TBM's from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"

Aircraft Mech Paul · **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2006 11:08 am

Hi,

I was watching the movie on the Sci-Fi channel and a question occured to me. What ever became of those TBM's that were used in the film ? Where did they come from and what became of them after the film was completed ?

Paul

CH2Tdriver · **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2006 11:42 am

Here's a tidbit;
If during that scene you crank up your volume and listen carefully you'll hear the following conversation in amidst all the background noise--

"...they're Grumman TBF's"
"No, they're General Motors that makes them TBM's!"

Somebody knowledgable on the script writing team felt that should be inserted!

Pete

Aircraft Mech Paul · **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2006 11:48 am

CH2Tdriver wrote:

Here's a tidbit;
If during that scene you crank up your volume and listen carefully you'll hear the following conversation in amidst all the background noise--

"...they're Grumman TBF's"
"No, they're General Motors that makes them TBM's!"

Somebody knowledgable on the script writing team felt that should be inserted!

Pete

Interesting trivia....never knew that one. Someone must have known his stuff about the planes enough to make that comment.

Paul

m50a1ontos · **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:03 pm

And if you look even closer...one is an F6F! :lol:

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:25 pm

I liked when they pulled a 1945 calendar out of one plane - just how long a flight were they planning? And it was the wrong month, anyway...

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2006 4:40 pm

The TBM that was started in the movie, #82, was a CAF plane and was assigned to the AZ wing not long after that. It is now with a CAF wing in Colorado.

Ollie · **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2006 5:39 pm

That Frenchman scientist in the movie has the same name as me : Lacombe.

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2006 7:45 pm

CAF TBM "82" was once a bug sprayer based in Simsbury, CT. before the CAF aquired it.
There were about nine of them there through the 1960's, along with a B-18 Bolo. The TBM's were ex-Canadian Navy aircraft.
Jerry

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:30 pm

f6f??? i'm gonna have to watch it in slow mo!!!

lvkeith83 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:06 pm

Hi guys,

The darker blue and grey TBM in the background is the Connie Edwards TBM-3E 53119 N33BM , the Hellcat, I believe is the ex-Sandberg

F6F-5 NX1078Z

m50a1ontos · **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:12 pm

I remember seeing CEOTTK when it came out in the drive in's....even as a kid that Hellcat stuck out like a sore thumb to me....couldn't help blurting that fact out..... :lol:

Ollie · **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2006 7:58 am

At least they used a Grumman product. They could have went for a T-28 or a P-47.

:wink:

Aircraft Mech Paul · **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:21 am

Hmmmm,

I guess I am gonna have to watch the movie again....never noticed that there was a Hellcat in the "TBM/TBF" line-up. I guess I outta pay closer attention :lol:

Paul

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:52 pm

They way they used the F6F was in a head-on shot as the camera's panned from one TBM to another. It was the best way to suggest a "fifth" TBM without seeing most of the aircraf. From directly in front, the Hellcat has a chin scoop and roughly the landing gear in the same location as a TBM. From the head on shot used in CETK, it is most notably, shorter than a TBM.
Jerry

duncan · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:04 pm

CE3K "TBM 82" - the one whose engine started - now belongs to the Grand Junction Wing CAF and tours the western USA airshow circuit by invitation. Photos and more available on http://www.rockymountainwingcaf.org

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TBM's from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"

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