Former Air Force Fighter Pilot Breaks Down 12 Fighter Pilot Scenes From Film & TV | WIRED

Former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Christine "Grinder" Mau examines some flying and dogfighting scenes from popular movies and television shows, and determines how accurate they really are. Could Iron Man actually outclass an F-22? As seen in 'Dunkirk,' what kind of a challenge does glare actually pose? Does 'The Incredibles' get pilot language right?



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Former Air Force Fighter Pilot Breaks Down 12 Fighter Pilot Scenes From Film & TV | WIRED

[matiascandia]

Imagine casually being able to say you used to fly strike eagles. Mad respect.

[CraigGood]

There was a character in early versions of The Incredibles who flew that jet. His scratch dialogue was performed by our purchasing agent at Pixar, DJ Jennings, who had been an Air Traffic Controller in an earlier life. That's why the lingo is correct. The story changed and Helen got to fly the plane herself.

[thomasg]

She was a guest speaker at my school last year, amazing woman, very good at what she did and what she does now. She showed all the girls that they can be fighter pilots too, and really explained the way she got to fly. If i ever get a chance to hear her speak again ill definitely take it.

[hudsonr.]

"Civilian aircraft don't have afterburner"
Laughs in Concorde

[Mububban]

Holly Hunter did a great job voice acting that scene in Incredibles, her tangible sense of parental panic when her children are being threatened was so well portrayed. She's trying to remain calm and professional but someone is going to kill her babies and she's on the ragged edge of losing it. So well done.

[Deathmastertx]

"I used to fly Strike Eagles so that made me a little sad."
Awww. Also props. Strike Eagles are badass.

[antmills]

Her love for Top Gun is awesome, let’s face it there must be so many real pilots that were inspired by that movie..

[RayW]

So the most accurate movie, The Incredibles lol

[rickbreze]

I spent twenty years in the Air Force as an aircraft engine mechanic. Much respect Christine, Salute.

[Heyitdave]

I love how she thoroughly enjoys watching the incredible bit.

[Bildam]

When an animated movie makes more sense and is more realistic than a Michael Bay movie.

[codexone]

On another fighter pilot reaction someone said in regards to the heat seeking missiles: "Those missiles are not rabid dogs. They will not chase you to kingdom come."
I had to laugh so hard 🤣😂

[DataCabe]

Helen's callsign of IG99 was a reference to Brad Bird's first film, The Iron Giant, released in '99.

[bigbitehood]

"I used to fly Strike Eagles..." you just became my new favorite lady

[seancrandall]

Literally every single person who saw Top Gun in 1986 wanted to be a fighter pilot (including my brother and me). I'm now a patent attorney with zero military experience. My brother washed out of Airborne when he injured his ankle on a jump. He's now an ER doctor. The fact that Grinder actually found her way not just into a cockpit, but into fighter aircraft (especially since women couldn't even fly combat aircraft until the 90s) means that she's something special.

[webeducation]

"She's able to maneuver this airplane like no commercial jet I've ever seen" - said with almost a straight face - had me rolling.

[dpellek]

This lady is awesome and her explanations of these scenes are awesome. Great job grinder

[MoviesUnderTheSurface]

6:43 India Golf Niner Niner stands for Iron Giant 1999, as in The Iron Giant, written and directed by the same writer/director as The Incredibles, came out in 1999.

[Mcgregor]

This is so great, I spent 22yrs. in the Air Force as a maintenance officer/engineer on the F-15, F-16, and F-22. I had several back seat rides and spent a lot of time and effort around fighter pilots. "Grinder" is a hero of mine and listening to her in this piece is so cool. BTW, I have two daughters, one of which is a maintenance officer on F-35s.

[FinalGamerJames]

I absolutely love she just straight-up admitted "yeah Top Gun made me wanna be a fighter pilot" and I just gotta respect that. Love it, very good vid, can't wait for more Technique Critique!