Lee Majors film with 1-23's?

Hey all. About three years ago I saw a few snippets of a film without the audio. It was on the Esquire cable channel. Lee Majors. Soaring contest. Lady pilot climbs out of her 1-23 in tight dress and heels?! Cool footage of formation aerobatics. Seemed like a separate plot line involving a young man in a wheelchair. I thought tracking it down would be a piece of cake, what with IMDb &c., but no dice. Any ideas? Happy New Year & Happy Landings.

On Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 2:11:39 PM UTC-7, wrote:
Hey all. About three years ago I saw a few snippets of a film without the audio. It was on the Esquire cable channel. Lee Majors. Soaring contest. Lady pilot climbs out of her 1-23 in tight dress and heels?! Cool footage of formation aerobatics. Seemed like a separate plot line involving a young man in a wheelchair. I thought tracking it down would be a piece of cake, what with IMDb &c., but no dice. Any ideas? Happy New Year & Happy Landings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZjZi-SH-8

On Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 1:11:39 PM UTC-8, wrote:
Hey all. About three years ago I saw a few snippets of a film without the audio. It was on the Esquire cable channel. Lee Majors. Soaring contest. Lady pilot climbs out of her 1-23 in tight dress and heels?! Cool footage of formation aerobatics. Seemed like a separate plot line involving a young man in a wheelchair. I thought tracking it down would be a piece of cake, what with IMDb &c., but no dice. Any ideas? Happy New Year & Happy Landings.

Looks like the ground scenes may have been filmed at Crystal (46CN) in California.

On Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 6:26:37 PM UTC-8, Jim wrote:
Looks like the ground scenes may have been filmed at Crystal (46CN) in California.

But the tight formation appears to be elsewhere.

Also notice a camera appears and disappears on the left side of the canopy. Not to mention the disappearing window.

And when Lee steps out of the 1-26, they immediately cut away to hide that the tail slams down.

He lets go of the stick to pull the release.

And the tow rope tangle intervention is a real hoot!

-Tom

On Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 6:29:37 PM UTC-7, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 2:11:39 PM UTC-7, wrote:
Hey all. About three years ago I saw a few snippets of a film without the audio. It was on the Esquire cable channel. Lee Majors. Soaring contest. Lady pilot climbs out of her 1-23 in tight dress and heels?! Cool footage of formation aerobatics. Seemed like a separate plot line involving a young man in a wheelchair. I thought tracking it down would be a piece of cake, what with IMDb &c., but no dice. Any ideas? Happy New Year & Happy Landings..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZjZi-SH-8

Indeed it was from "The Six Million Dollar Man" and was shown in season 4 and it was episode 8 (not 9) and it first aired on Nov 21, 1976. The storyline was as follows:

"Steve poses as a member of the US team in a sailplane meet to stop terrorists."

Good work by Frank W. in finding the video!!! I just wonder if Lee Majors was an SSA member. Wait, I think he had to be to be, in order to be in the "11th International Soaring Championship." Whew.... ;-)

Originally Posted by Renny[_2_]

On Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 6:29:37 PM UTC-7, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 2:11:39 PM UTC-7, wrote:
Hey all. About three years ago I saw a few snippets of a film without the audio. It was on the Esquire cable channel. Lee Majors. Soaring contest. Lady pilot climbs out of her 1-23 in tight dress and heels?! Cool footage of formation aerobatics. Seemed like a separate plot line involving a young man in a wheelchair. I thought tracking it down would be a piece of cake, what with IMDb &c., but no dice. Any ideas? Happy New Year & Happy Landings..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZjZi-SH-8

Indeed it was from "The Six Million Dollar Man" and was shown in season 4 and it was episode 8 (not 9) and it first aired on Nov 21, 1976. The storyline was as follows:

"Steve poses as a member of the US team in a sailplane meet to stop terrorists."

Good work by Frank W. in finding the video!!! I just wonder if Lee Majors was an SSA member. Wait, I think he had to be to be, in order to be in the "11th International Soaring Championship." Whew.... ;-)

I KNEW It.......I just KNEW it. Terrorists hang around gliderports......Ha ha. I can spot them 200 feet away.

Walt

On Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 4:11:39 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Hey all. About three years ago I saw a few snippets of a film without the audio. It was on the Esquire cable channel. Lee Majors. Soaring contest. Lady pilot climbs out of her 1-23 in tight dress and heels?! Cool footage of formation aerobatics. Seemed like a separate plot line involving a young man in a wheelchair. I thought tracking it down would be a piece of cake, what with IMDb &c., but no dice. Any ideas? Happy New Year & Happy Landings.

On Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 2:11:39 PM UTC-7, wrote:


Another link..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQUXrdf-rWU

The in air 1-26 footage seems to be from the short film "Dawn Flight" It's available at Cumulus Soaring and the making of it was covered in Soaring magazine. I recall seeing more of that film being used in at least one other Six Million Dollar Man episode too.

Anyone else out there who was a kid in the 70's remember having the same reaction to the Six Million Dollar Man opening that I did? You know, the one that shows a terrible crash and (in the show's universe if not in reality) the guy only survives because of the availability of expensive experimental technology to rebuild him... whenever I saw it it always left me thinking: "Man... I wanna be a pilot! That would be SO COOL!"

Nobody comments on the curved takeoff path in the beginning of the clip. Was this something done in the past? Does anyone recognize the airport?

It looks like an interesting way to maximize runway utilization. Stage for tows off to the side of the runway to keep the runway clear. Do a little rudder dance on the initial roll to track the path to the centerline.

It wouldn't work with students, of course.

Paul A.
Treasure Coast Soaring Club
@TCSoaring on Facebook