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Fighter Pilot IMAX film thrills viewers at Pensacola Naval Aviation Museum seven days a week
The new “Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag” IMAX film opens at the National Aviation Museum June 3. The movie will show seven days a week, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag follows Captain John Stratton, a young F-15 fighter pilot through Red Flag, the final training phase before pilots are sent into actual combat. This giantscreen film is the closest audiences will ever get to a ride in the world’s greatest fighter jet.
Capitalizing on IMAX’s renowned film technology and ultra advanced digital surroundsound system, Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag provides a rare insider’s view into the teamwork and dangers inherent in military flight training.
Captain John Stratton is a young American fighter pilot who joins the world’s best pilots at Red Flag -the most challenging training exercise for the air forces of the U.S. and its allies.
The film follows Capt. Stratton in his F-15 Eagle as he undertakes Red Flag’s treacherous and immensely complicated training. His childhood vision of heroism widens as he witnesses the teamwork of his ground crew and other pilots, ensuring a successful mission and his safe return home.
Established in 1975, Red Flag is a two-week realistic combat training exercise involving the elite aerial forces from all four branches of the U.S. military, plus their Guard/Reserve components. It is commonly described as being more challenging than actual combat. Since its inception, NATO and the air forces of 27 other countries have joined the U.S. in these intensive exercises, as well as individual members of other countries who have participated as observers. Red Flag is conducted on the vast bombing and gunnery ranges at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, as one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the Air Warfare Center. Upon completion of Red Flag, graduates have the equivalent of their first 10 combat missions accomplished.
Aviation fans should know that the film features 20 F-15E Strike Eagles, representing four American squadrons, considered by many to be the greatest fighter ever built. Known for their sophisticated electronics, six European-built Tornados carry the Germans into the competition, while the Israelis arrive with six F-16s. The Canadians fly F-18 Hornets from Alberta and Quebec, and British Royal Navy Harrier jump jets are used mostly for ground support. A typical Red Flag exercise involves a variety of aircraft, including attack, fighter and bomber aircraft (F-117s, F-15s, F-16s, F/A-18s, A-10s, B-1s, B-2s and B-52s). Reconnaissance aircraft, Electronic Warfare aircraft and Airlift Support planes are also used during Red Flag operations, along with Search and Rescue and aerial refueling aircraft.
The film is directed by Stephen Low (Volcanoes of the Deep Sea, Super Speedway, Titanica) and is a presentation of K2 Communications. It is a must-see!
The Story . . .
John Stratton is a young American Fighter pilot who flies the F-15 Eagle, arguably the most potent and successful fighter plane ever built. His grandfather was a decorated World War II flying ace, and he intended to follow in his footsteps.
At Red Flag, the international training exercise for air forces of allied countries, many of the world’s best pilots meet for the most challenging flying of their careers. Red Flag is the final training for pilots and their aircrews before being sent into actual combat. “ We follow our young pilot as he makes his way through the extraordinary event held in the desert of Nevada. He is amazed at how complex, challenging and dangerous the exercises are.
He begins to notice team members who are not a part of his childhood vision of heroism, the support team crucial to a successful mission, and to a safe return home. In the aerial combat exercises, there are other pilots who aren’t out just to prove themselves, they are helping him -watching his back. And he is doing the same for them. He begins to realize that being a hero is not quite as simple as he once might have believed. . .
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