1944 U.S. ARMY AF PILOT TRAINING FILM “ TAKE OFFS AND LANDINGS PART 1: THE TAKE OFF ” 29154

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This WWII training film takes a look at the procedure for a proper take off in accordance with the US Army Air Force. It follows a narrative of a bushy eyed pilot in training as he takes his first flight with his instructor as well as his first solo take off. It is an Official Training Film of the War Department (:11) and was produced by the 1st Motion Picture Unit (:22). It opens with the fresh pilot, Mr. Blake as he distractedly bumps into peers while watching another plane take off and fly over the air field (1:11). His peers jokingly mention Mr. Blake was eager to learn everything in a day and head out to Berlin tomorrow as this was filmed during the second world war. He then nearly backs into his instructor who informs him he will be flying a Vultee BT-13 Valiant; which was the basic trainer aircraft used during WW2 (1:54). The BT-13 had a 450-horsepower engine and it’s rudders, trim tabs, and variable pitch propeller are pointed to (2:22). As Mr. Blake is about to jump into the cockpit, the instructor stops him to check the baggage compartment (2:27) and the gas tank as the gas gauge may be incorrect (2:41). The pair then climb into the plane (3:25) and the instructor will walk Mr. Blake through the entire process. Some of this includes the plugging in of the headset, fastening seat belt (3:35), unlocking controls and adjusting his seat and rider pedals (3:43) as well as setting the altimeter (4:04) and raising the flaps (4:07). It is best practice to start on the fullest tank (4:24) and to keep both of the tanks within ten gallons of one another (4:24). A control check and instrument check both must be conducted prior to starting the engine (4:37) and a second check is to follow after it has been started (4:42). Mr. Blake then adjusts the throttle (4:57), turns the ignition switch on and begins to build up fuel pressure to drive the engine (5:08). As the engine kicks on the propellers begin spinning (5:27). Regardless of the parking brake being set, the instructor informs him he must keep his feet on the brakes while the engine is running (5:52). Mr. Blake then radios the control tower that they are preparing to take off (6:04). Other planes on the airfield begin moving forward and the pair nearly knocks into another plane demonstrating it is vital to keep eyes moving around the field (7:33). He is told to use the rudder for turns and never the brakes unless necessary (7:46). Preparing for takeoff, he stops just short of the take off lane at a 45-degree angle (8:05). Another check of the instruments ensues (8:11). In order to counter act torque from the engine which pulls the nose to the right or the left, two points are chosen in the foreground to balance the nose between (6:57). The throttle is used to clear the engine after it has been idling for any amount of time (10:12). The flaps are rolled down (10:57) and the throttle is opened slowly (11:16). Once having reached the shallow climbing altitude (11:53) the plane begins to lift itself from the runway (12:19). Mr. Blake then levels off to gain speed (12:28). The plane climbs higher and passes 150 feet in the air (13:00). The new pilot then takes his first 90-degree turn (13:05) and then another (13:26). The flaps are rolled up and he adjusts the throttle for cruising rpm (14:13). After they land (14:47), the instructor asks Mr. Blake if he had remembered everything to which Mr. Blake replies with the important things (16:04). The instructor takes him from the plane and re-goes over the entire process as all of the points are important (16:37). The day then comes when Mr. Blake gets to do his first solo take off (19:27). He narrates each of the points learned as he goes through the process of the checks and preparations for take-off (20:45). In flight he conducts the same maneuvers as he had done with his instructor (22:58). At the end of the film, just prior to conclusion the new pilot, still in the air, says he had remembered everything and there was nothing to worry about, except for the landing (24:26) insinuating there is a second part of the training film which will specifically look at landing procedures (24:26).
The Vultee BT-13 Valiant was a WWII-era basic (a category between primary and advanced) trainer aircraft built by Vultee Aircraft for the U.S. Army Air Corps, and later U.S. Army Air Forces. A subsequent variant of the BT-13 in USAAC/USAAF service was known as the BT-15 Valiant, while an identical version for the US Navy was known as the SNV and was used to train naval aviators for the Navy and its sister services, the Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFi...

[@sid2112]

Imagine a few hundred years from now someone doing their doctoral thesis on these films. Edit: I just gotta say. These kind of training videos speak to me. The instructor's clear, concise voice. Exacting instructions without putting too much on the trainee at once. Emphasis on safety and why it's important. Restating the important information. Good stuff!

