reply to post by boomer135
I have a bit of history for you on HOW this film got to see the light of day.
If I remember correctly, In 1978/1979/1980 (it is unclear the exact year)
a private jet with John Dykstra (i.e. DykstraFlex camera inventor)
and a 2nd Unit film crew from Industrial Light and Magic (i.e. Lucasfilm) were finishing off
some B-Roll footage when some U.S. Air Force personnel were on the tarmac waiting
for them as they returned from their recent aerial filming in California airspace.
These Air Force technical personnel asked them for some help in filming a very special
new aircraft. Because the 2nd Unit director was British, he had to leave the aircraft and
ONLY the American crew were allowed and tasked with getting this air-to-air footage of
what is now known as the precursor to the F-117
After returning from the flight the crew were grinning ear-to-ear but couldn't say anything
about what they has just seen other than it was just "Out of This World!".
It has been incorrectly reported that it was Douglas Trumbull (another Star Wars camera veteran)
who was aboard but from what I understand it was actually John Dykstra because at the time
he was the ONLY ONE who was able to adjust and maintain the special mountings
and motion control system (i.e. similar to a Tyler Mount or to a motion stabilized Wescam System)
used for the in-flight Film Cameras.
So on a technical basis, Lucasfilm not only gave us STAR WARS, but also partly
gave rise to the modern Stealth Fighter.
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Don't Ask!
This is from the horse's mouth -- That's all I have to say!
BUT as a hint, All you have to do is look for BRITISH 2nd unit film directors for Lucasfilm
or those within the employ of John Dykstra OR Douglas Trumbull (see IMDB movie database)
between the years 1978 and 1982 and then ask him how PO'ed he was after being kicked off
that very special air-to-air filming flight!
edit on 2013/2/10 by StargateSG7 because: technical additions
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The DW (Deutche Welle) documentary CAME WAY AFTER the LucasFilm-originated Aerial Footage
and I don't think actually contained THIS specific footage but rather more "Official Air Force" footage...
but I can't be exactly sure because of the number of years that has passed.
edit on 2013/2/10 by StargateSG7 because: more tech info
