The making of Blue Thunder the movie. By: Dave Herbert

In 1981, I was asked to fly my Byron F-16 in the Movie Blue Thunder.

John Simone was the National Helicopter Champion then and owned and operated the company called Impact Effects, Inc.
They blew up models in the movies.

I had plenty of experience with my F-16, and Frank Johnson devised a set of retracts for it, thus making it perfect for the movie, so I was hired.

John Simone also owned and operated the first RC helicopter manufacturing plant in the USA, called American RC helicopters. They made the Mantis and the Eagle.

He was the first known person to attempt and successfully loop a RC helicopter.

Only a couple of full size, specialized helis could do that, as it was not a practical maneuver for helicopters, and still isn't.

He also taught me to fly helicopters, for which I am grateful.

Now we have RC Helicopters that will hover upside down.
We have come a long way since 1981. Hope you enjoy this and are enlightened.

Now days it is all done with computers.

To get a nice RC helicopter check out this link at xheli.com for todays prices.
http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-3235026-10471876

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Blue
• Thunder
• Columbia
• pictures
• John
• Badham
• Sibley
• Iowa
• Helicopter
• fly
• Roy
• Scheider
• Simone
• Dave
• Herbert
• Special
• Hughes
• 500

[GMaximo1]

Cool, was one of my Favorite series when i was child. Very Good Job Man

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks kindly.

[lighturpl3]

Very interesting.

It's funny to see the helicopter grow/shed a flybar throughout the movie... hehe

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks. Yep, but in those days, no one (especially the public) knew what they were looking at.

[tannedking187]

great job i love the movie

[NightFlyyer]

Thanks kindly.

[hibob418]

Great to see, man. Fantastic work! Probably seen this film 15 times...

[micnolmadtube]

WOW! I am so impressed. Blue Thunder was and still is one of my all time favorite movies. You got some skills Dave ;)

[sonykroket]

I always thought Blue Thunder was the Alouette III(french) but with a modified cockpit

Same sound and tail, etc

[stickwalker]

Great clips. I've never seen the move but now I think it's time i rented it and watched some great flying..

[TheLipRipp3r]

Thumbs up, Hollywood Herbert! :-D

[WORRO01]

Wow,,, I had no idea!

This movie was one factor that got me into flying fixed wing, my dream was to go to helicopter, still haven't done that yet :)

Thumbs UP Dave, this was very nice to watch! Fav'ed.~~John

[thunder47057]

Hi Dave! love the movie, big hit world wide, Dad use to take us every sunday to the Movies no matter where we was. Saw BlueThunder first time while we where in the Yucatan Peninsula (Progreso) A real 1950's big movie theater. 1980 so many good movies and tv programs ( like Magnum PI ) In California I Fly rc Helicopters . Thank you for all your Help videos. Always wanted to know if the helicopter on Blue Thunder was made just for the movie or there are more real ones out there. God Bless...

[altman66]

The Steering of the f-1 at 3:34 is the same as the one in the Battlestar Galactica Viper :-)

[sparrowlt]

Its funny.. after some years of RC planes now i started with helos and learned concepts like flybar. Then last week i got this movie in BR 1080p and noticed for first time how the BT in some scenes has a 2 rotor + flybar (loop scenes) .. even so and even in 1080p it looks pretty damn realistc.. also noticed the "hidden" details in the RC F-16s like explosives and the canopy poping up when it blows.. pros and cons of the high definition :D

[superflygizmo]

hi dave just watched blue thunder again! excellent work!