DOGFIGHT WITHOUT AMMO - THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER 1975

[zackhanscom]

waldo pepper's a douchebag.

[gmccord1970]

*shakes head* It should have been Snoopy to take on Kessler. He could have done it.

[rredhawk]

I read somewhere that parachutes were actually available in WWI but these were used mostly by the baloon pilots, who needed them to quickly escape their hydrogen-filled craft when attacked. On the other hand, pilots were so caught up in the honor code of that time that they scorned parachutes as inconvenient and/or cowardly and thus didn't use them. Knowing this makes the faceoff between the two pilots in the beginning of this video that much more compelling.

[BavarianBomberWrench]

@rredhawk : No. German pilots WERE issued parachutes (1918) and used them. The British government felt that if RFC/RAF pilots had parachutes they would be inclined to abandon their aircraft at the first sign of danger. Idiotic? Yes! Parachutes were not a guarantee to survival though, as many German pilots perished w/ 'chutes that didn't open or the 'chute got hooked onto the falling aircraft.

[rredhawk]

@BavarianBomberWrench Thanks. Wow. Sounds like the Germans had a higher regard for their pilots than the British did, at least in this case.

[BavarianBomberWrench]

@rredhawk : Very much so! Remember, the Germans in both World Wars were always at a disadvantage as far as material and personnel. The Germans also served until they were either crippled, killed or the war ended. There were no "Tours of Duty" like the Brits and Americans had. This is why many Germans, especially in WW II, had such incredibly high victory totals (Erich Hartmann-352, Gerd Barkhorn-301, etc.)... they were in combat far longer than their allied counterparts.

[usmctanks1]

belive it or not Howard Hughes HATED this movie and wanted it banned from the movie theatres!! Good performances all around, and the flying scenes were fantastic.

[mig21pilot]

A classic!

[MIGUEL2005LIMA]

who wins?

[MIGUEL2005LIMA]

hmm very wide angle head up displays!!

[hogsnplanes]

One of the best aviation movies of all time!

[BKrystall]

I wish that I saw a real Sopwith Camel and a Fokker Triplane at an airshow in Santa Monica.

[usmctanks1]

Flying scenes shot almost entirely in Ireland. ALL A/c were considered extremely difficult to fly and had placards placed inthe cockpit stating "no aerobatics allowed" needless to say some were done!! Many of the a/c survived, some in Rhinebeck NY, some in England/France, i think LuLu is active on the Warbird scene now.

[YDDES]

@usmctanks1 Are You sure it was filmed in Ireland? I somewhere read it was filmed in Texas. The landscape doesn't lool like Irland, and I don't think there were so many Jennies and even a Standard J-1 in that country then. Maybe You confuse it with "The Blue Max", "Darling Lili" or "Richthofen and "Brown" which were filmed in Ireland?

[usmctanks1]

@YDDES WHAT was I thinking, Texas you are right!!

[cutis1000]

@usmctanks1 Nope. You are FLAT WRONG. Flying scenes were shot in Elgin, Texas. Aerial sequences were filmed at Zuehl Airfield[2] near San Antonio, Texas. Several aerial scenes were also filmed over the Sebring, FL Airport (also known for the 12 hour LeMans-style endurance race)

[lp45cdwoman]

THE GREAT WALDO PEPPER will FINALLY debut on WIDESCREEN Universal DVD on August 3rd, 2010! It's available right now for pre-order on Amazon.com! THANK YOU UNIVERSAL!!!

[adam210284]

This is grat movie. But I know. The Kesler is Udet, but who si Waldo Pepper. What is his real name in first world war ? ( A. Olson say: " I don´t know name Pepper from first worl war). And in finish scene Waldo is pilot " Maden". Can you explication me pleas?

[althesmith]

@adam210284 : Pepper was based on a composite of several French, British and American flyers who tried to stay flying after the war, many dying or going broke in the process. Udet was almost exceptional in that he managed to make a successful carreer out of it.

[SenorSpode]

I saw this when it first came out and I was 8. I couldn't appreciate it then as I do now, thanks for putting this up. Brings back awesome memories of a time when movies were original and Hollywood wasn't doing half-assed remakes. Fived and faved!

