Airmen (2016)
Designed by the American aircraft designer Jim Bede and introduced to the market primarily in kit form by the now-defunct Bede Aircraft Corporation in the early 1970s, the BD-5 is an attractive design that looks like a little jet fighter.
The BD-5 has a small streamlined fuselage, with the engine installed in a compartment in the middle of the fuselage, and a propeller-driving engine - or jet engine in the BD-5J variant - mounted immediately to the rear of the cockpit. The combination of fighter-like looks and relatively low cost led to the BD-5 selling over 5,000 kits or plans. On February 1971, the first $200 deposit to reserve a kit was accepted.
The BD-5 has a small streamlined fuselage, with the engine installed in a compartment in the middle of the fuselage, and a propeller-driving engine - or jet engine in the BD-5J variant - mounted immediately to the rear of the cockpit. The combination of fighter-like looks and relatively low cost led to the BD-5 selling over 5,000 kits or plans. On February 1971, the first $200 deposit to reserve a kit was accepted.
BAPA provided Olivier Merckx with equipment and uniforms for the filming of his latest movie, Airmen.
Here, one of the actors is shown at the controls of a P-51, wearing a BAPA-issued uniform, helmet, and goggles.
Here, one of the actors is shown at the controls of a P-51, wearing a BAPA-issued uniform, helmet, and goggles.
Catch 22 (2019)
The Italian job
Early 2018 we are contacted by Airventure Ltd, specialized in the restauration of big warbirds (DC3, B25, Catalina, Ju-52…) and provider of aeronautical hadrware for the cinema industry. George Clooney was going to produce a remake of Catch 22 (in fact a mini-serie in 6 episodes) and they needed a B-25 to shoot the interior scenes.
We agreed to rent the fuselage airframe, the renting being mostly paid by all the parts that will be bought to have the fuselage complete enough for the film and that will be the property of the association after the filming.
Because the filming was to start in april 2018 at Cincecitta, and the airframe had to be there before this date, we had to rush to finish preparing the airframe and the transport frames. A huge task that was completed in time thanks to the dedication of the team.
The B-25 fuselage was transported to Cincinatti where an Airventure's team performed some repairs and installed the equipment purchased.
The B-25 was back at the BAPA's workshop at the end of september 2018.
This new filming helped a lot in boosting the restoration work, especially the huge preparation work that has been performed and all the parts that were purchased to complete de airframe.
Once back in Gembloux the restoration work continued and the cinema mockup (like the radio rack) removed.
.
Early 2018 we are contacted by Airventure Ltd, specialized in the restauration of big warbirds (DC3, B25, Catalina, Ju-52…) and provider of aeronautical hadrware for the cinema industry. George Clooney was going to produce a remake of Catch 22 (in fact a mini-serie in 6 episodes) and they needed a B-25 to shoot the interior scenes.
We agreed to rent the fuselage airframe, the renting being mostly paid by all the parts that will be bought to have the fuselage complete enough for the film and that will be the property of the association after the filming.
Because the filming was to start in april 2018 at Cincecitta, and the airframe had to be there before this date, we had to rush to finish preparing the airframe and the transport frames. A huge task that was completed in time thanks to the dedication of the team.
The B-25 fuselage was transported to Cincinatti where an Airventure's team performed some repairs and installed the equipment purchased.
The B-25 was back at the BAPA's workshop at the end of september 2018.
This new filming helped a lot in boosting the restoration work, especially the huge preparation work that has been performed and all the parts that were purchased to complete de airframe.
Once back in Gembloux the restoration work continued and the cinema mockup (like the radio rack) removed.
.
Above: a lot of work has been done to have the airframe, and many others parts (like, here above, the instrument panel) ready before its departure to Cinecitta
Above: those two pictures give an idea of how the airframe has been used during the filming. Note that a false center section has been added at the back of the cockpit and the turret cupola has no opening for the guns.
Above: Some B-25 went from the USA to participate to the filming, we see here N898BW "Axis Nightmare " wearing the decoration of "Yankee Doodle".
At right: the B-25 airframe back at Gembloux still wearing the "Yankee Doodle" decoration.
At right: the B-25 airframe back at Gembloux still wearing the "Yankee Doodle" decoration.