808 in USAF Colours!

[ICM]

This has appeared on Prune today:

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/ ... ost7393968

I had not heard of this before. Is anyone here able to add further detail?

[Jelle Hieminga]

I don't know much more than what's already on PPrune. The Pathe film company needed an aircraft for a new spy/suspense thriller. In return for a donation to the RAF benevolent fund of 20.000 GBP, USAF markings were temporarily applied to XR808 in May 1990, the photo was taken at Gatow airport, Germany.

Edit: looks like there's already a lot more info in the thread than when I saw it last. I looked up the IMDB listing for the movie mentioned, 'The Package', but that one was released in January 1990 so there is a date off somewhere.

[Tonkenna]

There is an article in Article in Classic Aircraft Sep 2012 edition "Front Line of the Cold War" by Air Cdre Wilkinson CVO RAF(Ret'd). There is a nice colour picture on p.86 and details on p.88. It would seem the station got £10000 for the RAF Benevolent Fund for its use according to that article... never heard of the film though...

Looks quite cool in the colour pic!

Tonks

[Jelle Hieminga]

The look suits the VC10 quite well I think! I've got that magazine on order but have just e-mailed them to ask when it's due to arrive as it has been two weeks now since I placed my order! Oh well, have to be patient I guess...

I'll have a look at that movie, I'm curious to see if I can find a copy somewhere, might be fun just for the shot of the VC10 (if it even ended up in it).

[ICM]

Jelle, I agree completely that it looks great - and Military Airlift Command's C-141s and C-5s used "our" Transport Command/Air Support Command paint job back in the 70s: white top, blue cheat line (less the forked lightning turnback at the front), light grey underside. So, if the film was set back then, you could say that the Director had at least made a nod to reality with what he had got. (I can't be sure, but it looks as if they might also have put "USAF" in the correct position under the port wing.)

[vololiberista]

The look suits the VC10 quite well I think! I've got that magazine on order but have just e-mailed them to ask when it's due to arrive as it has been two weeks now since I placed my order! Oh well, have to be patient I guess...

I'll have a look at that movie, I'm curious to see if I can find a copy somewhere, might be fun just for the shot of the VC10 (if it even ended up in it).

There are a few mentions of "The PAckage" on Youtube. Haven't yet had the time to trawl through them yet. It's certainly a stylish repaint.
vololiberista