User:Fnlayson/Blue Thunder (helicopter)
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- This is a sandbox for the proposed new Blue Thunder (helicopter) article.
| Blue Thunder (fictional info) | |
|---|---|
| Type | armed police helicopter |
| Manufacturer | ??? |
| Maiden flight | 1983 |
| Primary user | LAPD |
| Number built | 1 |
| Unit cost | ~ |
| Developed from | [[ ]] |
Blue Thunder is the title character from a 1980s American film and television series. The aircraft itself was a converted Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopter. As backup to the helicopter, a ground unit, Rolling Thunder (not in the original film) was featured. This was a large support van with a desert camouflage off-road vehicle inside.
Contents |
[edit] The Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Gazelle has ...
[edit] The Blue Thunder helicopter
The helicopter used for Blue Thunder was a French-made Aérospatiale SA-341G Gazelle modified with bolt-on parts and an Apache-style canopy. Two helicopters were used in the filming of the movie in case one was grounded for maintenance issues. The helicopters were purchased by Columbia Pictures and flown to Cinema Air in Carlsbad, CA where they were heavily modified for the film. These alterations made the helicopters so heavy that various tricks had to be employed to make it look fast and agile in the film. For instance, the 360° loop maneuver at the end of the film was carried out by a radio controlled model.
The two SA-341Gs were S/N 1066 and S/N 1075 and were produced in 1973. After the film was made, the helicopter was sold to Mike Groovy, an aviation salvage collector in Clovis, New Mexico. Groovy then leased it out to a film company that was filming the made for TV movie Amerika (an ABC mini-series about Soviet occupation of the USA; the helicopters were painted black, and the surveillance microphones were missing). After he got it back it was dismantled and sold for parts.[1]
The first one was S/N 1066; Production Year 1973; temporary registered. F-WKQD to SNIAS; registered. 31/7/74 N57936 to Vought Helicopter Co.; registered. 2/10/74 N37LR to L.T. Ruth Coal Co.; sold to Kentucky Gem Coal Co. Inc. 10/10/74; purchased to Continental Flying Service, Inc. 19/11/76; regd. 17/12/76 same reg. to Continental Flying Service Inc.; 20/12/76 purchased to L.T. Ruth Coal Co.; reg. N37LR reserved 10/76; regd. 11/1/77 N37LR to L.T. Ruth Coal Co.; purchased 19/8/81 to Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.; allocated experimental reg. 28/11/83 N51BT to Columbia Pictures; purchased 25/10/84 to Mr. Michael E. Grube; w/o 23/6/94; dismantled for parts; NOTES: a) during 1981 modified for movie requirements on 1704.7 total hours done by R.W. Martin, Inc. (Cinema Air); b) used as model for film "Blue Thunder" and Amerika miniseries) (pilot: Jim Gavin).
The second SA-341G Gazelle was S/N 1075; Production Year 1973; registered. 7/8/73 N94494 to G. D. Turner (Vought Helicopters Co.); re-registered. 25/9/73 N94494 to N777GH Holley & Beck; registered 2/3/77 to F.R.B.C. Leasing Co.; leased 14/3/77 to Mocomb Contracting Corp.; leased 29/9/80 to P. Bosco & Sons, Inc. (fmr. Mocomb Contr.); 17/8/81 purchased by F.R.B.C. Leasing Co. to Moceri Management Co.; purchased 19/8/81 to Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.; allocated experimental reg. 16/11/81 N52BT to Columbia Pictures Inc.; registered 21/3/86 same reg. to Mr. Michael E. Grube; Cof Reg. cancelled 16/8/88; dismantled (scrapped) for parts, w/o; NOTE: a) during 1981 modified as movie requirements by R.W. Martin, Inc. (Cinema Air).
[edit] Airwolk text as an example
Airwolf was painted Phantom Gray Metallic (DuPont Imron 5031X) on top, and a custom pearl-gray (almost white) on the bottom, in a killer whale-like pattern. The craft was also fitted with various prop modifications, such as "turbo jet" engines and intakes, an in-air refueling nozzle and blister cowling on the nose, retractable chain guns at the wingtips, and a retractable rocket launcher, known as the "ADF Pod" (ADF standing for All Directional Firing, as the pod could rotate 360 degrees to fire at targets at the sides and rear of the copter) on its belly.
The look of the modifications was designed by Andrew Probert, [2] and they were first applied to the non-flying mock-up (built from the body of the very first Bell 222, serial number 47001). From this mock-up molds were made so that parts could be made to FAA specifications before they were added to the flying helicopter.
After the first season, the producers were advised that "chain guns" is a registered trademark of McDonnell Douglas, and they were not referred to as such again. Other modifications were implied with Foley and sets; the interior sets were of a fantastical high-tech nature, and there were implied "stealth" noise-reducing capabilities with creative use of sound effects. Airwolf is sometimes referred to in-show as "The Lady" by Santini and Hawke.
