Studio Stills - John Wayne "Jet Pilot "

[CDF]

Howler of a film, but the studio stills are good value, found them here

http://www.doctormacro.com/Movie%20Summ ... 0Pilot.htm

[rreis]

proof that "russian" pilots do look better

[The Inspector]

Actually, it's sort of an important film from an aviation history perspective. At the beginning of the film actor Paul Fix, shown standing with Wayne and Janet Leigh (Wayne and Fix were long time friends, Fix appeared in a lot of the mid 30's 58 minute 'LONESTAR' oaters that Wayne made before STAGECOACH shot him to mega stardom) fires the guns on a very early F-86 equipped with muzzle cover doors which didn't last long due to repeated jamming issues. The F-94A is either numero uno. or a very very early model, the black F-89 is the prototype SCORPION. The rest of the movie is pure bovine byproduct

I'm a huge fan of those old, cheap B&W 56 minute 'B' Westerns, especially the semi serialized ones done by REPUBLIC and shot out in the then remote Simi Valley or Vasquez Rocks off Hwy 14. You wonder how could the whole town NOT know what the evil 'Colonel' rancher was doing?

[JohnB]

In photo #2, look at the New Navions and Swift.
I wonder where those were taken....Van Nuys?
A GA airport with runways long enough or the F-86 and F-94 (in background of photo 2)?

The F-94 49-2479 is the first production F-94.

[The Inspector]

A better shot with a clearer background (or someone with a better photo shop program) so you could read the FBO's name on he hanger would pin point where the pictures were taken, one of the issues with medium format cameras was lack of depth of field, with all the N.A. new iron I'd guess Mines Field (now LAX)since that's where N.A. was located. Anyone recognise the mountains in the background?

[CDF]

Location filming took place primarily at Edwards Air Force Base and Hamilton Air Force Base, California. Location filming for the Russian air base was done at George Air Force Base, a World War II air base with many of its wartime structures still intact, giving the base a primitive appearance. The 94th FS and its parent 1st Fighter Group were actually based at George during filming, and had just finished a deployment to Ladd Air Force Base, Alaska, as depicted in the storyline.

Barlett, Donald L. & James B. Steele, Howard Hughes: His Life & Madness, W. W. Norton & Company, 2004 ISBN 0393326020

[The Inspector]

Not a lot of FBO's @ Hamilton, Edwards, or George in those days.

I just took another look @ the picture of Paul Fix, Wayne, and Janet Leigh, and I think the hangar reads NEO-AIR and says RYAN NAVION below that. Anyone have NEO-AIR ring a dusty old bell?
RYAN bought the rights to the NAVION from N.A. for $8 Milion in 1948 when the demand for F-86's overloaded N.A.'s floor space and manpower. (sidebar, about 3 years ago I spotted a RANGEMASTER NAVION on tie down in Twin Falls, ID.)

[Dan Johnson II]

I'm sorry, but that movie is worth it for Janet Leigh. Terrible story, but the eye candy, whether it be the jets or her, is well worth it

[The Inspector]

I'm sorry, but that movie is worth it for Janet Leigh. Terrible story, but the eye candy, whether it be the jets or her, is well worth it

You just like those early 50's Cadillac style 'Dagmars' (me too!!)-kids, go ask your parents or grand parents

[tom d. friedman]

great still pics from a lame movie. i'm surprised that hughes put his name on it regardless of his mental state. it was way over budget, & consumed to much time in filming w/ hughes's quirky changes. i guess it's true........ money talks, b.s. walks!!

[mustanglover]

Not a lot of FBO's @ Hamilton, Edwards, or George in those days.

I just took another look @ the picture of Paul Fix, Wayne, and Janet Leigh, and I think the hangar reads NEO-AIR and says RYAN NAVION below that. Anyone have NEO-AIR ring a dusty old bell?
RYAN bought the rights to the NAVION from N.A. for $8 Milion in 1948 when the demand for F-86's overloaded N.A.'s floor space and manpower. (sidebar, about 3 years ago I spotted a RANGEMASTER NAVION on tie down in Twin Falls, ID.)

NEO-AIR
RYAN NAVION SALES SERVICE

[mustanglover]

Found on Navion Type Certificate No. A-782

(d) 20 gal. installation in accordance with Dwg. and 14 lb. (+132) Navion
Installation Kit No. CJKM 3100, Neo Air, Inc., Navion A
Metropolitan Airport, Van Nuys, California.
Add the following placard in front and in clear view
of the pilot:
"Aux. fuel tank to be used in level flight only."

[mustangdriver]

Is this the one where they dogfight with the X-1 at the end?

[Jerry O'Neill]

Chris, the X-1 doesn't dogfight with the "Mig-86's". Janet flames two with her T-33 while John Wayne is landing the X-1. I love the X-1 sequences. Nice and clear on the big screen.
Jerry

[The Inspector]

That's X-1ski to you lacky capitalist dog.
Thought the Soviets did develop (sort of) an X-1 knockoff that was dropped from under the wing of a Tu-4 BULL, recall seeing a picture of it somewhere

Last edited by The Inspector on Fri Dec 23, 2011 6:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.