I wonder if anyone out there with some knowledge of aircraft can answer this question for me:
The small blue and silver planes that Ryack says are illegal in the States -- what kind of planes are they? And why are they illegal?
Hi, willywag,
The aircraft you are refering to is the Helio H-395 Super Courier I believe. Sorry, but it's been a very long time since I've watched Air America. As far as I know they were never banned by the the FAA, but I'm not much of an aircraft historian. Hope that answers part of your question.
That is incorrect, the airplane he is refering to is the small high wing turboprop, Pilatus Porter PC-6. That thing rules. It is super rugged and can do super short field takeoffs. And why do these dusches rate this movie so low. Even lower then "Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill."
This is a great movie!
BTW, the PC-6 was actually never "illegal" in the states, it just wasn't "certified", meaning Pilatus hadn't jumped throught the FAA hoops that are required. Anyway that has since changed, they're are several PC-6's in the U.S. with U.S. registrations. Previously the aircraft could have flown in the U.S., it just couldn't have U.S. registration.
shareI wonder what the landing roll is on that thing. It's been a while since I've seen the movie, but there's a scene where they land one on the mountainside and it looks like they do it in 100 feet or so.
The hand crank for the flaps looked pretty cool, but I don't think I'd want to use a hand crank every time.
One reason may be the movie's allegations that Air America, with the CIA's sanction, actively transported heroin during ops in the Opium Triangle. The CIA, ex-CIA officials, and the civilian pilots who flew for Air America all rigorously deny this (and the evidence, or lack thereof, backs them up), though all agree some hidden smuggling very likely occurred without the pilots' knowledge.
The media hoopla around these allegations raises suspicions that "Air America" is just more Hollywood left-wing anti-war/anti-CIA revisionist propaganda, and might contribute something to the low ratings.
Actually, the documents released by the CIA supply the proof that not only was the CIA smuggling heroin out of the Golden Triangle during the Vietnam era, it was actually allowing the Mafia to do it in exchange for supplying the CIA with the occasional hit man for their dirty work. There are several books that document this activity and much more. The bet one IMO is the one on the secret history of LSD titled, "Acid Dreams." It has a huge reference bibliography. Read up and have your bubbles burst. But there's enough condemnation for all sides therein. Good reading, highly recommended if you really want to learn history of a truly out of control era. However,it is likely true that the pilots would not have known because it was a classified CIA operation and pilots would not have been cleared. But I personally know about USAF officers who smuggled heroin from Vietnam into Travis AFB and McClellan AFB in Northern California. Hell's Angels were the distributors. Heroin was often stuffed into body cavities of dead soldiers, and sometimes inside aircraft works.
The low rating is likely due to something close to what you are saying. I think it is more due to corruption fatigue. In the past decade or so the social mind is such that you can hit people with just about anything and they won't care. They don't want to hear about it. Good example is how we went from a huge reaction over Clinton's "inhale" scandal to electing a President who admits in a book that he not only smoked dope, snorted coke, and was a poor student in college, but dressed like a pimp. Everyone wants to hear lies as long as they sound good, and hear promises, even if they sense their impossibility.
If you mean that Obama was a poor student, he went to Harvard Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude 1991. I am not sure he "dressed like a pimp" either, but that is probably personal interpretation. His drugs admission are true.
Good comment.
And to add, the more things change the more they stay the same.
I'm reading a book now called America's "War on Terrorism" by Michel Chossudovsky and it's a real interesting read.
According to him part of the reason for the invasion of Afghanistan was to secure the CIA's place as the preeminent drug dealer for heroin. After the invasion opium production when way up. I believe him based on his references. Also how many times have you heard Soldiers and Marines complain that one of their jobs over there was to protect poppy fields. "War on Drugs" my a$$!
Just like the CIA's reprehensible behavior in Central America just to make money on Coke.
A disgusting government agency working hand in hand with filthy, corrupt politicians who's only concern is money and power.
The humble, hardworking people of this earth deserve so much better but the sad thing is they'll never get it.
Outstanding-I know this is a 2 year old thread but I have been looking High and Low for the type of Aircraft that was- Thank you
shareHey!
I've just one thing to add concerning the Pilatus "Porter" PC-6.
In europe it's a custom plane use to drop paras.
This film is really great because pilots speak like pilots and everything they do with their planes can be real: I don't know who fly these airplanes but they are incredible. Just look at the landing on the small peace of field on the wooden hill for the first flight of Billy...When you know how it's hard to fly the pilatus during normal landings and takes off...
I just rented this movie and had to know what that airplane was. It was long, lean, and looked a torpedo. In was awestricken at first glance. I came to IMDB in the hope someone had posted info on that plane. Thanks guys, that plane is awesome.
share