Why doesn't someone try and restore this amazing piece of tv history? One of my favorites. Thank you for the history and visual of this incredible machinery.
@@choward874 Could you imagine a new Airwolf show with Airwolf being piloted by Ruby Rose, Cardi B, and Tailor Swift? As they fly around in the "more inclusive" rainbow colored Airwolf? They would fly around fighting privileged people, and men, because man bad 😂 THAT is what a new Airwolf would be, so we definitely need to just leave Airwolf alone lol
Yeah, big no on an “official” reboot from me. It was already tried with a horrible comic book from IDW, where all of the talentless comic book creators live. The only reboot for Airwolf should be in the imaginations of the Airwolf fans where we can make our own new i individual continuities. Universal would take a woke dump on Airwolf if they got the chance. String, Dom, Cait, Sinjin and all the others should just remain as is with the original series(es) and individual fan head canon!
About mid 80s' I was working for Rockwell at the Santa Susana Field Lab in the Simi Valley , Ca. mountains . They filmed Airwolf up there , they also landed Airwolf next to the shop I was working in .
It's ironic for years we thought the original starship Enterprise was white the franklin mint even did a diecast of the the Enterprise in white but in reality it was painted light grey and now Airwolf for years I thought it was black & white. It just goe's to show you like life everything is not just black & white.
I've been there to that exact airport. I hope you ate at the restaurant that is front of the airport. Probably one of the best places I've had lunch at.
I have pictures of it, and all kinds from Halson's Helicopter Museum .. it hung from the celieing so they were not worried about people looking into it.. Sadly there was a lot of things that led to it closing down. It was so awesome to get to got to it multiple times and goto the FlyIns when they had them.... So sad to see it in this shape, but glad to know that it has found a home in another museum!
It's really sad that no one is taking care of this heli to try and preserve it. I would most definitely try to purchase it if I could afford it. The correct name for the paint is called, 'Phantom Gray Metallic'.
Thanks for this!just thinking that the gash in the side reminds me of season 1 episode with Shannon Doherty when the missle piercing the side and Archangel using his cane to push it out as it released gas.the front color looks like it is either flat color or slightly differently done on either side of the cowling in front of the main windows.I hope someone will undertake at least a refresh on this replica as this is very unique not seen a lot.looking for ward to your star trek post and hope your trip goes great!!😀😀👍
Rotor head looks like its off a Huey minus the stabiliser bar, the blades have too much coning angle (like wing dihedral on a plane) for a 222 as they use a electronic 3 axis flight stabiliser like a Cobra.
@@theensignschair ok cool I didn't know if it was replica of a helicopter from planes similar to the cars movie when I saw the eyes or something else pretty cool none the less
The Bell 222 series had some rough times generally, but the 222s used for AIRWOLF really had issues when the greeblies were attached - pilots pretty much thought of it as a flying brick. It’s amazing that they pulled off the stunt work that they did.
@@wyldemusick What are you talking about? The main stunt pilot is on record as stating that the prop parts actually improved the low speed manoeuvrability.
When I was a child I lived across the street from this airport. The coolest thing I saw was a DC3 land and take off from the airport and I would regularly see warbirds there and a T-38.
They need to do a proper re paint on that chopper re do the instrument panel and the rear cockpit with the computer and weapons center. The interior was also gray upholstery. They have a Trans Am refitted like the original KITT. So someone should be able to do a proper refit for Airwolf bring back her glory.
They could do a bunch of things to it, but the current disarray of the entire State of Cali, the door seal was most likely broke open for homeless people to sleep in. NOTHING more will be done to it at that facility, they've made that clear. Someone will need to transport it and just use the body panels on a different aircraft, as this was Never built to fly, there's nothing airworthy about it. The FAA would sooner certify a 50 gallon barrel than this machine. If someone has a certified airframe and running gear, then the cosmetics can be added in the experimental category for Events. I would convert a gazelle, plenty of parts available, affordable, safe and powerful, and most will think the fenestron was a very Kool conversion.
The season 4 production used a static mock-up along with stock footage and the RC models. It was a bit notorious (not precisely weatherproof) and they kept trying to add gimmicks (such as the ill-fated Airpuppy, which led to me writing around twenty script drafts of “A Town For Hire.”) As far as I know the interior was pretty basic like this replica.
