Six films fascinating films that are “really out there!”

*Nuclear Propulsion in Space Today using a nuclear reactor to power a space ship may seem like pure science fiction, but in fact, the United States did in depth testing and development of nuclear powered space flight staring in the 1950s and its still considered a viable system for deep space exploration and interplanetary missions to this day. This progress report was issued by NASA and Nuclear Energy Commission in 1968 and covers R&D programs going back to Los Alamos in the early 1950s through full power testing at Jackass Flats in Nevada and later at a facility near Sacramento California in the 1960s.

*Design & Development of Avro Canada VZ-9AV “Avrocar” Three very detailed “progress report” films showing design, development and testing produced in color by Avro Canada for the U.S.A.F.:

Avrocar Progress Report: February 1^st 1958- May 1^st 1959 (20 minutes)
Avrocar Disc Flight Development Progress Report May 2^nd 1959- April 12^th 1960 (23 Minutes
Avrocar Continuation Test Program and Terrain Test Program 1960-1961 (20 minutes)

The Avrocar was the result of a Canadian effort to develop a supersonic, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fighter-bomber staring in the early 1950s, subsequently funded by the U.S. Army & Air Force. Its circular shape gave it the appearance of a “flying saucer” out of science fiction movies

*The Roswell ReportsThe so called “Roswell Incidents” are perennial fodder for cable TV exposes to this day. This is a concise summary of the United States Air Force's 800+ page reports issued in the 1990s in response theses “Roswell Incident” stories in New Mexico going back to 1947. UFO sightings, “Space Ship” crash sites, Area 51, secret bases, abductions, alien autopsies, the “red haired man” and more are covered. In every case, the Air Force gives a rational explanation or rebuttal to those sensational reports. Many storiess of “Alien Activity,” were in fact generated by events like extreme high altitude parachute drops, weather balloons, reentry capsule tests, missile range testing and more, many of them “top secret” at the time, that could only be made public later.

* Hiller “Flying Platform” Tests Although it never got past the prototype testing, Hiller's “Flying Platform” featuring an infantryman “flying” a small circular propeller driven platform beneath him, was a popular choice among scale modelers and in “Army Man” toy soldier sets in the 1950s and 60s because it was, well, really cool! These are color films produced by Hiller to document prototype test flights.

The 1^st Division – In July 1965, the “Big Red 1" was the first division sized American unit to be sent to Vietnam. This film gives a year by year account of the divisions actions fought from landing through their departure in 1970.

* Complete 381 page Field & Depot Maintenance Manual for the M48A3 Patton tank Adobe Acrobat .pdf file forma, viewable & printable on any PC or Mac computer based DVD player..

Seven Films

* Flying the Sikorsky H-19 Chicasaw Helicopter Transitional training with the Sikorsky H-19. The Sikorsky H-19 and its subsequent variants were workhorse utility helicopters for all branches of the U.S. military and many allied forces in the 1950s & 60s, playing prominent roles in conflicts from Korea through the Vietnam War and in many civilian rescue operations.The film covers eight steps: Pre-flight Inspection, Cockpit Procedures, Taxiing, Hovering, Takeoff, Auto-rotation, Approach and Engine Shutdown. The film offers very detailed views of this classic "Chopper," inside and out.

* Bell AH-1J and AH-1T SeaCobra Attack Helicopters in Combat The U.S. Marine Corps H-1J and AH-1T SeaCobra helicopters are twin engined variants of the Army's AH-1G Huey Cobras, which had been introduced during the Vietnam War.The Marine Cobras saw limited action at the end of the Vietnam War and then in in Grenada in 1983, the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi freedom.. nautical miles. They can reach speed of 170 knots , cruise at 140, have a range of 100 miles and are IFR equipped for all weather and night operations. They can mount a wide range of weapons.The film shows Marine Cobras performing critical missions, mostly in support of amphibious landings.

* USAF 20th Helicopter Squadron CH-3C Jolly Green Giants in Vietnam
Operation Double Eagle in late January, 1966, was the largest Marine amphibious assault since the Korean War and the largest conducted during the Vietnam War. 5,000 "Delta Force" marines from 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, and 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines landed by ship and helicopter in southern Quang Ngai Province near Duc Pho. Great quality color footage shows USAF 20th Squadron "Jolly Green Giant" CH-3C helos operating out of Danang supporting the amphibious landing in a variety of roles including ferrying 105mm howitzers from "Red Beach" inland to forward fire bases, transporting causalities and captured VC, bringing in spare parts and ferrying civilians from the combat zone to safe havens.

* Shotgun Rider: Huey Helicopter Door Gunners in the Vietnam War One of the iconic images from the War in Vietnam is of U.S army door gunners firing M-60 machine gun bursts from a low flying Huey into the jungle below. This fascinating film shows all aspects of door gunner duty, from training through deployment in front line units in Vietnam. And the film isn't just about these 'Shotgun Riders," it's also an informative look at all aspects of Huey Attack Helicopter operations & tactics in Vietnam.

* Chopper Pilot Often called "The Helicopter War," Vietnam produced an explosion in demand for trained pilots & crew. Starting with basic classroom work on aerodynamics, engineering & more at Fort Walters Training Center, promising students, soon move on to to basic flight school in the minuscule TH 155 trainer to learn basic flight controls & helicopter handling and then on to their first solo flight. (Then a veteran military instructor takes over to teach them advances skills, including low level cross country flying, navigation, formation flying and recon work. Those that pass the test move on to Ft. Rucker, Alabama for advanced training ion the lager TH13T, including instruments, ADF and GCa. The next step up is to the ubiquitous Huey UH1 and includes basic maintenance and familiarization with the Huey gunship variant. Training culminates in an 8 Day "Field Problem," where everything is done to simulate operating in real combat conditions doing a variety of missions, including heavy lifting, recon, transport & LZ support.

Boeing CH-47 Chinook Airlifts Chaparral Defense System (1977,Color,25:00)
From their inception Helicopters were seen as ideal carriers for transporting loads from Point A to Point B in remote, inaccessible areas in a relatively short time. The Army's Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a prime example that could lift up to 10,000 lbs. This nuts and bolts, how its done film shows an Army team airlifting a M54 forward air defense launcher, mounting four MIM-72A heat seeking missiles, in an emergency situation in the desert by decoupling it from it's tracked carrier and transporting it to a hot spot to provide a ready to go defensive shield.

Bonus: World War Two Helicopters. (1941-45,B&W,Silent,10:00) These very rare archival film shows test flights of three of the first operational military helicopters in World War 2: the German twin rotor Focke Achgelis Fa 223 Drache (Dragon0, the German single rotor, forward engined Flettner FL265, and the American Vought Sikorsky VS 3000 Amphibious helicopter.