The concept behind Airwolf was a super fast and armed helicopter that could "blend in" by appearing to be civilian and non-military in origin- A "wolf in sheep's clothing." Airwolf's insignia patch (also designed by Probert) as worn by the flight-crew was a snarling wolf's head with gossamer wings that appears to be wearing a sheepskin complete with the head of lamb over the wolf's forehead.
In the show, Airwolf was an armored, stealth aircraft, invisible to conventional radar. It could perform impossible maneuvers and stunts, including traveling at mach speeds (the theoretical maximum speed of a helicopter is significantly below Mach 0.5, or half the speed of sound), flying upside down, and flying into the stratosphere. Some of these impossible capabilities are explained in the show by such features as auxiliary turbojet engines like those of a jet fighter (visible at the roots of the landing gear sponsons), rotor blades that can be disengaged for supersonic flight and a lifting body fuselage (a seemingly-plausible claim given the shape of the Bell 222).
Sound effects were also associated with many of the aircraft's abilities. When Airwolf bolted across the sky in "turbo boost" mode, one would hear it "howl like a wolf" as it made a glass-shattering sound effect. When sitting idle, the aircraft made a mechanical trilling sound, and while hovering the rotor blades made a ghostly wind drone.
The weapons were state-of-the-art, with machine guns that could rip apart tanks and bunkers. The belly missile pod could fire a variety of rockets, including Air-to-Surface Mavericks, Hellfire and heat-seeking Sidewinders. When fired, these rockets usually glowed like a laser bolt or "photon torpedo" in Star Trek. Airwolf was also equipped with an advanced computer system which could identify and track aircraft and ground vehicles. It could display 3D wireframe models and schematics of its targets. The communications system could eavesdrop on radio and telephone conversations, tap into and foul up computer systems, jam enemy transmission frequencies and disrupt ground-based electrical systems. The weapons system could be tied in with the communications system to lock the missiles onto any monitored electronic system. Though never used in the show, Airwolf was also equipped with “nuclear-tipped Shrike missiles”. The button that fires these missiles is near the button that turns on the signal decoder (used to communicate with Archangel).
In one episode ("Airwolf II"), Airwolf had an evil twin, the Airwolf II, also known as Redwolf. The Redwolf was built by The Firm to replace Airwolf, but was stolen and flown by an egotistical test-pilot rival of Stringfellow Hawke’s called Harlan Jenkins. Redwolf differed from Airwolf in that its underbelly was painted red (where Airwolf' was painted pearl-grey). It was also equipped with a powerful laser weapon. By the end of the episode, Redwolf was destroyed by Airwolf. Season 4 also featured a similar copter to the Redwolf, known as the Scorpion. This copter was also destroyed by Airwolf (though the footage of the dogfighting was recycled from the "Airwolf II" episode).
[edit] Specifications
[edit] Airwolf vs. Bell 222
| Bell 222 | "Airwolf" | |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 (pilot & copilot) | 2-3 (pilot(s) & weapons technician) |
| Passengers | 5–6 | 1-2 (non-crew may use the copilot seat and/or a seat behind the technician's seat) |
| Length | 49.54 ft (15.1 m) | |
| Height | 11.68 ft (3.56 m) | |
| Weight | 4,555 lb (2,066 kg) | unspecified |
| Speed | 149 mph (240 km/h) | 345 mph (555 km/h) conventional Mach 1.5 with turbo thrusters Mach 2 max speed |
| Range | 373 mi (600 km) | 950-1450 mi (1529-2334 km) |
| Ceiling | 12,800 ft (3,901 m) | 11,000 ft (3,353 m) unpressurized 89,000 ft (30,482 m) pressurized |
| Power (x2) | 618 hp (461 kW) | unspecified |
[edit] Missiles
- The ADF pod's missile tubes were only large enough to carry the Redeye missiles (FIM-92 Stinger is the modern equivalent). For example, Airwolf is about 13 meters long (42 ft), and a typical Maverick, Shrike or Sidewinder missile is about 3 meters long (10 ft), about 1/4th the length of Airwolf. Actual 40 mm cannon would be about the same size, which is why aircraft, especially helicopters, do not carry them, except for small, short range 40 mm grenade launchers.
- In pre-development sketches Airwolf was depicted as having the capability to carry larger missiles in internal compartments on either side of the ADF pod, to include AIM-4/26(nuclear) Falcon Missiles. These capabilities were never displayed in the series, but could explain the scripting of larger missile capability. However footage in the pilot clearly shows a "large missile" (i.e. greater length than the practical limit of the ADF pod) being fired from the ADF pod (the Bullpup missile fired at the US Destroyer). A possible but also highly unlikely explanation would be that Airwolf uses tailor made versions of these missiles.
