I’m wondering how many people I’m going to stump on this one. Probably not many.
In the 80’s there was a movie with Lee Majors in it. He was drinving somewhere while cars had become illegal. An ex-vietnam pilot, played by Burgess Merideth, was hired to stop him using a very mean repainted black F-86. Can’t recall the name of the movie.
If anyone recalls this, has anyone by chance seen a decal set for it? I always loved that aircraft as a child.
Thanks.
Dana
The movie in question is called “The Last Chase” and was released in 1981. Not a great film, but an interesting concept.
I can’t resist… That sounds like Rush’s “Red Barchetta”. It’s a stretch but I’ve never seen this movie. I know, this post is flakey, a little slack please! bob
Demon has the movie name correct.
The movie poster shows a F-4.
They also called the aircraft the phantom.
But as Bones-coa has the type and color aircraft correct
I have to agree with 13b20. This topic is a little flakey
Way too many! I did it sometime back and overtook… I dunno who it was. DJ, I think. I got really bored for a while… [:p]
And I vaguely remember that flick. 100% pure american cheese! [xx(]
Fade to Black…
Wolf, that’s it! Now, does anyone make a decal set for that thing??!!
Dana
I kinda doubt anyone makes a sheet for this bird. It’s not exactly wildly popular! [:p]
It’d be very simple to either make your own decal or paint it directly onto the model. It would seem that the only markings are the red and yellow stripes on the fuselage, yellow bands on the wings and stabs (edged in red) and the dragon on the tail, which I’m going to assume was on both sides. My guess is that the port side would be no different all way round.
The toughest part would be the dragon, and that wouldn’t be tough at all. Cut out a mask for the general shape of the body and then add the small details by hand.
Fade to Black…
I have personally handled the other Sabre used in that movie, and a historic one it is too! Here is the story …
In the movie, before the restored bird takes to the skies, there is a shot of another Sabre as a hangar queen. In the movie the queen is restored and takes part in the last chase. That hangar queen is the only Mark 3 sabre ever built, and is the same aircraft that was flown by Jacqueline Cochrane to her world records.
The Mark 3 was built as a Mark 2 by Canadair, and taken around to the beginning of the assembly line and fitted with an Orenda engine, thus becoming the Mark 3. Subsequent aircraft were designated Mark 4. The Mark 3 was also unarmed and was used by Canadair as a test bed. It was during that time that Jacqueline Cochrane acquired the use of the aircraft and flew it to her records. When is was retired it languished for a while and was being stripped out to lighten it for a gate guard when an alert person discovered what it was and stopped the damage. The aircraft first went to Warplane Heritage, and later to the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg.
I was involved in trying to locate parts for the restoration, but left the museum before that task was completed.
I did succeed in arranging for the transfer of ownership of the last Sabre ever built, Canadair serial number 1816, a Mark 6, from the Pakistani airforce to the WCAM where it is now on display. I understand that WCAM was unable to acquire parts to restoe the Mark 3 and has since passed it on to another museum.
For the movie, the Mark 3 was painted with USAF markings on one side only and these were still visible at the time I knew the aircraft. Larry Milberry has written an excellent book on Canadair Sabres and I can highly recommend it to anyone doing research on these aircraft.
Bruce
Hey Bruce, pretty groovy! You wouldn’t happen to have any photos of that jet layin’ around, would’ya?
Fade to Black…
Blackwolf:
If you mean the Mark 3, sorry no. The aircraft was received by WCAM in pieces. There are some photos of Jackie flying it in Larry Milberry’s book though.
If you mean 816, I don’t have any of those ether because I left Winnipeg before the aircraft was received by the museum there, however I am planning a trip back for a couple of days in the near future and can stop in and take some. It is displayed in the PAF colours and looks quite nice.
If Pixilater is reading this I can try and get some cockpit shots through some windscreens for you as well …
Regards,
Bruce
Hi guys!
If the Sabre in the hangar is a Canadair Mk3, then what version was actually used in the flying sequence (the one that had the Dragon on the tail)?
I vaguely remember it had a ‘steeper’ look to the fuselage. Was it an F-86H?
Thanks in advance.
And who do you think checked Jackie out in the F-86?, Yep that’s right folks, Chuck Yeager.