I mean if you wanted to do a weapons station in the back Dom's seat just take some screen shots of it and draw it out most if it was just switches and lights anyway and 4 small tv screens
222A's looked good but had underpowered engines, electronics that spent less time working than a 98 year retiree and the well documented issues with several very expensive (and important) components wearing out well before they were supposed to. The 230 was a big step forward in terms of reliability and durability, with the 430 further improving refinement by changing to a 4 blade rotor.
Horrible replica .. even the small plexiglass windows are wrongly placed .. the front looks different from the original, they just rushed the all thing to make it look like Airwolf but is a FAIL for me ..
The color doesn't look right, it looks like it should be much darker. But then again, who knows how much post production color correction was done on the real show.
The color is definitely correct, it was built by Steve W Stull using the original color code which is well documented. It just looks different on screen, probably a combination of processing, lighting, and mid 80s filming.
The original AirWolf the interior was completely gutted out for the flying stunts ( much less weight= more agility) the Bell Helicopter was never designed to be a "combat helicopter" more designed to be a pack mule, Maybe the German Pilots of "Airwolf" thought they had more chopper under them then really was and crashed.
In 1986 I was working in Long Beach CA. And they filmed an episode of Air Wolf next to where I was working . We got to see Air Wolf and the Santini Air helicopters fly in The Lady did not scream like she did on tv but in my head she sure did.
I was at Universal when my friend Andrew Probert designed the Airwolf mods for the Bell 222. It was worked on the "Phantom" stage floor (and they did put in a full interior, pop riveted plastic pieces). The color is what's called "Toyota Grey". The trim piece in the chin detail of the helmets is actually the back end piece of a Star Wars AT AT model kit. Andy also designed the Airwolf logo, and the Santini Air flag art. While at Universal that day, we visited the cabin set. Many of the FX shots were with a large RC Airwolf. I was told that both copters were HQ out of Van Nuys airport.
Holy smokes, you know Andrew Probert? I grew up admiring his work on the iconic Star Trek Motion Picture USS Enterprise (used for Star Trek's 1-6), and TNG's Galaxy Class Enterprise. Probert is quite the legend.
They were at Jetcopters, Van Nuys airport along with the Sikorsky S76 that was used in one episode as HX1. Jetcopters is listed in the credits at the end of each episode. I just posted my first video which is copied 35mm photos of all three that I took there around 1984. Airwolf at Jetcopters, Van Nuys Airport
N1074T which was RedWolf did indeed crash in April 1987 killing the two crew after a maintanance check. N9988K The prototype Bell 222 was used as the mock up for airwolf and had Doms set up in the back and a mock up cockpit. It was broken up after the Airwolf series was completed N2044C which was Santini Airs Bell 206 Jetranger is still active in Minnesota. This also appeared in episodes of Blue Thunder,The A team,The Fall Guy & the film Eraser amoung others
Sorry I'm going to nerd out on you from what I understand the weapons pod rdf and chain guns were mock ups stuck on the chopper and the faa would not grant a flight permit full time with the mock ups on the helicopter so they could only fly it in weapons mode for certain scenes then had to remove the mock ups after each filming.
It looks fantastic! Hey, you should check my build out! I did used the revell anthracite grey but I added it a bit more black because the grey turns out a bit more light hope to see ur build !!
I was living in Germany when the original crashed, my dad was stationed there, didn't even know until years later that it was the original Airwolf that crashed.
A shame she isn't able to fly. One day, one day, we'll get something similar to The Lady. Then again, the Apache can be considered the IRL Airwolf from the tactics used by US pilots (i.e. Hunter-Killer, etc)
The fact that I literally live right down the street from this display and saw this three days ago and new it was a replica is kind of funny and weird at the same time, the moment I saw it, The Airwolf theme song popped in my head, but I still knew it wasn't the real thing and I do know tragic ending of the original, glad you posted this! #greatesttvshowever! #airwolf!
I didn't know! And I live in L.A. I can only surmise one side is in worse condition because it faces the sun all day. I see on Google Earth it's in an east/west position. A restored model is in the Tennessee Museum of Aviation. The air scoops on the landing gear pods would have been pretty cool on the production 222.
