[mustangdriver]

Originally Posted by jim

And no Parachutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

URL to a 5 min. +/- battle scene. I see what ya mean about the climb rates!! And would a Nieuport just explode like that??

Still, I'll be seeing it.

[/quote]

I thought that I read somewhere that early on many WWI pilots didn't wear chutes. I could be wrong, but I can almost remember seeing that in a museum somewhere.

[jim]

I may be wrong but i dont think many pilots had them. (some observation balloonists had them)I do know that in 1916 the idea to try parachutes was discussed by the Generals and they decided against it. It was thought that the pilots would bale out too soon and a valuable aircraft could be lost or the pilots would not fight as hard if they had a means of escape. Difficult to imagine but then the powers that be didnt much care about human life in the 1st war. One Generals comment about the huge loss of life was this, "Whats the point of letting them breed if we cant use them on the battle field". Staggering insight into the class system of those days.

[Tri-motor]

Originally Posted by jim

I may be wrong but i dont think many pilots had them. (some observation balloonists had them)I do know that in 1916 the idea to try parachutes was discussed by the Generals and they decided against it. It was thought that the pilots would bale out too soon and a valuable aircraft could be lost or the pilots would not fight as hard if they had a means of escape. Difficult to imagine but then the powers that be didnt much care about human life in the 1st war. One Generals comment about the huge loss of life was this, "Whats the point of letting them breed if we cant use them on the battle field". Staggering insight into the class system of those days.

I guess Kubrick got it right in "Paths of Glory".

[JC Woodman]

I have the 2 Nieuport's they have done so far... Very nice, and somewhat less common paint schemes on these...

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Canucklehead

I merged the two threads on this one. The preview that AllenTC2 posted the link to looks impressive, but you can tell it's just going to be a popcorn movie, hopefully it doesn't live up to the "Pearl Harbor" comparison mentioned earlier.

I'm trying to have zero expectations until I see it, the preview does make it look like at least a good popcorn movie--and as its from the director of Independence Day, that's perhaps the most we should hope for

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by Commander Straker

Hey Captain Eddie,
If you live anywhere near Columbus, Ohio do yourself a favour and go see Flyboys at the Arena Grand downtown. There is no better place to see movies in Central Ohio. My wife and I are both huge movie fans and often make the trip to Columbus just to see movies at the Grand.

I do, and thanks for the tip, Commander Straker. Also, welcome to the Model Hanger II!

[djjeffhall]

Pilots didn't wear parachutes in WWI due to weight considerations. The chutes they had were to bulky to fit into the cockpits and were really heavy. Balloonist had them, but that was it. (I could be completely wrong also..... )

[JC Woodman]

Originally Posted by Hoverbug

Not to put a damper on anyone's spirits, but I've heard from a number who've seen it at advance screenings that this is a Great War "Pearl Harbor" with Fokkers that sound like P-47s, Nieuports with the rate of climb of an F-15 and a Zeppelin that fills the role of the Death Star. Apparently, every possible aviation and WWI cliche has been recycled. I had high hopes for this one given the early reports, but sure sounds like they've turned it into a CGI cheese-fest. Why they couldn't do a real movie about the Lafayette Esquadrille is baffling.

Yeah, the trailer etc. does have a certain "Pearl Harbor" feel to them... Guess I'm not so surprised but still look like it’s worth seeing.

I think the BEST WWI Air film and maybe best WW 1 film in general is... The Blue Max, w/ George Pepard! I love that film! Some great replica DR 1's, Phalz 3, and D-7's. Some mocked up Firefly's though... And 3/4 scale SE5A's

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

Pilots didn't wear parachutes in WWI due to weight considerations. The chutes they had were to bulky to fit into the cockpits and were really heavy. Balloonist had them, but that was it. (I could be completely wrong also..... )

I do not know about the parashutes being too bulky, but you are right on everything else, at least when it comes to the Allies. The German flyers had parachutes late in the war. One saved Ernst Udet's life.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

Pilots didn't wear parachutes in WWI due to weight considerations. The chutes they had were to bulky to fit into the cockpits and were really heavy. Balloonist had them, but that was it. (I could be completely wrong also..... )

Your right about the chutes early on and the balloonist had them.
But late in the war they did use them. Ernst Udet Germany's 2nd highest ace used one and it saved his life.
But for Germany's 3rd highest ace Oberleutant Erich Lowenhardt had just scored his 54th victory when he collided with Leutnant Alfred Wenz of Jasta11.Both men jumped from their planes But Lowenhardt was killed when his chute failed to open on Aug 10th 1918.
JP