Warbird Information Exchange

http://www.hangar11.co.uk/gallery/12412 ... C03404.JPG

I wonder what this photo from Red Tail filming is men to convey to the public at large?

I feel its a poor attempt at showing a Africian/Negro pilot.. what do others think?

This might be seen as bad taste by other people.

If not - why the ell would someone wear a brown face mask as such?

Only reason i can think is they could get a brown skinned Czech pilot to fill in...

I think you should get out more....

The simplest explanation for this is that, for the filming needed (i.e. aerial shots where the pilot will not be seen in close-up) a mask would be a suitable substitute for the real thing.

After all, it's not like there are many black warbird pilots in the UK....

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Cheers

Daz

Formation-rated Mustang-qualified pilots with aerobatic ratings (which would be necessary, I assume, for some of the flying required) are not a dime a dozen. I would prefer that all individuals be safe both in the air and on the ground.

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"Anyway, the throat feels a bit rough...the legs have gone...but I'm still able to chant, so let's get going."

Joe Strummer, 1999

In the HBO version the pilot's had to paint their faces dark so they could fly the formation shots. Just ask Dan Martin about it.
No problem with it.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Othello.

Today's words are 'make-up'.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

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I understand its the owner of the aircraft being the pilot for the filming, not sure I would hand my p40 over to a Czech pilot simply because he had brown skin.

Like all film work this is part of the work behind the scenes to create the illusion in front of us all, chroma keying, stunt men, stand-in's, CGI, even simple acting, is all about being something that not real.

Robert Downy Jr plays a white Australian playing an Aboriginal, playing an African-American soldier in the film "Tropical Thunder", which shows the spectrum of role play acting can create.

smiles

Mark Pilkington

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20th Century - The Age of Manned Flight
"from Wrights to Armstrong in 66 years -WOW!"

Who cares? At least we won't have the gaff of a white face being reconizable in the flying shots.

Seemed to work out okay for these warbird pilots when they were filming "Tuskegee Airmen" a decade ago.

Not racism or lack of authenticity...just making sure skilled pilots can pilot the airplanes and let movie magic take care of the rest.

Personally, I don't care who the actors that are walking around on the ground. Personally, I don't care who's doing the flying. I'm going to see it for the aerial action scenes.
As Mark alluded to...as the owner of a warbird valued at over $1M, am I gonna' turn it over to someone who I don't consider qualified to fly it?
I don't care how many hours he (or she) has.
No chance, Sundance!
Paint their faces and get over it.


Mudge the harsh

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Land of the free because of the brave

Dude, really? Are you that bored?

Next thing you are going to tell us is that Star Wars is not real!

It's no different than Stunt Performers wearing wigs and costumes to match the Actor/Actress they're standing in for. I suppose if the photo were seen out of context somebody might make a stink about pilots in "blackface," but they'd probably be even more angry if the final movie showed the planes being flown by obviously Caucasian pilots.

Speaking of makeup, I notice the P-40 has the correct MTO yellow theatre stripes on the wings. The powder burns around the gun muzzles are a bit overdone, but it's a movie.

SN

Just be happy all the aircraft aren't all CGI. So, if that was your plane, would you let just anyone fly it? Real world reality of who is insured to fly the aircraft and who are actors. You're pissing in the wind to suggest otherwise.

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F-84F Simulator Project
www.f-84f.org

These pilots are not being racist at all, if anything they are trying to honor the real veterans, by making sure that a movie about them looks as accurate as possible.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Not all the aircraft will be CGI but most probably will be. Those passes the 2 P-51's were making and everyone has watching on You Tube will probably have the rest of the squadron added to the scene with CGI. 2 become 16.
Jerry

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Well done Randy as that is the picture I had in mind when I first saw this post...

Lynn