Clip From BBC Series "Wings"

rainbase · 18 January 2011, 06:39 AM

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFGXuOZDE14&feature=related"]YouTube - Wings, Episode 8, from England[/nomedia]

I stumbled upon this on youtube. This one is cool; reminds me why I wouldn't want to hgo to war in a Be2c. There are more Wings clips too..

EARTHLING · 18 January 2011, 12:23 PM

Hi Rainbase,

They have issued both series as a box set DVD. Quite interesting and the
BE2c is rather overworked as there is supposed to be a squadron of them and there is obviously only one. The machine used was owned by the firm that provided the aircraft for the film 'Those dangerous men in their Flying Machines. (Can't remember the exact title).
One episode seemed dubious as it showed the squadron officers in full regimental evening dress which I always thought was not allowed in wartime. The class distinction is amptly demonstrated and perhaps is a bit 'Soapish'. You get to see a Fokker Eindekker flying and firing its machine gun. I got the DVD from Amazon, quite cheaply at Xmas.

Regards,

Earthling

Scorpiounbound · 18 January 2011, 01:21 PM

What ho all

Wings was made in the late 1970s and was, as Earthling said, a bit 'soapy' if not sometimes a bit 'soppy'. The Tony Bianchi aeroplanes look fantastic though and with him and other pilots like Derek Piggot in the cockpits the flying sequences are often convincing. What I find disappointing is that the BE2s seem to have been lost to the British aviation scene when the series ended, prematurely in my opinion, at the end of the second season (and I can remember seeing it at the time).
It was such an important aeroplane to the RFC for two years that an example, even if it is a replica, should be taking to the air every flying season.

Cheer ho
John

bristol scout · 18 January 2011, 02:12 PM

Not so John, Our own MAJOR LARABEE here has a restoration either nearing completion or completed.

I am pretty sure it is from the WINGS series.

Dave.

Scorpiounbound · 18 January 2011, 02:39 PM

What ho Dave

That is excellent news and although I generally limit myself to Duxford, Shuttleworth and Rougham displays, I will travel to the ends of the country to see a Bleriot Experimental. In 2009, I drove to Dover to watch a Bleriot XI come in from Calais to commemorate the centenary of Louis's achievement but the winds were too strong for the French to allow a take off. I did meet the Swiss 'Birdman' there which almost made up for it.

Cheer ho

John

bristol scout · 18 January 2011, 03:47 PM

Hi John,
Have you looked in on our illustrious John McKenzie's BUILD (for Hendon) of the BE2b----and, of course his current thread on HIS FE, for Hendon.
Master at work my friend.

Cheers,
Dave.

PS I seem to recall some controversy over that French refusal to allow the Bleriot flight, but I can't for the life of me recall exactly. I feel it was aired here though....

AHC-ED · 18 January 2011, 04:32 PM

You could have a look at The Vintage Aviator website [URL="http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/projects/be2"]for some pictures of not one, but two different, Be2s. And if you can afford the UK departure taxes you could come out to NZ to see them flying yet again. There is an airshow this weekend so, if the weather is kind, there will no doubt be some more YouTube clips for you to watch and enjoy.

On a different but related subject: in the first series the RFC wings don't look quite right (from memory they appear to be a bit 'chunky' and upturned), whereas the second series have the form that we are most familiar with. My question is: were these wings in the first series actually authentic or were they the result of some costumiers imagination?

bristol scout · 18 January 2011, 04:39 PM

I too recall those up-turned wings from long ago when the show was first aired over here----they were an abomination, quite hopeless------at least to anything I have ever seen.

Dave.

LeicesterTiger · 18 January 2011, 06:29 PM

Brilliant series - anyone that doesn't have it already, should. The Albatros is my favourite from the series, shame it was destroyed in a fire I believe.

The Sopwith Pup (known as the 'Viper' in one episode) is also still around;

Biggles-Biplane.com

Regarding the wings, the 'maternity' jackets weren't that great in the first series either, with exposed plastic buttons etc, as well as various cast members wearing WW2 other ranks/NCO style green collarless shirts, however this changed to them just wearing white vests in Series 2

bristol scout · 19 January 2011, 09:20 AM

At the time David Boddington did large (for the time) Flying model kits of the Albatros etc.---and, as usual with his kits, very nice they were.

Dave.