Somewhere in this vast goldmine of information I read a description of the video--Flight of the Phoenix. Would this airplane really fly? Seems to me that with the windscreens and passengers spaced spanwise across the wing that this would act as a spoiler; similar to those used on gliders. Any ideas on this? I believe that this would be a very good subject for a R/C model experiment. Has anyone any info on a project such as this? I'm thinking about it just as soon as I can get my bench free.

Yes, it did fly. They actually built and flew it for the movie. As I recall, after the movie was completed, the director decided he needed a few more shots of the plane. Frank Tallman, the pilot, who was retiring from oivie flying after this movie, came back to fly them and was killed during the shooting.

hmmm thats about a kick in the cohonies.

Thanks for the input, Ed, I will have to conduct more research as I believe that this would be a great subject for a scale R/C aircraft project. Thanks very much, Ed, now you have really got me thinking. Chet Clymer

I believe that it was Paul Mantz, not Frank Tallman, that died in the "Flight of the Phoenix" aircraft, when the landing gear struck the top of a sand dune during a low pass.
Roger

Yes, it was Paul Mantz who was killed during making some of the fill in flying shots at the end of the filming.

My father was the best friend of the writer of the book (Elleston Trevor) at Sevenoaks School in Kent, England, and I remember them talking about the tragedy on the 'phone. Elleston Trevor was a life-long enthusiast of aeromodelling.

-David C.

You're more than likely right. I remember Tal-Mantz the aviation company that both were partners in, but had forgotten which one was the pilot. Both were aviation greats of the near past.

Ed, you were very nearly correct. Originally, Tallman had the contract to do the flying, but was unable to due to ( if I remember correctly) an injury. Tallman asked Mantz to handle the scene that was shot at Buttercup Valley. Guess the rest is history.

I've seen pictures in Aeromodeller of an electric or rubber powered scale model which flew with all the people on the wing. About 30 inches wingspan as I recall. I'll see if I can find the pictures.

Jim

Great Movie one of my favorites. But did you know they are working on yet another remake of an old movie...

http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/f/f...thephoenix.php

It's to star Dennis Quaid. Makes you wonder what they will dream up for the airplane.....

bear cub,

I am very interested in building a movie plane someday, and the "phoenix" is top on my list. I have done some internet research, and I believe that I have traced the origin of all of the major aircraft components that went into the "phoenix". The forward fuselage is from an AT-6, it was joined behind the second cockpit with a real C-82 packet boom. The joint between the two pieces of the fuselage is, incidentally, where the aircraft failed. The wings and engine are from a C-42 transport (I will have to check my material again to be sure). I believe the crash actually occurred on the first go-around of the plane, after a botched landing.

taylorcraft1947

I believe that for the flying shots... they tied dummies on instead of having stunt men hanging on for dear life.[X(]

Here's a link to a really descriptive article that tells the full story of the aircraft used, the unfortunate crash, etc: http://stripe.colorado.edu/~steinerd/Phoenix.html