Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....
The Final Countdown
The Final Countdown
First let me say, I wasn't sure where to post this - so if it's in the wrong place could a mod move it please!
I'm sure many of you will have seen the movie "The Final Countdown" featuring the USS Nimitz and its various air wings.
Personally I love this film.
I was therefore quite interested when I saw this video on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzMiKjzFbOg
in which an experienced F-14 pilot Ward Carroll talks about the movie.
I hope this is of interest to someone! If you haven't seen it, I think the flying sequences in this film are great!
I'm sure many of you will have seen the movie "The Final Countdown" featuring the USS Nimitz and its various air wings.
Personally I love this film.
I was therefore quite interested when I saw this video on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzMiKjzFbOg
in which an experienced F-14 pilot Ward Carroll talks about the movie.
I hope this is of interest to someone! If you haven't seen it, I think the flying sequences in this film are great!
- Blackcat1
- Posts: 26277
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:06 pm
- Location: Southern edge of the Brecon Beacons, South Wales
Re: The Final Countdown
Loved that film! Well Kirk is in it for a start! And yep totally agree that the flying sequences are great.
Roaring past the Zeroes "Hey Fox that woke them up" !!

Roaring past the Zeroes "Hey Fox that woke them up" !!
Gareth
6 Sqdn Canopeners
Oculi exercitus
Blackcats remembered
Jaguar Force Excellance! 2nd July 07.
6 Sqdn Canopeners
Oculi exercitus
Blackcats remembered
Jaguar Force Excellance! 2nd July 07.
Re: The Final Countdown
Hi Chris
Always loved this film , much better than Top Gun IMHO shows a lot more of the Air Wing as he says.
I remember talking to the VF-84 crews aboard the Nimitz when she visited Portsmouth in 1980 and they all said that diving split S sequence was definatley not planned and the whole film was great fun to do
Still got it recorded s0mwhere , time to dig it out I think (hope)
Cheers
Paul
Always loved this film , much better than Top Gun IMHO shows a lot more of the Air Wing as he says.
I remember talking to the VF-84 crews aboard the Nimitz when she visited Portsmouth in 1980 and they all said that diving split S sequence was definatley not planned and the whole film was great fun to do
Still got it recorded s0mwhere , time to dig it out I think (hope)
Cheers
Paul
- Arthur Tee
- Posts: 977
- Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:51 pm
- Location: Shawbury, Shrewsbury,Shropshire!
Re: The Final Countdown
Took a couple of French Exchange Students to see that at the cinema. Their English was about as good as my French (read non-existent). It was easy enough explaining the movie title - but how much explaining did that plot take??
Arthur

Arthur
Re: The Final Countdown
Great film, imho
Ward Carroll posts some great stuff on YouTube, all worth a peek, again imho

Ward Carroll posts some great stuff on YouTube, all worth a peek, again imho

- roughcutter
- Posts: 2345
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:47 pm
- Location: Widnes, Cheshire
Re: The Final Countdown
Cracking film, even featured an RF-8. 

Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don't have film.
Re: The Final Countdown
Watched it last night on DVD. Spotted a "NATC" F4 & A7E. Also RA5C Vigilante.
-
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2015 12:24 pm
Re: The Final Countdown
Whereabouts in the film was the Vigilante?
- roughcutter
- Posts: 2345
- Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:47 pm
- Location: Widnes, Cheshire
Re: The Final Countdown
Seem to recall seeing an RA-5 tail in the film, scanned somewhere amongst the other airframes on the flight deck, wasn't a flight scene.
Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don't have film.
Re: The Final Countdown
RA5C tail appears at the far right of a few stills in Ward Carroll’s video on YouTube 

Re: The Final Countdown
At Pearl Harbor being towed(Tail code GJ). & glimpse of another on the Rear Deck of Carrier.
-
- Posts: 633
- Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2015 12:24 pm
Re: The Final Countdown
Thanks guys. Will take a look.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 37 guests