Does anyone know if the video of the chain gun weapons operating were actual weapons? I realize they were never mounted on Airwolf but just curious if they were real on other platforms? The way they extended from the aerodynamic pods and then the barrels moved forward in the mounting booms was a stroke of genius as far as TV theatrics was concerned! Thanks for sharing, very nice video!
If you look closely at the "guns" used on the flying Airwolf airframe (N3176S), you can see spark plugs installed on the top of the "gun barrels" that were used ignite fuel to simulate "muzzle flashes" .
The man who built this replica for that museum in Pidge Forge I know through the Airwolf community his name is Steven Stull and made WIP pics of when he did this mock-up he was going to add electronic data command center, & also combat mode for it but never got around to it sadly.
This show is one of my earliest memories. I was born in 1982, parents got their first video camera in 89 and by 91 I had taped over all the family videos with episodes of Airwolf. I’m about to turn 40 and I still run outside every time I hear a helicopter, which is several times a day with all the hospitals here in Cincinnati.
I used draw and design my own Airwolves as a kid because of the show. lol. I live next to a children’s hospital now and unfortunately theres a lot of life flights that’ll circle around and hover and I’ll just watch as well. FYI, they have all the Airwolf episodes streaming on Peacock right now… 🤣
Unfortunately I'm a Cincinnati too lol. Live on the far East side. Air Care helicopters are extremely busy in the area. Once in awhile I will hear loud deep sounding military helicopters which make me rush outside to watch them.
A helicopter pilot friend of mine Kevin Mulhern when asked after having been on a training flight with him in a 12 seat Sikorsky would you be able to practise an engine failure in an Airwolf like we had just done by throttling down one engine on approach, he said in Airwolf if you did that the other engine would take you to the scene of the crash! I will never forget that, god rest his sole Kevin died in a helicopter crash.
I am very sorry to hear what happened to your Friend Kevin Mulhern very sorry and he could very well be a distant cousin to me my last name is mulherin both not a common name .
I promise I tried to research before asking. Is this still there as far as you know? I'm in Orange County, pro freelance photographer/videographer and have set a very serious goal of buying a 1980's Bell Heli, convert it to Airwolf, make it fly, make it howl. I'd love to grab some good images of it. I will document it here but I still have a ways to go as far as revenue is concerned. It's a huge undertaking but I am extremely motivated to do it. So I want to get out and take some pictures of this replica before it becomes any more damaged. Even if it takes 15 years, I'll build it, get licensed and fly that beast all over monument valley and Lake Powell.
@@theensignschair Couldn't agree more! And I am just the stubborn and ambitious guy who would actually do it. Talk is definitely cheap, and I certainly have a mountain to climb. The good news is, I climb mountains and have achieved goals that are quite difficult and far less fun than this would be. Hopefully sooner than later! Thanks for the info.
Very lofty goal my friend ,this particular Helicopter is what is called timed out reached its service limits. And can no longer be flown , the best you could do is find one for sale, with time left on the airframe and strip it down repaint it And do all your airwolf stuff to it, better have deep pockets though it's going to cost you upwards of 2 mil and that's going easy on you.
Wow thanks for sharing! I remember when they undertook this project and then hung it in the museum unfinished. Had a falling out so some exterior was not finished at the time. Interior was never meant to be seen. I see they were able to close in the unfinished side pods since I last saw it. Too bad they weren't able to make it in combat mode. Glad it still exists. It's the only Airwolf left since the original is long gone
This may have been said elsewhere, but the rotor system installed on the replica was recovered (if I recall correctly) from a Huey, the cost of genuine a 222 set being much too high at the time. I remember watching (online) the work in progress back in 2007 or so as this was being constructed. Nice to see it's no longer on an inaccessible rooftop! ;)
Great video, nicely showing some details. It must be there for at least a few years now? I think the whole right side is starting to fade and become matt due to the excessive sunshine, therefore the left side looks way better. Too bad to see the flat tyres. The interior is totall rubbish now but originally when this model was built they used real dashboard gauges, both original seats, etc. Back in the day I followed the whole building process but the website doesnt exist anymore. Still many thanks to Steven W. Stull to build it!
