Airwolf

Airwolf is a 1980s American television movie and series about a supersonic military helicopter of the same name. The series ran for 56 episodes on CBS-TV in the United States from 1984–1986 and an additional 24 episodes with a new cast and production company on the USA Network in 1987.

The Airwolf Helicopter

The Airwolf helicopter was in actuality a Bell 222A (serial number 47085, registration number N3176S), painted black and fitted with various prop modifications, such as "turbo" jet engines and engine intakes, "chain guns" that are hidden in the wingtips, and a rocket launcher, known as the "ADF Pod" on her belly.

Related Topics:
Bell 222 - Chain gun - Rocket launcher

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After the first season, the producers were advised that "chain guns" is a registered trademark of McDonnell Douglas, and they would not be referred to as "chain guns" again. Other modifications were implied with foley and sets; the interior sets were of a fantastical high-tech nature, and there were implied "stealth" noise-reducing capabilities with creative use of sound effects. Airwolf is sometimes referred to in-show as The Lady by Santini.

Related Topics:
McDonnell Douglas - Foley - Stealth - Sound effects

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In the show, Airwolf was an armored, stealth aircraft, invisble to conventional radar. It could perform impossible manuvers and stunts, including travel at mach speeds, flying upside down, and fly into the stratosphere. Sound effects were also associated with many of the aircrafts abilities. Whenever the "turbo boost" was activated Airwolf would "howl like a wolf" and make a glass-shattering sound effect. When sitting idle, the aircraft made a mechanical trilling sound. While hovering the rotor blades made a ghostly wind drone. The aircraft could operate on "silent mode" and hover quietly above the ground without being noticed.

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The weapons were state-of-the-art, with machine guns that could rip apart tanks and bunkers. The belly missile pod could fire a variety of rockets, including Hellfire and heat-seeking Sidewinders. When fired, these rockets usually "glowed" like a laser bolt or "photon torpedo" in Star Trek. Airwolf was also equipped with an advanced computer system which could identify and track aircraft and ground vehicles. It could display 3D wireframe models and schematics of its targets. The communications system could eavesdrop on radio and telephone conversations, tap into and fowl up computer systems, jam enemy transmission frequencies and disrupt ground-based electrical systems.

Related Topics:
Hellfire - Sidewinder - Photon torpedo - Star Trek

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In one episode, Airwolf had a doppelganger, called Redwolf. Redwolf was flown by an egotistical test-pilot rival of Stringfellow Hawke's called Harlan Jenkins. Redwolf differed from Airwolf in that it had a red nose and a powerful laser weapon. By the end of the episode, Redwolf was destroyed by Airwolf.

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After the show was cancelled the modifications were removed. The aircraft was repainted and eventually sold to the German helicopter charter company, Hubschrauber-Sonder-Dienst (aka HSD Luftrettung and Blue Helicopter Alliance), and given the registration number D-HHSD. Airwolf, as a plain Bell 222a air ambulance, crashed in a thunderstorm on June 9, 1991, killing her three passengers.

Related Topics:
German - Air ambulance - Thunderstorm - June 9 - 1991

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