Thanks stik! That’s one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies! Yeager did have the “right stuff”.
Gary
Famous test pilot wrecks new plane acting like a dick and is still a hero. Only in america, baby! [cwby]
seriously smooth plane tho, i expect test planes were specially prepared to wring every last bit of performace out of them ( and make them look the mutts nuts too)
now i need to find a nice stand to pose it on and the time to actually build it. im hoping it will be a quickish build with all doors shut.
Well lets just say that this movie took some “artistic license” with the event. Yes Yeager flew the NF-104 up to high altitiude where events caused him to eject and he was severly burned on his face by the rocket motor of the ejection seat, and the NF-104 was destroyed. But it was not a ‘seat of the pants’ event as shown, rather being a well planned, monitored, and ultimately unsuccessful test flight. His auto biography descibes the flight in great detail and he does indeed deserve his true hero status.
But the scene is a fabulous piece of cinema and the 104 never looked so beautiful as in that take off sequence and zooming up into the sky
Tex, you and me both! I need to get out to Edwards again.
If i was chuck i would be furious about bring portrayed as a plane-stealing loose cannon.
The clip made me search youtube for more on the 104.
OMG did that plane sound awesome or what!! [:D[
The J79 was something to hear! I love the 104! Say what you want about her, but she was pure beauty.
Yeager was a techical advisor for the movie,and actually has a cameo role in it. He plays the bartender at “Pancho’s” and has a couple lines with Harry Shearer about ‘wanting some whiskey?’ as well as sharing some screentime with Sam Shepard who plays him.
Found the figure Migrant suggested for sale at a uk shop. Result!! have ordered one and some buffing metaliser powder and some BMFoil . never used it before so should be fun.
still need a stand tho,