[@terryboehler5752]

Priming the engine prior to start: Unlock the primer by twisting the handle. Pull the handle all the way out. LET IT FILL UP. Then push it fully forward.

[@74KU]

Kamikaze pilots never saw part 2

[@mbergquist6855]

What? He did not call the tower to request takeoff clearance? He did call the tower to clear the pattern? or re-entered the pattern? SOP for the time or just film-maker being simplistic?

[@espressocookie8965]

*in the air* "Now I haven't a thing to worry about... except landing!"

[@bangaloremusic]

“You’re in the smoking car with the men now” ...lol

[@gameshistory5644]

I'm a complete history nerd and I love these types of films. please keep them coming.

[@user-ij9sh1tf9d]

"leave for Berlin in the morning" lol

[@ricks1314]

Excellent, as always!! Thanks!!

[@fordrugs]

the quality of production though; one could say "it's a mere training film, why care?", and yet all that light and camera work

[@johnwilhelm9854]

fordrugs they had professionals shooting it

[@Youtubeforcedmetochangemyname]

Back then their budget want that big.

[@moncorp1]

Can't believe there was no physical checklist for these pilots like there is these days.

[@nelsonde]

Need the one on landings. Takeoffs are optional, landings are mandatory!

[@markreeter6227]

Kamikazes would beg to differ. 😁

[@nelsonde]

@@markreeter6227 that actually required more skill than simply landing in normal conditions. Special attack pilots were all trained to take off and land, but judging the velocity, altitude, and speed of their targets often proved faulty. After the initial Okinawa attacks, the IJN started pulling pilots from, what we would term, Primary Flight Schools. Those poor kids hadn't mastered landings yet.

[@dkoz8321]

For the record. I was Lt. Pip. I walked into a spinning prop. Now I am Lt. Parts.

[@joshwilberger6735]

"that would be bad"

[@Strato13]

This has nothing to do with the film, but I am curious about something I notice in these old films whether they be training films, or movies. WHY did (I'm specifically choosing men here) men speak, and sound so different compared with today's speech? There is something about the inflection, pattern, cadence, choice of grammar, tone, that sounds very different than modern American English. Perhaps the recording equipment, mic's, production? I can't be the only person who notices this, and I will admit that I am not very educated. Just some college and not even too much of it. My primary language is Spanish, but my English is perfect California English (No accents if we even have any in Ca), almost as if Spanish had never existed. And yes, my Spanish is better than most people's Spanish but it is far from perfect. At my place of work, I work with the public a lot, and many of our patients only speak spanish and I've been corrected more than once for not pronouncing some words, terms, or phrases correctly. As a kid growing up, I had read voraciously as a kid beginning with books on Wildlife, Marine Wildlife, Dinosaurs, etc and gradually absorbed English. We'd get a pack of M&M's if we did good in English tutoring class in grammar school..So I am quite proud of my English. And while my choice of words and grammar are better than some peoples, and as good as my English is; It is still different than how the instructor, men,or people of the time sounded.

[@garywotherspoon5037]

That is a good question. The best answer that I personally can give is that people were taught differently. English classes and spelling classes in school. Sometimes elocution classes. Also, the World Wars involved generations of men and women. The military has it's own language so to speak. To communicate clearly is paramount right along with learning the soldiering. And many of these people wound up teaching the post war kids in schools.

[@Strato13]

@@garywotherspoon5037 Makes perfect sense. Than you. ;-)

[@rbenomar]

I really hope this take off video and the landing video were shown on the same day

[@scifimom42]

Blake was sent to Bombardier school in another video.

[@marine4lyfe85]

Yeah, he was making bomb runs in a wooden chair with 2x4's.

[@jjh4961]

Off we go....into the wild blue yonder

[@jdrevenge]

@PeriscopeFIlm Please digitize and upload the other videos from the flight training series. Thank you!

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Search our channel for the pilot training playlist... Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.

[@90210dk1]

Brilliant film nice thankyou x

[@matrox]

I feel like I can now fly an AT6.

[@hansgaming4794]

i am lol

[@421sap]

In Jesus' Name, Amen. ✝️

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Stop spamming our channel. Oh actually nevermind -- you're banned!

[@asd36f]

Vultee Valiant aka Vultee Vibrator

[@Prfdt3]

Vindicator