"Richard Riley" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 04:12:41 GMT, "Dave Stadt"
wrote:


"John Ousterhout" wrote in
message news:hHGRg.160371$FQ1.68993@attbi_s71...
Robert Baslee's company - Airdrome Aeroplanes - makes kits (very good
ones
IMO) for various WWI aircraft, including Nieuports and Fokkers.
http://www.airdromeaeroplanes.com/

Robert was contracted by the movie company to built two - later changed
to
four - full-scale Nieuport 17 replicas. Robert and his helpers
completed
and flew the aircraft in only 52 days. After test flights they were
shipped to England for filming. The special effects folks "aged" them to
add authenticity. These aircraft used VW engines with a propeller
reduction. A casting of rotary engine cylinders was used to cover the
cowl
opening when the aircraft were on the ground.

They were radials not rotarys.

No, they were rotaries.

The Nieuport 17 used the 110 hp LeRhone type J rotary. The prop was
fixed to the case, the crank was attached to the airframe. The entire
engine spun.

http://www.pwam.org/gnomeng.htm

I fully understand that the 'real' Nieuport 17 was powered by a rotary but
in the movie they were radials not rotaries. You would think that for the
ground shots they would have dummied up a rotary so at least the engine
looked like it was turning. They didn't. To me this was a major flaw
especially for a director who claims to have gone to extremes to assure
accuracy.