This week’s rankings in the James Bond world deal with his aircraft. What qualifies as aircraft is anything that flies or floats in the air such as airplanes, helicopters, autogyros, jet packs, flying platforms, hang gliders, gliders, and parachutes etc. However, hovercrafts will not qualify, as they seem to be typically regulated as boats.
Once again, Bond has to operate said aircraft and Never Say Never Again is eligible to be included in the list. Only one aircraft per film please.
So how what are your rankings of the James Bond aircraft?
Here’s my list:
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Wallis WA-116 Series 1 – YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE – Also known as Little Nellie, this autogyro stole the show in YOLT. It is basically the flying Aston Martin DB5 with machine guns, air to air missiles, rocket launchers, flamethrowers, and aerial mines. Nobody has done it better.
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Bede BD-5J – OCTOPUSSY – This small, but no less exciting aircraft, is also known as the Acrostar Microjet, which is involved in one of the best pre-title sequences. Not only was it little, but it is the smallest jet ever built–complete with folding wings! Fill 'er up please.
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Aero L-39 Albatros – TOMORROW NEVER DIES – The most powerful aircraft James Bond has used is this fighter jet from the pre-titles sequence. It is powerful, kick-ass, and exciting.
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Republic RC-3 Seabee – THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN – Amphibious plane with a homing beacon tracker and screen. Light on gadgets, but nice looking little plane.
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Bell Textron Jet Pack – THUNDERBALL – The first 007 flying gadget may still be the coolest. It just screams Bond. Too bad the stunt man insisted on wearing the helmet.
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XT-7B – NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN – This flying platform is nice but pales in comparison to the jet pack. Still, it’s an ok gadget and certainly better than nothing.
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Cessna A185F Skywagon – LICENCE TO KILL – Another amphibious airplane, which always gets extra credit from me. Doesn’t hurt that it is used in a terrific and exciting sequence.
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Agusta-Bell 206B JetRanger II – FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Bond goes from passenger to pilot in this helicopter during an entertaining PTS. If only we didn’t have to hear about a stainless steel delicatessen.
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Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter – GOLDENEYE – Tough choice, but I took this airplane over the Cessna 172P Skyhawk plane that gets shot down by Alec Trevelyan because the Pilatus was involved in a more exciting scene.
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Cessna 140 – LIVE AND LET DIE – It may never have gotten off the ground, but this airplane still was the centerpiece of an entertaining and unusual chase.
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MD Helicopters MD 600N – DIE ANOTHER DAY – Nice little helicopter.
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Cessna A185F – NO TIME TO DIE – I don’t know why, but this amphibious airplane doesn’t capture me like the others do. I suppose it’s because it doesn’t have any “specialness” in its scenes. Anyway, I still like it better than those lower on this list.
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Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander – SPECTRE – This was the toughest call to make. But I chose this airplane over the Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm Bo 105 helicopter because it took up a bigger portion of the film.
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Douglas C-47A Skytrain / Douglas DC-3-G102A – QUANTUM OF SOLACE – Apparently two airplanes were used for filming–the Skytrain for the takeoff and early flight and the DC-3 for the action scenes. It’s part of a good chase/action scene with Bond flying the underdog aircraft.
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Lockheed C-130H Hercules – THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS – This airplane is huge, and I’m sure not as much fun to fly as those previously mentioned on this list, so it drops down to here.
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Hang Glider – MOONRAKER – When I went to the Bond In Motion exhibit in Los Angeles a couple of years ago, I was shocked to see that this hang glider was actually motorized! So extra props to the crew for that touch. Still, I would have to place more powered aircraft higher on my list.
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Parachute – THE SPY WHO LOVED ME – Great looking, iconic parachute which caps off the ultimate stunt.
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Parachute Cluster – DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER – This three-parachute set is used to lower Bond and his inflatable water sphere down to the ocean. Nothing too special, but it’s enough to make the list.
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Parachute – GOLDFINGER – Hardly seen–and only after it was used–but it was obviously used by Bond, so it (barely) makes the list.
Like the land vehicles, I prefer gadgeted aircraft first and foremost and then how they are used during chases with a little bit of looks/appearances added in.
So, what are your James Bond aircraft rankings?
