Airsicknessbag From Germany, joined Aug 2000, 4726 posts, RR: 31 Posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 885 times:
Hi everybody,
if you feel nostalgic for the golden age of air travel, go watch that movie. I´d guess half of it is based around Leonardo di Caprio´s character impersonating a PA pilot - which guarantees some nice scenes involving the 60s aviation scene.
I hear the movie is very close to the real story, so the potrayal of PA is probably quite realistic.
All in all, a very nice movie which is even more entertaining if you´re into aviation.
Cedarjet From United Kingdom, joined May 1999, 7029 posts, RR: 44 Reply 1, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 14 hours ago) and read 863 times:
There is some nice aviation stuff in this slightly overlong film - TWA terminal, lots of cute hosties, 707 interiors (including one at the end of the film when he's being brought from France to the US much later in the story, in the 70s - a TWA 707). Of course it's mostly Pan Am, but like I said the action also includes TW.
One boo-boo, for di Caprio's first jumpseat ride ("can you tell me which seat the jumpseat is, I haven't done this for a while"), it's an MD80 cockpit posing as a 707.
If you want a taste of 1960s aviation, you'll love the film.
Yes! Senator Obama. We are ready to believe again.
Corsairf/a From France, joined Oct 2000, 373 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 742 times:
Went last night to watch the movie and I really like it with all the 60's aviation golden age flavour. The famous Pan Am building in New-York is back with the big Pan-Am board signs as well.
That was the best time for a job in the aviation industry whatever position you had, glamorous, well paid, fancy and well mannered passengers.
Ual777contrail From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 631 times:
very good movie, funny when the captain was being catered to apon arriving at the hotel. the little boy said "can i have your autograph" thats when pilots were pilots.
Airsicknessbag From Germany, joined Aug 2000, 4726 posts, RR: 31 Reply 8, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 626 times:
OK OK, if everyone points out the inevitable mistakes: the plane in which Handratty and Abagnale land at New York in the end is definitely not a 707. But let´s face it, every movie has tons of mistakes, there are whole websites dedicated to this. It IS a very nice movie nevertheless - glad to see this seems to be consensus here
NOTAM-J From United States, joined Mar 2001, 81 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 586 times:
Overall, a great movie which is even more enjoyable for the aviation enthusiasts. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to experience the height of the PanAm and TWA era, but I enjoyed the feel and humor that this movie replicated of aviations "golden age." If only today's industry mirrored those times.
There were a few technicalities in the movie, but nothing the general movie going public would probably catch. My favorite was when Frank Jr. was being escorted by FBI agent Tom Hanks, and he made the reference to LaGuardia's airport runway 44, which most of us know is impossible. Runway numbers do not extend past 36!!! Fun movie.
If only I had a nickel for every Boeing vs Airbus posting...
CactusA319 From United States, joined Jan 2000, 2916 posts, RR: 23 Reply 11, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 570 times:
Another mistake that hasn't been mentioned-or more like artistic license- is when DiCaprio escapes the feds through the aircraft lav towards the end of the movie. That's practically impossible in real life.
BURules From United States, joined May 2000, 60 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 542 times:
It's funny the stuff us geeks will catch.
All in all, however, I thought it was much more accurate than other movies, which just use some public domain footage of a plane whenever they need one, and usually end up showing some ancient equipment that hasn't been flown in years.
One thing: don't forget he lived his life as an impostor -- he very well could have meant Rwy 44. He never actually flew a plane, just dead-headed everywhere.
Pilot1113 From United States, joined Aug 1999, 2333 posts, RR: 11 Reply 13, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 510 times:
>>Another mistake that hasn't been mentioned-or more like artistic license- is when DiCaprio escapes the feds through the aircraft lav towards the end of the movie. That's practically impossible in real life.<<
If you read the book, you will find that Abagnale actually did just that. He asked Hanratty (whose name has been changed for the movie) if he could use the lav and locked himself in there until landing, then jumped out.
CactusA319 From United States, joined Jan 2000, 2916 posts, RR: 23 Reply 14, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 477 times:
Actually I know Abagnale claims he jumped out through the lav. But in a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly, an aviation industry expert claims that this can't be done by a full-size person. The space is too small. Futhermore I can tell you for a fact, having worked in aircraft cargo bins myself, that there is no real way to get from the lav to the wheel well of an aircraft. The wheel wells are walled off. It's BS. Don't believe everything you read dude.
Pilot1113 From United States, joined Aug 1999, 2333 posts, RR: 11 Reply 15, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 397 times:
>>But in a recent issue of Entertainment Weekly, an aviation industry expert claims that this can't be done by a full-size person.<<
Uh huh... I trust Entertainment Weekly to explain to me how an airplane works.
>>Futhermore I can tell you for a fact, having worked in aircraft cargo bins myself, that there is no real way to get from the lav to the wheel well of an aircraft.<<
We're not talking modern-day aircraft here. We're talking Connies, 707s, and the like. Don't compare a 777 or a 767 to what Abagnale was "piloting." I don't have the book right in front of me to tell you exactly which plane he jumped out of, but he did do it. It made front page news when he pulled his disappearing trick.
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