- With a fuselage height of about 2 meters (6 ft),it is dubious that Airwolf could carry the larger fin missiles such as the AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-12 Bullpup, and the proposed AIM-26 Falcon, which had wingspans of about 0.6 to 0.9 meters (2 to 3 ft). Storing these internally, let alone 12 large AIM or AGM missiles, instead of the smaller Redeyes, would mean no crew areas, and would exceed the practical limit of the fuselage, let alone the ADF pod. Ammunition feed from the fuselage, through the turbojet engines, then through the landing gear, to the guns in wing stubs, no matter what size caliber, was equally dubious.
- In Andrew Probert's original concept sketches, the AIM-26 Falcon (about 6 feet long with a 2 feet wingspan), which were proposed to be mounted in hatches on either side of the ADF pod, were rejected by the studio. Waist guns, just aft of the camera section, were also rejected, due to practical reasons.
[edit] Trivia
- In reality, the Aerospatiale Gazelle helicopter (used in Blue Thunder) was more maneuverable and faster, with a 3-bladed main rotor and fenestron tail rotor, plus a top speed of 310 km/h (193 mph), while the Bell 222 helicopter (Airwolf) had a 2-bladed main and 2-bladed tail rotor (the same system as the Vietnam era UH-1 Huey and AH-1 Cobra), and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). However, the actual Gazelle with the Blue Thunder modifications was only capable of about 90 mph because of the weight of the add-ons.[citation needed]
[edit] Other stuff
- The LAPD Bell 206B JetRangers were painted to the same style of the LAPD JetRangers for that era. Two JetRangers were used for the film and both were owned by Cinema Air.
- The helicopter and Los Angeles television station use a 3/4" Sony U-Matic VCR.
- This was one of Warren Oates' last films before his death. He died of a heart attack after making this film. This film is dedicated to him. He made one movie and one TV episode that were released after Blue Thunder.
- The two F-16 Fighting Falcons were actually scale models.
- The F-16 pilots are supposedly operational air defense alert pilots from March Air Force Base, in Riverside, California. However, they are wearing Air Force Systems Command patches on their chests, and shoulder patches from the 445th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, which was a flight test unit, manned solely by test pilots. The 445th did not participate in combat operations.
- A caption at the beginning of the Blue Thunder movie states that all the high-tech-equipment features of the helicopter are real and were actually used by the military at the time. The exception was "Whisper Mode" which does not exist on any flying helicopter.
- The helmet-controlled gun turret and Target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS) was inspired by the AH-64 Apache, which uses an "Integrated Helmet And Display Sight System" (IHADSS), wherein the nose-mounted sensors and the 30 mm chain gun are linked to the gunner's helmet.
- The bolt-on cockpit of the original helicopter used to be visible on the backlot tour of MGM Studios in Florida. It has not been present in the 'bone yard' since at least 2005. Previous images can be found here.
- The first draft of the screenplay for Blue Thunder featured Frank Murphy as more of a crazy main character with deeper psychological issues, who went on a rampage and destroyed a lot more of the city.[3]
- The 1983 film had originally been up for sequalization by Columbia Pictures. When Columbia opted to do the television series, Roy Scheider had been approached to star in it. He refused the offer.[citation needed]
- A total of four types of helicopters appear in the film.
- Bell 206B JetRanger (Los Angeles Police Helicopters)
- SA-341G Gazelle (Blue Thunder)
- AS-350D AStar (Seen at the news helicopter covering the unfolding events between Blue Thunder and the LAPD)
- Hughes 500D (Piloted by F.E. Cochran against Blue Thunder)
- The Blue Thunder mockup was also used in the movie Firefox (1982) for interior cockpit shots of the Mil Mi-24 helicopters in the movie.
- The Blue Thunder helicopter was used in the premiere episode of MacGyver (1985).
- Blue Thunder, a game for the Action Max, using footage from the movie.
- In a television commercial for Wang Laboratories, a modified Blue Thunder with wing mounted missiles was featured, sneaking up and hovering outside of a skyscraper's windows, to intimidate a competitor.
- The ABC TV miniseries Amerika from the late '80s, about the invasion of the U.S. by the USSR, featured two Blue Thunder helicopters, painted black and wearing Red Star insignias, posing as Russian helicopters on patrol.
- A French reprint of a Tom Clancy's Op-Center novel entitled Chaostage features a photo of Blue Thunder on the cover.[4]
- In the 2005 Doctor Who episode "Dalek", Blue Thunder appears in stock footage as "Bad Wolf 1", the villain's helicopter.
