August 22, 2008
The Making of BLUE THUNDER & Roy Scheider: By Dave Herbert
In 1981, I was asked to fly my Byron F-16 in the Movie Blue Thunder. John Simone was the National Helicopter Champion then and owned and operated the company called Impact Effects, Inc. They blew up models in the movies. I had plenty of experience with my F-16, and Frank Johnson devised a set of retracts for it, thus making it perfect for the movie, so I was hired. John Simone also owned and operated the first RC helicopter manufacturing plant in the USA, called American RC helicopters. They made the Mantis and the Eagle. He was the first known person to attempt and successfully loop a RC helicopter. Only a couple of full size, specialized helis could do that, as it was not a practical maneuver for helicopters, and still isnt. He also taught me to fly helicopters, for which I am grateful.
Now we have RC Helicopters that will hover upside down. We have come a long way since 1981. Hope you enjoy this and are enlightened. Now days it is all done with computers.
Duration : 0:9:59
Filed under RC Helicopters by RC Heli Guy
Comments on The Making of BLUE THUNDER & Roy Scheider: By Dave Herbert »
Thanks. I would …
Thanks. I would love to do a Blue Thunder 2.
Great memories! …
Great memories! Shout out for R/C models too.
Thank you and …
Thank you and thanks for having me. Mike Mas interview??? Remember he did the first inverted heli landing and first tail landing. He is the Man too.
NICE Dave!
Your the …
NICE Dave!
Your the man
Thanks again for being on the show with us.
jamie
ATTF
wicked
wicked
Thanks kindly. IT …
Thanks kindly. IT was an Aerospaciale.
Aerospatiale …
Aerospatiale Gazelle (French made)
Dude you so rock! …
Dude you so rock! Blue Thunder was one of my favorite movies. Now was BT a tricked out apache?
Thanks very kindly.
Thanks very kindly.
Yes, we did some …
Yes, we did some test shots first, and then because of the color they took flat grey paint and sprayed them down, to knock off the shine for the LA shots. They were shaded in at the studio editing dept. But the ones we exploded, were all grey. Thanks for the comments.
Great Video …
Great Video NightFlyer!
Hi! Thanks for …
Hi! Thanks for posting this! I've loved the BT movie since I first saw it as a kid in the mid 80s. Must have been great fun to be part of such a cool production!
Funny how I've always thought the F16s were real until I bought the DVD and watched the specials where they showed the RCs and models shot with motion control.
One thing confuses me watching this film though, at 4:05 you fly the R/C F16. Is that a test shot? Because the wings are red and they sure weren't red in the movie…
Thanks for your …
Thanks for your kind comments.
I saw that movie in …
I saw that movie in the theater when was 9 I believe. After watching this video I have a new appreciation for the movie. Impressive work
Thanks.
Thanks.
I own this movie on …
I own this movie on DVD — and it is GREAT
Thanks very much.
Thanks very much.
Thank you. I would …
Thank you. I would love to do a Blue Thunder 2!
wow i loved this …
wow i loved this movie didn,t know you helped make it
Imagine this - REAL …
Imagine this - REAL helicopters instead of CGI. They ought to make more films like this, even if it's once in a while.
Thanks very kindly …
Thanks very kindly for your comments. I wish they would make a Blue Thunder 2.
I've always been a …
Good flying there! RESPECT!
I've always been a fan of the movie and liked it very much because of the realistic touch. Great stuff you did for the screen, this was the movie that made me like helicopters alot more!
Thanks kindly. I …
Thanks kindly. I have done other stuff, but mostly with Military RPVs since then.
Okay. PM them to me …
Okay. PM them to me. What heli mechanics does it fit?
I had no idea you …
I had no idea you were involved in this movie, great action shots Dave ! I was 10 years young when this movie came out and liked it a lot. Did you handle these kind of request a lot for other Hollywood movies ?