[coopycarlsonpresmon]

un gran combate aereo me encanto i como se saludaron al final

[TheAdhocrat]

I don't get it. The damage to Waldo's airplane isn't nearly enough deny him a survivable landing. For Pete's sake, his friend Ezra earlier in the movie survives a nose dive straight into the ground after failing to pull off an inverted loop. I'm going to assume Waldo landed safely only to die in a bar fight later that year. Heck, even Kessler could have survived considering the fact that he could stabilize the aircraft long enough to salute Pepper.

[textide]

@TheAdhocrat His flying career was over. That guy that pulled up in the car at the start was the FAA. HIs licenses had already been yanked and he was flying under an alias in this scene. Been awhile since I've seen the movie, but I think he makes a couple of comments about wanting to go down in a plane too.

[nicelittlecar]

@TheAdhocrat I met Robert Redford on a United Airlines flight from New York to San Francisco a few years ago, and I asked him; "What happened to Waldo Pepper at the end of the movie. Did he die while crash landing, or did he die sometime afterward? Robert Redford replied, "Waldo just pulled up and flew into the clouds...."

[barkon]

Every time I watch biplanes, either on film or at Old Rhinebeck, I'm never sure how the pilots actually get them off of the ground, what with their giant balls, they've got.

I mean, the Camel was so twitchy due to the rotary engine, that on take-off the pilot had to maintain full left rudder or the plane would yaw from the torque.

[Mazurka1001]

Happier, happier times...

[Ezza190]

I love the Fokker, i always will lol

[aviatorairman2000]

The rest of the movie would be great! You know how much this movie costs to buy and how hard to find?

[flycubfly]

@aviatorairman2000 Sucks how much they want for this movie now,,,if you can find it. Got my dvd copy at a "record " store when it first came out for $9.98. If I would have known,,,I would have grabbed 100 of em.

[mrmisty77]

My dad loves this movie, I used to watch it with him when I was little sometimes. Great to be able to see this scene again, and great movie.

[ekty]

the end is fantastic ! nice Chopin music

[drumdude46]

When i was a kid, i first saw this movie. fantastic.

and as the other commentor below posed the question: are we to assume at the end, that they both, "Fly off into the Sunset" to die, because of some damage to their aircraft? well, came upon this Youtube Short, of the Film again, and now,

i fully realize, Lol! they could EASILY land these planes, and survive. even WITH Waldo's collapsed Fixed Gear. hell, your only doing about 60 kts on touchdown in one of these. no problem

[mh53eflyguy]

Waldo's death is further eluded to at the very end when they list his death as 1931, which when you listen to Kessler speak to him before they fly (the 40,000 in debt speech) then it all leads up to this. You are right on the damage. The Dr1 actually only needed cabain struts and not the outrigger ones, which were only added at the insistence of the German aviators, so Kessler should have been fine as well.

Still, its a great movie, and my favorite aviation movie.

[karttrip]

Really one of the best dogfight scenes. Thanks. Could you please upload the scenes of the movie with the 'air circus'?

[brian423]

Can you upload the scene from this movie of Waldo's friend getting trapped and burned in his airplane? You should write a clear warning that it's not for sensitive viewers. It's disturbing. I want to see it again.

[drumdude46]

wasn't his "Friend" was his Brother in the Movie.

he was an Airplane Designer. working on a Mono_Wing i believe. wish i could find a copy of the Entire Movie ( DVD? VHS? ) great film.

[brian423]

I'm pretty sure it was his girlfriend's brother, but I could be wrong.

[hatchzords]

awesome film

[55westend]

So do they both presumably die due to the damage to their aircraft?

[overhere2000]

correct.

[DesertFox101]

"There's Waldo!" xD

Great scene...

[almightywitey]

my favorite 10 mins. of any film i've ever seen. never stop dreaming, never grow old.

you make the rules.

[terryjohn]

well it's not the older you feel but the women you Hold.

tj

[macio1990]

powiem jedno ten film to moja dusza :D

[macio1990]

czemu tak szybko??? :( mogleś zostawić juz ten koniec... w końcu ta końcówka była najważniejsza w całym filmie :D wiem bo jestem mega fanem tego filmu :D