Ian Allen Bookshop and noticed a second Look at Life military Aviation DVD. Most of the segments were the samr but there were no V-Bombers and there was a segment dealing with older planes biplanes and the like if I remember. I couldn’t find the DVD on Play.com but I know it exists because I held both it and the Cold War Jet in the shop.

Just found the details on another thread Coastal Command 1941). Thanls Ashley.

Now where do I get to buy a copy?

All in colour and approx 9 minutes each.

Hopefully more will be issued from the Rank Archives.

I remember an Air Ministry film on Sunderlands some years ago (out on general release), anyone know if its still available?

😉 I have this one on Civil Aviation in the ’60s:

http://www.transportdiversions.com/publicationshow.asp?pubid=4193

I remember these “Look at Life” short films being shown at the Odeon cinema when i was a lad, in between the main films. They were superbly produced and very entertaining and covered all subjects. I just love the Civil Aviation one, which has a film of Heathrow in 1963, Farnborough Air Show 1966, one about a Hunting-Clan Viscount stewardess and others, all in full colour!
I have been on to several video companies about obtaining this series from The Rank Organisation who made them and these are the results of my efforts. I don’t have the Cold War Jets one yet, but certainly will be getting this. They are released by Video 125 who do a lot of railway DVDs. Speaking to them, I mentioned that the ‘Look At Life’ film series did a lot more aviation subjects, so they said they would see how sales of these go before they decide whether to produce any more. If you want to see more – I thoroughly recommend these for anyone that wants a dose of ’50s & ’60s nostalgia! 😉

Got this one a month ago. watched it about a dozen times so far. Truly amazing stuff.

Every enthusiast/historians must have.

Test Pilot 1961 Jimmy Dell with the Lightning
Thunder in waiting 1960 The V Bombers
Flight Deck 1960 Scimitars and Sea Vixens
The Black Arrows 1959 111 Sqn Hunters
Back Room of the sky 1963 A&AEE
Jumping Jets Tripartite testing on Kestrel & Harrier
The Skies the limit 1963 Aerobatics inc Redhills Tiger Club
Air Umbrella 1960 NATO aircraft
School for Skymen 1966 RAFC Cranwell.

How long is each segment and which are in B/W and which in Colour?

Got this one a month ago. watched it about a dozen times so far. Truly amazing stuff.

Every enthusiast/historians must have.

Test Pilot 1961 Jimmy Dell with the Lightning
Thunder in waiting 1960 The V Bombers
Flight Deck 1960 Scimitars and Sea Vixens
The Black Arrows 1959 111 Sqn Hunters
Back Room of the sky 1963 A&AEE
Jumping Jets Tripartite testing on Kestrel & Harrier
The Skies the limit 1963 Aerobatics inc Redhills Tiger Club
Air Umbrella 1960 NATO aircraft
School for Skymen 1966 RAFC Cranwell.

Thanks for the link; it looks really interesting. I’ll be interested in hearing from any one who knows more too…

Mark