The Airplanes of James Bond
After 46 hours watching all 22 films, our list numbers more than 150.
- By The Editors
- Photographs by Movieposter.com
- AirSpaceMag.com, July 14, 2008
You've seen our list of the coolest airplanes appearing in nearly half a century’s worth of James Bond films.
Now, after watching all 22 Bond flicks, the editors at Air & Space have compiled a list of more than 150 aircraft and spacecraft (both fictional and non-) shown in the films. Click through the photo gallery at right to see the list.
Additions? Corrections? Let us know, in the comments section below.
Comments (12)
Just one comment about your collection of Bond´s airplanes:
The unidentified "russian two props plane" in "The World Is Not Enough" is actually a spanish designed and built light transport CASA 212 AVIOCAR; a very probable reason for its presence in the film is the fact that part of this film was shot in Spain. Thanks.
Posted by Pablo Sanchez on July 18,2008 | 08:39 AM
Where is the Republic RC3 Seabee??
While it had only a short appearance in "The Man With the Golden Gun", and was not used to chase or shoot down any bad guys (but did contribute an explosion-- its own, courtesy of the solar laser), Bond's beautiful flight through Thailand's Phang Na Bay cliff islands in the Seabee, was a visual highlight of an otherwise low-end cheesy Bond film.
It was certainly more memorable to viewers, and important to the movie than the Harrier!
I'm also skeptical of the inclusion of the Marchetti 260TP, given that the movie is not even out yet!
The Seabee's unusual fuselage design, flying amidst the unique scenery in the movie, plus the Bond-cool "belly-up-to-the-beach-in-a-tux" landing, make for a memorable flight worthy of James Bond coolness, and worthy of mention in your article.
Posted by Colin Gould on July 19,2008 | 02:04 PM
The aircraft approaching the hangar as Bond is about to fly through it is a Lear Jet, if I am not mistaken. Either that or a Cessna Citation. Hard to see at that distance, but since I own a BD-5J, I know that's not it. :)
Posted by Juan Jimenez on July 19,2008 | 04:04 PM
I think the plane in the skyhook system in Thunderball was a converted B17
Posted by Phrahnsis on July 20,2008 | 03:41 PM
The Living Daylights offered rich pickings, with most of the Moroccan Air Force's fleet seeming to be cast (in Russian markings): Fouga CM.170 Magister, OV-10A Bronco and Alpha Jet H, in addition to plenty of C-130H screen time. Plus an Aero Commander, Royal Air Maroc 727 and 757, and - in the first scene - a Gib-based Nimrod MRA1.
Posted by Ian Corrigible on July 26,2008 | 06:24 PM
I could not find a reference to a scene where Bond is on the outside of a Beech 18. He is trying to elude an assassin, and escapes by pushing the elevator down with his foot,forcing the plane to nose down.He leaps off the aircraft before it crashes.I don't remember which flick it was, but I think Roger Moore was Bond.
Posted by Daniel Wright on July 30,2008 | 04:05 AM
I cannot remember exactly which film it was in but Bond successfully bellied in a Navion in one of them. Anyone remember which film?
Posted by Bryce VanStavern on August 5,2008 | 04:12 PM
There's a Brantley B2 at the end of Goldfinger that you forgot to include!
Posted by Matt on August 8,2008 | 10:16 AM
The Navion you were thinking of was actually a Meyers 200 and it was in the movie You Only Live Twice. The Meyers 200 looks similar but is in fact smaller (though still a four-seater) and quite a bit faster. It's also made of steel with aluminum skin. Great airplane but very rare. They only made around 130 of them in the 1950's and 1960's. But almost all of them are still around thanks to their extremely strong construction.
Posted by Dean Siracusa on August 19,2008 | 03:41 AM
The fictional mega-airliner in Casino Royale is a retired modifed 747, not an A340.
Also, the "VC-140" you list in Goldfinger is a civil JetStar...probably the same one used as Goldfinger's jet.
You missed a helicopter in "Youy Only Live Twice" the Brantly...as seen on the poster. Also, there is a turbine version of the Westland Whirwind (license-built Sikorsky S-55/H-19)near the hangar that the BD-5J flies though in "Octopussy".
Also, did anyone else notice that the poster of "From Russia with Love" features a Bell 47J while the helicopter in the film is (as you correctly note) a Hiller UH-12.
Posted by J Boyle on September 7,2008 | 11:31 PM
I think the plane in the skyhook system in Thunderball was a converted B17
Posted by Phrahnsis on July 20,2008 | 12:41PM
Also prior to that appearance, divers are dropped by parachute from a Boeing HC-97G Strofreighter.
Posted by Adrian Balch on November 3,2010 | 10:48 AM
The tiger helicopter in Golden Eye is not fictional. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_Tiger
Posted by Jane Doe on December 7,2011 | 05:53 PM
Ok guys in which film did a helicopter fly through the Marple Viaduct? Urgent answer required please. --Roger
Posted by Roger on October 8,2012 | 02:23 PM