Hopefully this is NOT true. With excellent VFX houses in the UK and even
better practical effects companies worldwide, this would be an
outrageous, excessive waste of a rare historic artifact! Large scale
unmanned airplanes would be 1/10th the cost and provide better and more
reliable footage....11 Academy Awards.... Airplanes of The
Aviator...some of the best flying sequences ever put on film. Do not
plunder history for movie drivel. #SaveHistory#RareAirplane#NoWarbirdsKilledDuringFilming
“My real-world experiences as a pilot and aerospace engineer
give me a specifically unique perspective when designing unmanned air
vehicles and systems for airplanes. The really great part is being able
to truly appreciate airplanes and aircraft engine designs not only for
their historic and aesthetic value, but also as a clear manifestation of
functional art.”
— Joseph Bok, B.S. AE ’85, M.S. '99; CEO, Aero Telemetry, Inc.
Initially commissioned for a History Channel Television Show
commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the start of World War I, the
full-size replica of the Kettering Bug will now be the subject of an intense
one-hour TV documentary that will feature the various aspects of the airplanes
design, it’s secretive military history, the famous people behind the
development, and the airplane’s contribution to the advancement of early
aviation technology.
The background and technical details of the Kettering Bug
have been meticulously researched for historical accuracy and re-designed with
many of the same materials and techniques that were used to build the original.
In commemoration of the 100 year anniversary of WWI, this amazing full-size
replica is being prepared for its first flight by Joe Bok and his Aero
Telemetry Team.
Aero Telemetry was honored to have their Hughes H-1 Racer on display in the front lobby of The Academy's Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood two weeks ago. The 4 night event was a celebration of Aviation and Cinema. The first night was a presentation given by Oscar winners Craig Barron and Ben Burtt called The Illusions of Flight: Behind the Scenes of Hollywood's Aviation Classics. For those in attendence it was a packed house and an amazing presentation!
Spend an evening in Hollywood at the Academy of Motion Pictures Linwood Theater with Oscar Winners Craig Barron and Ben Burtt as they present “The Illusions of Flight: Behind the Scenes of Hollywood’s Aviation Classics” on August 14th at 7:00pm.
The presentation will feature never before seen footage of the Aero Telemetry flyable models
constructed for Academy Award winning movie The Aviator.
In addition, the event will feature Aero Telemetry's Hughes H-1 Racer Airplane as well as several other models from classic films such as the Right Stuff and Raiders of the Lost Ark which will be on display in the main lobby of the theater.
This B-29 flown by old MacCrash Hodges, weighs more than 200lbs when it is fully
loaded with fuel, smoke oil, and X1 parasite. It has been allowed to fly for many years even though it weighs more than the AMA LMA limit
of 125lbs. Hot day, high humidity, high
density altitude, number 1 engine running bad, and appears to have limited rudder control. This
is the 5th or 6th time he crashed one of these, and this
time almost takes 10 peoples heads off. It was and Always has been way over the AMA weight limit. Anyone stating this plane weighed less than 125lbs is welcome to put up $10K and lets weigh it at the AMA Headquarters and live stream it. Oh never mind, it crashed again...but you can bring all the pieces and we can weigh those.
YouTube Video B29 Crash Warbirds Over Delaware 2014
The
Spruce Goose flew several times over two days in the Long Beach Harbor.
The first test flight took place on the afternoon of Sunday November
23, 2003.
Joe Bok's rendition of the Hughes Flying Boat
made its' Hollywood Film debut on November 24, 2003. The airplane was
loaded onto a barge and moved into a location near the Queen Mary.
Several vintage Navy boats were moved into a position that would align
them with the camera and the model's anticipated flight path. The Aero
Telemetry Spruce Goose made several breath-taking flights that day.
Part of the crew launched and recovered the huge model from a floating
barge, while the flight crew were positioned on a vintage World War II
US Navy Patrol boat. Academy Award winning visual effects director, Rob
Legato, filmed the amazing footage of the Spruce Goose as it passed by
the stern of the PT boat to recreate the famous flight of the Spruce
Goose.
To read more about this incredible build and flight check out the website http://www.h4hercules.com/ for all things Spruce Goose!
