MovieChat Forums > Death Hunt (1981) Discussion > What was the name of the plane?

What was the name of the plane?


I'm not to up on my WW1 error planes, what was the type of Bi-plane used in the movie?

Our last message to you is, "Live as You please!"-Dessert

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If I were to venture a guess, after a little looking I believe it is the British SE 5A. Here is a link to a model of it:

http://www.aviation-models.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AM&Product_Code=G202&Category_Code=BWW1-200

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It appears to be mostly a Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny", with a few modifications.
http://www.airminded.net/jenny/jenny.html

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Can't be a Jenny. After looking at the photos on the website you posted, the real Jenny had the lower wing considerably shorter than the top one. The movie plane has both wings equal length. And both wings end shape are far different from the photos of a real Jenny.

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As a semi-educated identification , it appeared to be a De Havilland , probably a D.H.4 , that had some minor , post WW1 , modification . As reference , I'm using "Airplanes of the World" , by Douglas Rolfe (published by Simon and Schuster , 1954) .
While on the topic of airplanes specific to the "hunting of the mad trapper" , the fine book (my opinion) entitled "The Death of Albert Johnson" , by F.W.Anderson and Art Downs (published by Heritage House) attributes the downing of Baron von Richthofen to W.R."Wop"May's "decoying" ( ! ) of the "Red Baron" ( on May's very first mission ! ! ) into the guns of fellow Canadian Airman , Roy Brown - who took credit for the killing of the German "super ace" . Worthy of note is the fact that no less than ten separate individuals have laid claim to the downing of von Richthofen . The most recent investigation of which I'm aware (2004) tends to very strongly disagree with both the "decoy" statement , and the possibility that von Richthofen was defeated by airborne M.G. fire . Computer analysis and forensics support the likelihood that the German commander was brought down when he flew directly over an Australian A.A. position , at low altitude .
Regardless , fine book - great film !

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In searching Google Images, the wing shape and length would tend to confirm your post.

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The plane was a definitely a Bristol F2B "Brisfit" Fighter. A WWI 2 seat fighter. The give-away is its detached lower wing. If you look carefully you'll notice a space between the fuselage and the bottom wing. It was fast and maneuverable and fooled many German pilots thinking it was a slow and sluggish observation plane. They would line up behind expecting an easy kill not, knowing there was a rear gunner, and get shot up. See the picture below.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Ross_Smith_Bristol_Fighter.jpg

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Definitely a Bristol Fighter. Check "Aircraft in Profile" # 21. Can't tell if it's an original or a replica; if a replica it's a pretty good one, except for the upper wing- mounted machine gun. The F2B had a synchronised Vickers mounted centrally in front of the pilot


Headly Lamarr

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