Summary
- In Bond films, the legendary spy has flown in a wide range of aircraft, including the classic DC-3 and the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, showcasing his versatility as a pilot.
- The production team for the Bond films came up with clever solutions to create realistic flying scenes, such as using skidoos mounted inside the aircrafts’ bodies for a scene in Spectre.
- Bond’s flying contraptions have included unique vehicles like the Wallis autogyro named Little Nellie and the tiny Acrostar” Bede” Jet that could fit in a horse trailer.
The legendary spy has flown on a broader range of aircraft than most of us ever will, not to mention his cars. While he has been known to fly commercially, often on a Pan Am 707, he is frequently known to fly himself in whatever aircraft is available.
In appearances over 26 films, he has flown in all manner of vehicles, from autogyro to jet. Here are some of the most legendary examples.
5 The DC 3
One of the most classic and iconic aircraft of all makes its most significant appearance in Bond’s 2008 foray, Quantum of Solace. Trading in his Range Rover as collateral, 007 and his leading lady Camille enlist the help of a vintage DC-3 to escape Dominic Greene’s forces.
The vintage aircraft is pursued across the Mexican desert by the acrobatic SIAI-Marchetti SF.260, which inflicts some severe damage on the DC-3. Thankfully, the reliable aircraft kept on flying even after an engine flame-out for long enough for the two to make a safe ascent to an altitude from which they could parachute to safety.
The iconic aircraft made its first appearance in 1964’s Goldfinger. Marking it as one of the longest-lasting aircraft in the franchise’s history, with a span of 44 years between outings.
4 Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander
In one of the most recent films, 2015’s Spectre, Bond finds himself in Austria, chasing after the kidnapped Madeleine Swann. Aiding in his attempt is a twin-engined high-wing propeller-driven monoplane, the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander. Despite the plane having absolutely no way of defending itself, he takes on two armored vehicles in a high-speed chase.
After buzzing the convoy, he catches his wingtips on the trees and careens down the mountainside in pursuit. According to special effects supervisor Chris Corbould, the team behind the film came up with a clever solution for allowing the aircraft to skid down the mountain on its fuselage without destroying the underbelly of the aircraft:
“We had skidoos mounted inside the aircrafts’ bodies. It could drive along the ground at high speed.
“It looks as though it is sliding on the snow but is actually being driven and steered from the inside.”
Notably, production of the aircraft type has just returned to Great Britain after 55 years. Over 1,250 of the aircraft have been built, with more than 750 still in service worldwide.
3 Aero L-39 Albatross
In Bond’s 1997 outing, Tomorrow Never Dies, he is tasked with saving the world, this time from a nuclear disaster. After discovering nuclear torpedos hidden in an Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatross, it is up to Pierce Brosnan to get the warheads out of danger with a missile incoming in one minute.
Naturally, he shoots his way out of danger, only to find a steep runway set high in the Alps. Taking off with seconds to safety, Bond is then forced to fly the aircraft with knees while dealing with a backseat driver, who is summarily ejected.
The Czech-produced Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatross is one of the most widely used trainers in the world and can be adapted to serve in a light attack role.
2 Little Nellie
One of the most memorable Bond flying contraptions is the holder of 34 world records. In 1987’s You Only Live Twice, James Bond takes up a Wallis autogyro, affectionately named Little Nellie, in search of his nemesis Blofeld’s rocket base.
Photo: EON Productions
The aircraft was designed by RAF Wing Commander Ken Wallis and is surprisingly agile. A 1.6-litre rear engine powers the gyro’s rear engine, and the top rotor spins naturally once the moving is rolling to create an airfoil.
The aircraft is flown in the film’s dramatic fight scene by designer Wallis himself. The former tactical weapons expert set no fewer than 34 autogyro world records over his career, including a top speed record of 129mph.
1 The Horsebox Plane
One of 007’s most iconic escapes involves a personal jet that could fit in a horse trailer. In the opening sequence of Octopussy in 1983, Roger Moore takes off in a tiny Acrostar” Bede” Jet. As his opponents close in, 007 rolls the jet out from behind a false horse take and takes off down a country road, only to be targeted by a missile. A little bit of maneuvering and a couple of close calls later, and he is off safely to another adventure.
The BD-5J Acrostar was an actual aircraft designed by engineer Jim Bede. It was an early homebuilt jet that allowed pilots to assemble it themselves. Powered by a robust TRS-18 microturbo jet engine that delivered 225 lbs of thrust, the aircraft packed a lot of punch for an aircraft that only weighed 450 lbs empty and had a wingspan of 13 feet.
Photo: EON Productions
The Acrostar went on to set the Guinness World Record for the lightest jet aircraft and can hit speeds of 320mph.
What are some of your favorite James Bond aircraft? Let us know in the comments.