movie "Flyboys"

evangilder · 04-29-2007, 04:11 PM

Well, if I don't get any air-to-air, I should still get some great shots. I just ordered a Sigma 50-500mm lens for the Nikon. That should give me all the reach I need for the future for a while. It should arrive by friday.

FLYBOYJ · 04-29-2007, 04:47 PM

Dude - that looks like it should be on the nose of a B-25!

lesofprimus · 04-29-2007, 05:30 PM

No sh!t.... Amazing lens...

evangilder · 04-29-2007, 08:29 PM

There is a reason for it, besides having the further reach. I am a little ahead of schedule on profits this year for the photo biz. The only way to keep from paying hefty business taxes (You know how it is Dan), is to re-invest in the business. So it's a real shame.

I was looking originally at the Nikkor 80-400mm, but after reading the specs and reviews on the Sigma, I knew I had the lens I was looking for. The real fun part about this one is if I put a 2x multiplier on it, I could take a picture of you flying in Colorado, Joe!

Edit: The huge benefit of the lens is the weight. Even though it's 50-500, it's only about 4.5 pounds. If you look at the beast in my hands in my sig, that one tips the scales at 7.5 pounds. While that doesn't sound like much, try holding it in front of you while twisting a zoom ring all day long.

timshatz · 04-30-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

Actually that was how the first air to air kills were recorded in WW1. The first aircraft were not fighters but rather Recon aircraft and they carried pistols obviously encase they crashed. When they saw another aircraft they would sometimes engage it with there pistol.

Point well made. The original guys did bang away at each other with everything from Shotguns to pistols. Some crazy russian even had a grappling hook and line of rope hanging from his aircraft trying to grab the other aircraft. I think he ended up ramming them with his undercarriage while trying to get the hook to work. Lanoe Hawker (Von Richtoffen's 10th kill?) got his first kills by rigging a carbine at 45 degrees from his line of flight (to avoid the prop) and shooting a couple of aircraft down that way (using a Bristol Scout). So there was a historical presedence for the act.

But the scene in the movie was rough to watch. German on our hero's tail, our hero loops and shoots the German through the head with his trusty service revolver. All this requires the German to go from being ace of the skies to idiot of the world in less time than it takes our hero to do his loop (seeing as he was sitting there fat, dumb and happy when our hero shoots), some incredible accuracy for our hero to fire across the space between the two airplanes (both moving at odd speeds over rough air) and hit the German with one shot (very economical on ammunition).

Dear Hollywood, I understand the "willing suspention of disbelief" is a requirment in a movie. But I'd have to be a moron to believe some of the stuff (not all but some) in that movie was accurate. In short, you're killing me!

amrit · 04-30-2007, 10:01 AM

Does anybody have any information about Lt Harlou P Neibling who received a DSC? I know he shot down a plane with .45 pistol, but can't find any specifics. I believe he was in a balloon which was attacked.

EDIT - found his citation, but no mention of the Fokker being shot-down:

NEIBLING, HARLOU P.
First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army
Observer, 2d Balloon Squadron (Attached), A, Air Service, A.E.F.
Date of Action: September 2, 1918
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harlou P. Neibling, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for repeated acts of extraordinary heroism in action at Brouville, France, September 2, 1918, and near Fort Du Marre, France, September 26, 1918. While Lieutenant Neibling was making an aerial reconnaissance from a balloon, he was repeatedly attacked by enemy planes, two of which dived at the balloon and opened fire with incendiary bullets. With great coolness he fired at one of them with his pistol and took a picture of the plane with his camera. When the balloon took fire he was forced to jump, but he took two more pictures on the way down in spite of being fired upon. He re-ascended as soon as a new balloon could be inflated. On September 26 this officer was again attacked while conducting a reglage, but hanging from the basket with one arm he fired his pistol at one of the enemy planes and jumped only when his balloon burst into flames. He immediately continued his mission in another balloon.
General Orders No. 46, W.D., 1919
Birth: Huron, SD
Home Town: Minneapolis, MN

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 04-30-2007, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timshatz

But the scene in the movie was rough to watch. German on our hero's tail, our hero loops and shoots the German through the head with his trusty service revolver. All this requires the German to go from being ace of the skies to idiot of the world in less time than it takes our hero to do his loop (seeing as he was sitting there fat, dumb and happy when our hero shoots), some incredible accuracy for our hero to fire across the space between the two airplanes (both moving at odd speeds over rough air) and hit the German with one shot (very economical on ammunition).

Dear Hollywood, I understand the "willing suspention of disbelief" is a requirment in a movie. But I'd have to be a moron to believe some of the stuff (not all but some) in that movie was accurate. In short, you're killing me!

Yes you are correct there...

Negative Creep · 05-01-2007, 07:45 PM

I tihnk the best way to treat the film is as a Boy's Own adventure. Forget notions of realistic situations or physics, don't worry about the talky bits, enjoy the flying scenes.

Now, if only someone would do a WW2 version. And not involve anyone who was in any way connected with Pearl Harbour

mkloby · 05-01-2007, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Negative Creep

I tihnk the best way to treat the film is as a Boy's Own adventure. Forget notions of realistic situations or physics, don't worry about the talky bits, enjoy the flying scenes.

Now, if only someone would do a WW2 version. And not involve anyone who was in any way connected with Pearl Harbour

Can we still have a scene with a dramatic main landing gear attack???

evangilder · 05-01-2007, 08:38 PM

You seem to really like that scene, Matt. Don't you go trying that with any of those taxpayer paid for machines you have been parking your butt in, Marine.

Soundbreaker Welch? · 05-01-2007, 10:17 PM

mkloby · 05-01-2007, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evangilder

You seem to really like that scene, Matt. Don't you go trying that with any of those taxpayer paid for machines you have been parking your butt in, Marine.

Why not? You'll just pay for another one, won't you???

evangilder · 05-02-2007, 12:06 AM

Gnomey · 05-02-2007, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkloby

Can we still have a scene with a dramatic main landing gear attack???

Also got to have the flying straight through the Zeppelin scene as well...

evangilder · 05-02-2007, 07:52 AM

Lets modify one scene...
The pilots pull up side by side, both out of missiles. Our hero slides open his canopy to draw his service revolver. As soon as he lifts it, the slipstream grabs it, flings it out of his hand and into the waiting jet intake. He FODs himself out as the other pilot laughs at his stupidity.