Favourite aviation film moments

The bit where the fighters bomb the bridge!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncbEucjsNFU

According to the Internet Movie Plane Database, it’s a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32.

My mistake ,they both have rear stairs IIRC

edit:- the very scene
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4kLKfkelrw

Not an epic but I recall an episode of Quantum Leap, must be around 20-plus years ago, when the chap (Scott Bakula) found himself as Chuck Yeager in the Bell X1 strapped under a B-29 or B-50.
Anon.

Actually, it was an X-2 (I recall seeing the mock-up on a studio tour shortly after it was filmed).
And I don’t believe the star played a “name” test pilot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSvMtRlezBM

T J

TJ, thanks for the link, I must now try and find time to watch it..and thanks for correcting the info on the pilots, I wasn’t sure my memory was correct when I originally posted.

Paul F

…

Also concur with many of the posts so far. Top Gun, though a bit corny and totally unrealistic tactics-wise was still a great record of a very fine aircraft – the F-14 Tomcat, now sadly gone. Would have been nice if such a film had been filmed a decade earlier and there was similar footage of the F-4 Phantom in the role. Considering how widely used and prolific the Phantom was in all of the US services, very little use seems to have been made of them in films of the time.

Anon.

Good interviews about the F-14 and the making of Top Gun is this month’s Xtended podcast
http://aviation-xtended.co.uk/ep-39-top-gun-days-and-the-f-14-tomcat/

This special Top Gun episode on the F-14 Tomcat features Commander David ‘Bio’ Baranek (US Navy Retired), a former F-14 RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) who commanded an F-14 Fighter Squadron.

Find out what it takes to be a Top Gun Instructor and hear stories about making the 1986 film ‘Top Gun’, ejecting from the F-14 Tomcat, firing a Phoenix missile and much, much more.

I watched Blue Thunder last night on blu-ray.

Helos aren’t my thing, but Blue Thunder has some awesome sequences in it, particularly the end battle with Roy Scheider and Malcolm McDowell flying around the streets of LA at low level.

Not an epic but I recall an episode of Quantum Leap, must be around 20-plus years ago, when the chap (Scott Bakula) found himself as Chuck Yeager in the Bell X1 strapped under a B-29 or B-50. The aircraft sequences were genuine film and the soundtrack was what you would expect from four darned great radials rumbling away in the near background and conveyed the sense of the occasion very nicely.

Not seen it since but has always left a favourable impression on me.

Also concur with many of the posts so far. Top Gun, though a bit corny and totally unrealistic tactics-wise was still a great record of a very fine aircraft – the F-14 Tomcat, now sadly gone. Would have been nice if such a film had been filmed a decade earlier and there was similar footage of the F-4 Phantom in the role. Considering how widely used and prolific the Phantom was in all of the US services, very little use seems to have been made of them in films of the time.

Anon.

Nope! It correctly states it’s made-up.

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ plane punch-up scene on BBC3 any minute now! 😉

What does the Internet Movie Plane Database say that is…..Arado, right? 🙂

According to the Internet Movie Plane Database, it’s a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32.

Don’t remember if it was a 727 in ‘Cliffhanger’ (wouldn’t the tail-mounted engines make the stunt even more dangerous)…

…but that reminds me of another piece of excellent TV featuring a 727.

Does anybody remember the documentary where they test-crashed a 727 in Mexico?

A Jetstar is mentioned. Dunno about the other one, though.

If i recall correctly wasn’t the transfer in Cliffhanger between a 727 and a Jetstar ?[one of the best looking Bizjets IMHO]

There is the aircraft-to-aircraft transfer scene in ‘Cliffhanger’. I think it is often overlooked as a stunt because the rest of the film is a bit run-of-the-mill (and the rise of special effects) but the stunt was done for real between two jet aircraft (although an actual complete transfer was not possible).

Funnily enough, I’ve just watched that film. Great fun!

There is the aircraft-to-aircraft transfer scene in ‘Cliffhanger’. I think it is often overlooked as a stunt because the rest of the film is a bit run-of-the-mill (and the rise of special effects) but the stunt was done for real between two jet aircraft (although an actual complete transfer was not possible).

The end of The Right Stuff with Chuck Yeager walking away from the burning wreckage…

I liked ‘The Right Stuff’ although I do not like to watch the end parachute scene; the stuntman was killed doing it.

Did you know Chuck Yeager is actually in the film? He plays the old guy (who looks up-and-down the actor playing him) in a scene in the ‘Happy Bottom’ riding club.

Not sure I agree with everything that is implied in the film; particularly the treatment of Gus Grissom.

I’m gonna watch this tonight….

Sorry to be picky but i’m going to be anyway …it was the A-26 that dumped the retardant on Al[John Goodman] the Catalina did the pass previous that landed past the fire.

I stand corrected. 🙂

I remember there was a documentary about the making of moonstrike (while the programme was still running) and showed the cast doing rehearsals prior to filming !

Moonstrike theme tune (Ron Goodwin) + some grainy stills : )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mlufk0Pjjk

Yep me for one. I wonder if there’s anyone on here ‘young’ enough to remember the BBC series “Moonstrike”.

Certainly do 🙂