Warbird Information Exchange

I'd hardly call that a trope. It's a bit cliche'd in how it's applied in the movies, but the sentiment is completely true. A new guy isn't part of the group until he's spent some time earning his way in. That scene in Flight Of The Intruder where Razor Barlow introduces himself for the first time, and before he can get the second syllable out of his mouth, the entire squadron cuts him off, shouting, "SIT DOWN A$$HOLE!!". That scene could be ripped out of any squadron I've ever been in -- that actually just happened in my current squadron less than 12 hours ago to a new guy (friday night roll call, ohhh yeah).

And, after a man's been in combat for the first time, he's recognized as having lost his virginity as such and welcomed into the brotherhood of warriors.

_________________

I, personally, found that joking around was an effective way to deal with intense amounts of stress even while actively engaged attacking or defending. I've got several funny moments captured on my personal HUD footage that show my, my WSO, or another flight member saying something funny while the crap is fully in motion. I think it's a natural reaction to that kinds of life-or-death stress.

_________________

I have friends (and relatives) who have lost both careers and families because of this type of wife. I'd call that "hyper realistic"!

_________________

One that really grates with me is film makers will go to every length to get the right aircraft, period costumes, set dressing, etc, and then they don't get their actors to have a simple haircut before rolling the camera. I hate seeing films set in WWII with the lead actors with long 1960's or 70's haircuts. Who cares if they are Holywood's latest flash in the pan 'dreamboat', they are being paid to act, act like a 1940's person and look tidy!

Something else I have noticed about some British films, they portray American aircrew as all brash, impatient, know-it-all-about-running-a-war loadmouths. At least a few of them can't be that way?

_________________
The Wings Over New Zealand Forum http://rnzaf.proboards.com

The Wings Over New Zealand Show http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZ_Show.html

Wings Over Cambridge http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz

This one is more prevalent in 40s and 50s movies:

Good guy dies clean, no blood, and he usually takes some of the bad guys with him.

Bad guy get raked in the cockpit, canopy shatters and blood pours out of his mouth and flies everywhere.

I think it still holds true, only now they've turned it up a notch: the bad guy is completely vaporized in an enormous explosion and the good guy gets a little bloody...but nowhere near as bloody as he should be after being hit square in the chest by several thirty mike-mikes (cough red tails cough).

These are great guys, keep'em coming!

_________________
What is red, furry and on your six?

No worse than Westerns where the bad guy gets the Colt shot out of his hand and manages to not only keep all his digits, but never suffers a bit of damage to his hand. Pretty much up until 'The Wild Bunch' we never saw anyone get shot and show 'blood' on the point of impact or have 'blood' and chunks erupt out their back, thanks Sam Peckinpah.
If you can find it, watch 'Rustlers Rhapsody" with Tom Berringer which lampoons EVERY Western movie cliche` and stereotype, you'll fall off the couch laughing.

_________________
Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

The script of Redtails.

_________________
Always looking for WW2 Half-Tracks and Parts.

Mudge the succinct

_________________
Land of the free because of the brave

How about the standard love triangle when the two men finally square off, usually after drinking at least one bottle of bourbon each while looking all bothered and weepy hangdog...they duke it out, beating each other senseless with chairs, bottles, any fire pokers or tire irons etc. within reach. All the time taking the blows without comment or nary an uncomfortable grin. Then hero goes home to the girl with just a bump on the head and maybe a trickle of blood coming from his mouth and the moment she touches him with some antiseptic cloth he winces and groans, etc., like he's really been hurt. Uh....riiiigggght...the big baby!

--Tom

[quote="Dave Homewood"]One that really grates with me is film makers will go to every length to get the right aircraft, period costumes, set dressing, etc, and then they quote]
screw up the paint jobs on the planes ( Red tails- Yellow and black swatcistka's on 262's, Flyboys- every single tri-plane has to be painted red)

_________________
My racing will fund my warbirding. Hopefully...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ChristopherDeshongRacing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisDRacing

Agreed. It is especially difficult to understand given that real-life paint jobs are often so much more colorful and interesting. The only rational I can see for it, other than a lack of time or interest in doing the research, is that the producers have no confidence in their audience to distinguish one plane from another unless they are an entirely different color (taken to the extreme in movies like Top Gun, where the 'Mig-28's' are painted all black, so you KNOW they are bad guys). The colors are invariably uniform, too, except for the villain, who always has something special about his plane to distinguish it. (The yellow nose of "Pretty Boy" in Red Tails, or Darth Vader's custom Tie fighter) It makes some sense for a movie intended for a general audience, but I think it can also be a missed opportunity from and educational and aesthetic standpoint. If a ten-year-old kid can identify each and every Pokemon, he can probably tell a Messerschmitt from a Mustang without anyone repainting them.

_________________
What is red, furry and on your six?

I am sure Jack Cook will fall out of his chair for this, but didn't the Pappy thing really happen?

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I'm with Randy all the way on this one. I was about to post the same reply ( in my own words!), but he beat me to it.

Especially the wives thing. I know some darn fine wives that just can't take anymore after their husband has been on his 4th or 5th deployment in 6 years.

Agreed wholeheartedly with joking. Best way I know to break the stress sometimes.

Peeves not mentioned; people talking in a conversational voice in a Helicopter, and shots of the Pilot firing his weapons by holding the mic button back.

Oh, and the maverick pilot thing...ahhh...every hear of Pappy Boyngton or Jay Zeamer? Uncommon, absolutely; have they existed? You bet.

I'm not saying it's not "hyper-realistic", and I too know some darn fine wives and women...I'm just saying, it's a over-tired plot line that irritates ad nauseum.

--Tom