Page 24 - Aerospace Valley Hybrid Air Show Program - October 5-10, 2020.....

HOLLYWOOD, from 23
the Soviet Union, the seven Project Mercury astronauts Oct. 21, 1956: Actor William Holden and
and the world of test pilots, was a critical hit that firmly other Hollywood personalities attended
stamped Edwards AFB as a star. the opening of the new base theater for a
Fast forward several years, and Hollywood switched screening of Toward the Unknown, which
had been filmed on the base. This marked
from non-fiction to science fiction when it came to the official opening of the new base theater.
Edwards Air Force Base. Deep Impact and Armaged-
don both shot scenes locally in 1998. Three installments
of the Transformers franchise, directed by Michael Bay,
took out permits to shoot on base. Transformers, followed
by Revenge of the Fallen and Dark of the Moon leap-
frogged with the first two Iron Man movies, which also
included scenes shot at Edwards.
Then The Man of Steel arrived, shortly afterward fol-
lowed with a return to reality, when Ryan Gossling por-
trayed Neil Armstrong in First Man. But it was back to
fantasy, most would agree, when Brie Larson portrayed
an Air Force test pilot with out-of-this-world super powers
in Captain Marvel.
Edwards AFB’s next role? Hard to tell. But the with
popularity of superheroes and supervillains, it seems
likely to be cast in a supporting role of someone (or
something) with superpowers. However, a reality check
that is out-of-this-world arrives this fall, when Disney+
premiers its eight-part series, The Right Stuff, a reboot of
the iconic Tom Wolfe non-fiction book.

Air Force photograph
Air Force photographs
Above: Actors Ben Affleck and Bruce Willis and director Michael Actor Brie Larson poses for a photo during the filming of Captain
Marvel at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in 2018.
Bay meet retired Maj. Gen. Richard Engel, then commander of
the Air Force Test Center, during filming of the movie Armageddon
at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Left: Actor Charles Bronson
(right) during filming of the movie X-15 at Edwards Air Force
Base, Calif., in 1961.

Hollywood comes to the Mojave Air and Space Port

by Cathy Hansen the TV series Airwolf, this helicop- Terri Nunn, lead singer of Berlin,
special to Aerotech News ter performed feats that were mind- was so graceful on the spine of the
boggling, not to mention absolutely 104. I couldn’t believe how she did a
Mojave Air and Space Port has impossible, but with the magic of backbend and released the scarf she
been the filming site for many popu- Hollywood, anything is possible! It was holding. Even though I was a lot
lar Hollywood hit movies, TV shows, attained supersonic speeds, delivered younger then, I would have fallen off
commercials and other media. countless varieties of ordnance, and and broken my neck! I still love hear-
Long before it was known as the always helped to save the day. Ernest ing that song. You can find the video
Mojave Air and Space Port, the mo- Borgnine played Dominic Santini, on YouTube at https://www.youtube.
tion picture and television industry owner of a helicopter charter busi- com/watch?v=Bx51eegLTY8.
repeatedly chose Mojave Airport as a ness and Jan Michael Vincent was the Numerous commercials for prod-
top location for commercials, TV se- Vietnam veteran and loner, Stringfel- ucts as varied as sunglasses, ciga-
ries and feature films. For many de- low Hawke. He was a helicopter pilot rettes, Laughing Cow Cheese, Toy-
cades the long runways, unobstructed who was orphaned at 12 years old. ota cars, Ford trucks, etc. have been
views and the airliner storage area He lived with his dog in the wilder- produced at Mojave Airport. Al Han-
have been the sites for special scenes ness, liked to fish and played a cello; sen’s Lockheed F-104 was hired for a
in Hollywood productions. the rest of the time he was a secret Toyota commercial and they wanted
Hollywood likes the ‘magic hour,’ Photograph by Cathy Hansen agent for the CIA. Hollywood Screen the car to be able to drive fast under
which is either sunrise or sunset. I The Airwolf TV series was filmed at Mojave Airport in 1984. Actors Guild pilot Rick Shuster flew the wing. Special ramps were devised
remember production crews asking, the Santini Air 206. This series had for the Lockheed jet fighter to raise it
“Where will the sun set, and what involves long hours. the star of the movie, Gregory Peck. a cult following of fans, much like up high enough for the car to speed
time?” People don’t realize when In 1970, Mojave Airport tenant Al The movie covers the story of U.S. Star Trek. under the wing. We saw the commer-
they go to a movie that the actors Hansen flew his Hughes 269 helicop- Army General Douglas MacArthur, I remember receiving a phone call cial on TV a couple of times. It was
were actually working at 2 a.m. when ter for the motion picture Zabriskie Supreme Allied Commander during in 1986 asking to use our F-104 to always fun to see one of our airplanes
an office building is vacant, or when Point at Mojave Airport. He also World War II and United Nations make a music video for the love song in a commercial.
outside the time is actually daybreak participated in some scenes with his Commander for the Korean War. “Take My Breath Away” from the There was a Ford truck commer-
or sunset, for lighting purposes. Kenworth truck for “Corvette Sum- MacArthur begins in 1942, follow- movie Top Gun. I said, “The F-104 cial made in the early 2000s show-
All of the extra crew members who mer.” ing the fall of Philippines, and covers is an Air Force aircraft and ‘Top Gun’ ing how tough a Ford truck is, while
build sets, set up meals and arrange The blockbuster movie MacArthur the remarkable career of this military is about Navy aircraft.” The person towing a Curtiss C-46 Commando
catering and do the special effects of- was filmed at Mojave Airport in 1977 legend up through and including the replied, “No one will know.” Well, I aircraft. Some of our aircraft were
ten have to contend with wind, dust and the original Marine Corps Air Korean War. would know! They used the 104 and lined up on each side of the runway
storms or rain. Makeup artists and Station administration building and In 1984, I remember seeing a black brought wind machines with them. for the commercial. I couldn’t get
medical teams arrive before any of tower, constructed in 1942, was used Bell 222 sitting on the ramp at Mo- The wind blew 70 mph that night and close enough to take a photo of the
the actors. They make it look easy, in the film. General Manager Dan jave Airport. It was equipped with spun the airplane around. Fortunately,
but it really is demanding work and Sabovich had his photo taken with guns and looked very sinister. In no one was near when that happened! See MOJAVE, Page 25

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