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Mcdonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom (1971)

1971 · Short film · 15 min

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Synopsis

Ambassadors in Blue is a short 1971 film on the U.S. Air Force’s Thunderbirds. Presented by the McDonnell Douglas Corporation, the film features the aerobatics of the F-4E Phantom IIs at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and is set to the jazz music of the Air Force’s Academy Band, The Falconaires. The film opens with shots of the Phantom IIs taking off, flying through the sky, and being serviced. The film shows some of the various tasks performed by the U.S. Air Force outside of combat operations, including members of the Air Force evacuating a wounded person (00:50) and the Thunderbirds signing autographs (01:21). The Phantom IIs taxi at Nellis Air Force Base. Lt. Col. Thomas Swalm, commander of the Thunderbirds, speaks to the camera about the role of the demotion squadron (03:20). Men clean and maintain the Phantom IIs at Nellis. A truck tows a jet from a hanger (04:42). Viewers are taken through the halls of the building with a good tracking shot that ends in a briefing room with the Thunderbird pilots (05:41). The Thunderbirds start up the Phantom IIs and start taxiing on the runway (07:08). The film overlays several screens to show concurrent shots of the planes performing aerobatics from various points of view, including the nose, the tail, and the wing of a plane. Four jets fly together performing aerial maneuvers as bystanders at the base watch, including an eight-point roll. A fifth Phantom II joins the group. One Thunderbird hugs the ground flying just above the…

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Details

Running time
15 minutes
Collection
Ephemeral Films

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