If this was a teenager jumping from a motorbike to a car in front of his mates on an estate he would be posted all over youtube and up for a Darwin Award, but because this guy did it from a plane it is seen as professional.

Really..?
I feel sorry for you that you obviously abhor anything dangerous, and presumably as such have never tried anything similar.
In my time I’ve tried all sorts of stupid stunts–still do on occasion when I get the chance.
it’s part of being alive–same with those guys who were killed–they were doing it because they loved it.
Long may it remain so.
I’m with Bomberboy on this one.
Andy

It seems to me you don’t watch enough films to make that last comment. There are a LOT of decent independent film-makers/prod co’s around, up and coming film-makers. I think ‘A Matter Of Life And Death’ could be re-made today on a very modest budget. Admittedly it wouldn’t necessarily be an improvement, but i’m just saying that there are people out there making interesting, thought provoking films, they’re just not playing in cinemas worldwide (again though, there are interesting films that do make it onto the world stage, but you just have to actively seek them out). Most films of that nature find an audience online. For starters, look up the indy filmmakers groups on Vimeo, if you’re really interested.

I think you’re wrong.
Most of my favourite films of the last twenty years have been made in the manner you state above.
Just because I don’t bother to discuss them here, doesn’t mean I don’t watch them or hunt them out.
I don’t mention them on this forum because a) it’s an aviation forum and b) so many here think entertainment is ‘Flyboys’, ‘Pearl Harbor’ and other such nonsense, and trying to educate individuals with limited capacity is a waste of my valuable life.
I also like European cinema. I think French and particularly Italian cinema is somewhat wonderful. Again I tend to avoid it here because any mention of the French/Italians usually invokes comments of the ‘cheese eating surrender monkeys’ type.
Even German cinema has it’s moments.
Still, I’m glad you appreciate independant thought, as well as independant cinema too.
A.

…not to make ‘another Gone With The Wind or Dr Zhivago’ as Michael Bay claimed his intention was.

No..! He didn’t did he..?:D:D:D
Clucking bell, if he’d have made the statement that he was making a comedy to rival ‘The Life Of Brian’ or ‘It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’ it would have been more realistic.

James.
Yes and Portugal and Greece.
I think we tend to forget how recently these countries were run by totalitarian regimes.
I also wonder how much the current financial problems of these countries are caused by attitudes that are a carry over from those days.
Andy

I was very fortunate to have met both Stan and his Wireless Operator, Connie. They were amazing men and both sadly no longer with us.

The story of their Halifax being shot down in 1941 and the journey Stan took his crew on 40 years after to finally return them back to base can be read here
http://www.archieraf.co.uk/archie/l9512tlustory1941.html

archieraf
aka Linzee

I just sat and read that and it was bloody marvellous.
Thanks.
A.

We’re really not an “august organization” but largely a youth-mentoring group. Of course perpetuating the legend of the original Airmen is part of our mission, but I also teach writing and a variety of aviation subjects to area teenagers, most of them minority members, once every week, and we give them flying lessons as well.

Next week, I go to one of the most hard-core, hard-case State penitentiaries in the area to give a Tuskegee Airmen presentation to a group of aviation-minded convicts, which should be interesting…

Effort like that is never wasted.
Keep it up.
A.

Speaking Tiger tanks.
A walk up the street in Villers-Bocage is worthwhile too.
Take the ‘After The Battle’ book though.
A.