Warbird Information Exchange

Gentlemen:

Seeing the Rambo/Airwolf/Blue Thunder thread below, I am wondering if anyone out there remembers a movie called, "Endangered Species," filmed around 1981, starring Robert Urich, JoBeth Williams and Peter Coyote. The plot is based on loosely accclaimed accounts of government germ warfare testing; in this case, cattle mutilations. I almost think this movie is where the term, "Black Helicopters" originated.

The subject "Black Helicopter," a Bell UH-1B, N88976, s/n: 64-14009, modified for the movie to have a "whisper mode" rotor system, was owned by Hawkins & Powers Aviation, Inc. of Greybull, Wyoming. The "modifications" included a fairing that encompassed the engine and tapered out over the tail boom. A large circular contraption that basically made up the entire belly of the helicopter, hung low over the ground, just above the skids, (low skid configuration). Yet another fairing was installed on the nose of the machine, which hung low around the chin bubbles. The helicopter was painted completely black, with absolutely no markings, it was ugly as sin.

Its primary mission in the movie was slinging dead cattle from the kill site to the government's portable laboratories under the cover of night...with the "whisper mode" making it completely undetectable...

The movie was filmed in the Buffalo Wyoming area and was piloted by Tommy Rodman-Kershner (a former H&P pilot). I know nothing about the modifications to the Huey, or the details of the "transformation" other than a helicopter company in the northern Denver area performed all the necessary special effect additions.

For those of you who are curious, the movie is available on YouTube. Approximately :58 into the movie, the Huey makes its grand appearance during the day and it is quite a sight. The helicopter, so I am told, was in Viet Nam and served as a gunship. Hawkins & Powers acquired it sometime in the late 1970's. When I started at H&P in the late '90s, the helicopter was still operating under their Part 133 and 137 Certificates and I remember co-workers pointing out on the vertical fin where bullet hole repairs were made.

Any of you out there remember this movie, and more to the point, who modified it, how it was modified...any details I would love to hear them. Thank you.

Craig Stebbins

Can't help you with your questions, but I found a photo of this UH-1 from the set:

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
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Former REMF (US Army, O3)

A "Whisper Mode" Huey? Must have been science fiction!
Those broad blades really slap the air.

At Fairchild, the USAF still has some UH-1Ns...you can hear them 2-3 miles away (they fly over my place enroute to the Survival School training area up north in the National Forest).
Compared with the Air Ambulances and occasion other helicopters that fly over, you don't need to be Radar O'Rielly to know a Huey is coming. Ifyou haven't herard a Huey in awhile, you'd be surprised how noisy they are.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Perhaps I should have been a bit more clear with my original post. The helicopter was depicted in the movie to have a "whisper mode" rotor system, obviously not in reality...
I apologize for the confusion to those of you out there who thought I actually believed such an animal existed.
Craig

Aw c'mon, next your going to tell me that Airwolf couldn't really do MACH 1+ and Blue Thunder didn't really have whisper mode either? Spoiling all my 1980's fun.....

No confusion, I know you were talking about a film....as I said, a silent Huey would be science fiction (as opposed to a history film. romantic comedy or musical.)

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.