My father built a R/C Model of the Airwolf back in the late 80's . He won some awards for the build . Not sure what awards exactly as he threw away almost all his R/C related documents when Alzheimers took over.
So your vids kinda inspired a simple search. I looked up 10 helicopter movies and the take-offs of each. Try this yourself. I could not find a more impressive one than Airwolf. (Blue thunder was boring) The camera crew knew how to do it right. I even looked at a 222 taking off and it was plain. If you find better, let me know!
Thanks for sharing this. Don't remeber where (we lived in Victorville California so it had to be so where in the desert of socal) , but my parents took me and my brother to the movie set. Still loves that series!
Not a chaff door it’s a step for rotor head and swash inspection access - this 222 has non standard/early model mast and tail rotor shaft and hubs, possibly cut down for practicality, the color on the replica is a gunmetal base coat clear coat and sky grey, the exhausts are also dummy units way longer than the flying set and lacking that blue brown tinge as you mentioned. Just a note on the 222 safety record, it certainly had a bad reputation and there were a disproportionate rate of fatal crashes due to design and mechanical faults early on but they were addressed and she is still highly regarded by pilots and ground crew and no one can deny her sex appeal, possibly one of the most beautiful helicopters ever made.
What's going to happen to this look at that model of airwolf go away I am a fan of the TV show if I could come up the money and buy offer the museum to let me bite off of them I would do it and preserve the replica model
My 02 Ford Focus had a similar gunmetal metallic gray paint job so when it came to the extremely important act of bestowing a name on her she was dubbed The Lady, a name that stuck with her first 14 of the 19 years I had her. The last 5 since she started showing her years she was dubbed the Millennium Focus. Built the AMT kit of Airwolf back in the day but suffered a tragic shelf collapse accident (RIP Movin On Kenworth, first run Millennium Falcon and Xwing, Galactica and Cylon Raider) and picked up the AMT CHP chopper on the odd hope that the AW parts might have remained on sprues as "mystery parts " simply not listed in the instructions as used to happen with some older licensed kits. No such luck but I salvaged most of the AW components as it was the stock Bell that took the brunt of the damage for future rebuild. Of course over the years I've been able locate another full on AW kit and finally with unplanned retirement I'm starting to dig into mine and my late wife's build someday closet stash.
The Bell 222A that was used for "Redwolf" crashed in 1986 during military exercises. The Bell 222A that was used as the on-screen "Airwolf" crashed and was destroyed in a fire when it hit a mountainside on June 6, 1992. I was making plans to visit this very exhibit at the Tennessee Air & Space Museum in Pigeon Forge, TN when I found out that it had been sold! I was SO pissed because I'm a HUGE "Airwolf" fan and have been ever since it first aired in 1984!
If you asking me, the all thing is tragic .. from the abruptly end of season 3 and the crash of the remaining Airwolf put back in air ambulance in Germany that killed 5 .. to the only replica dusting away on a tarmac and to the death of Jean Michael Vincent .. and not counting the one of a stunt man killed on filming during a crash of another Airwolf ... Just tragic in all ways possible 😪
Everyone talking a about the engineering and mods etc Me: Airwolf was one of the sickest shows as a kid. Right there with Knight Rider, and Street Hawk.
Dear brother I am once again thankful to you from Pakistan. Thank you for showing this full scale Airwolf helicopter model. It seems that might be it flew ... 💕
❤❤ I give them kudos for giving the replica a good try. She’s what we call a 20 footer 😂. It’s expensive to upkeep a nice object like this helo. At least it’s there to work on if the interest and money could be raised. But even the shell has to be worth mid 6 figures. Much less build the replica a flying 1-1 copy of the original. If I won the lottery… yeah I’d do it. 😊
THANK YOU for this! I greatly appreciate all the details you gave. I remember when I heard the original Airwolf had crashed; I was bummed out for three days.
The tail rotor not only being that of a Bell 206, has no pitch links which is what you would have seen String messing with in the scene of them doing the walk around but the main rotor hub is not a Bell 222A but a Bell 205 Huey head. This makes me sad.
One of my favorite helicopter when I was 8 years old, I always modeled it out of clay and drew pictures of it in my school notebooks if I had money I would definitely buy it, it's a childhood dream that still lives on.
