The greatest episode of Magnum P.I.

This is a summary of the best episode of Magnum P.I. that I ever saw.

[@J.R.in_WV]

I agree it was a really cool episode, hunter and Magnum’s connection was really cool, the show always did have spiritual overtones and a general theme that what you do, good or bad, will come back around.

[@InDebt8]

Will have to watch it again. It's been decades but it's got some heavy competition. "Did You See the Sun Rise" is one I never forgot.

[@AirTales]

I did see "Sun Rise", but I am coming at this from an aviation perspective.

[@gary7vn]

Get over yourself. @@AirTales

[@AirTales]

@@gary7vn what does that even mean??

[@Buzz4462]

The greatest Magnum episode was - Did You See The Sunrise.

[@bonghunezhou5051]

...along with LA (season 7), Deja Vú (6), and Memories Are Forever (2).

[@rufus5966]

Don't forget Paper War👍

[@gary7vn]

100%

[@DougPoulton]

That was Donald P. Bellisario's favorite but his early writings weren't that powerful until later with "JAG" and "NCIS", which both were blockbusters. IMO

[@glennbrymer4065]

Any time you can watch a P51 rollout, is a great time!

[@standardcitizen5948]

I love these old shows, Magnum, 240 Robert and Chips. Those were good times.

[@joosepkaha1687]

Don't forget The A-Team.

[@f4phantom247]

Knight rider

[@OntarioBearHunter]

Don't forget Chopper 1

[@Spudgun81]

All of the aerial footage in this video was reused in Airwolf (also produced by Don Belisario) . The Lear Jet v. P-51 scene was completely re-used in the Airwolf episode Severance Pay.

[@AirTales]

I gotta check that out!

[@StanMcClain]

Besides all of the aerial scenes I shot, the F4 was stock footage. We used Clay's Lear 25 (N564CL) and the Astrovision system to shoot much of the air to air of Clay's P51(N64CL) and Lear 24 (N464CL).

[@davefox8948]

This was always one of my favorites. RIP Bill Lucking.

[@thewatcher5271]

Hey Man, Thanks For The Memory! I Remember Watching It In Real Time & It's One Of My Favorite Episodes, Too. Here I Am A Year Later. (Like #832)

[@chrispiyarat5507]

That was a great episode. The Lear jet landing was from the Capricorn One movie. When this first aired it was one of he hottest episodes ever to be on TV. Love it. Thanks for the back story I had no idea. Great work.

[@2uiator325]

The Learjet crash landing scene was actually footage shot for “Capricorn One”, O.J.’s greatest role…worth checking out for the aerial scenes alone involving the Lear, two “black helicopters”, played by Hughes MD 500s, as well as a Stearman crop duster.

[@nocalsteve]

The Capricorn One Learjet landing was also used in an Airwolf episode.

[@Tom-ic7hw]

I still get the Willys when that crop-duster dives into the canyon

[@ianbW4IJB]

And Clay Lacy himself had a cameo in Capricorn One, when the three astronauts were extricated from the command module and flown (eventually) by Lacy's Learjet to the soundstage inside the abandoned airbase. At just after the 10:00 minute mark, Clay swivels around in the right seat to the three fully space-suited astronauts and says to Col. Brubaker (Brolin), "Colonel, we're going to be a little while. You and your men might be a little more comfortable in these," as he hands over what appear to be flight jumpers.

[@dukecraig2402]

Telly Savalas was his usual great self in Capricorn One as the ornery crop duster pilot. He certainly was one of the greats, another one of those "they don't make 'em like that anymore" actor's from a bygone era, anything he was in was typically worth watching.

[@ianbW4IJB]

Despite his claim to be both "A"'s, I am still trying to figure out which "A" he really is, 🤣😂

[@YouGotPropofol]

A few of the magnum episodes end in that sudden freeze frame while the sound continues in the back. Usually something sad or something historical. They can be quite moving. Just like this one.

[@RevJim-qc2ry]

R.I.P William Lucking ..... June 17, 1941 ..... October 18, 2021 (80)

[@ianobrien8437]

His character was also portrayed in other shows produced by the Magnum producers and there is something of a shared universe nod/easter egg to another similar character in Tales of the Gold Monkey.

[@walter.s8145]

I have watched every magnum episode. My favorite is the 4th of july.

[@andypeterson8013]

I love the series. It makes me home sick for the guys that I served with in the Army. Just like with Magnum, TC, Rick and Higgins we always looked after each other and always hung out together. Never had to face the hardships alone.

[@gelnat7100]

Thank you for serving.

[@williamthurston5904]

....Well...It was,... Pretty Damn good... And I always liked it too....from the grumman model to all the air toys,..bell rangers mustangs etc,..etc,......you name it,....the guy virgil vogle wrote it I think,...and Im wondering if that was a room mate I had in new York years ago. who had the same name,.........god bless him.. Think he's dead now....a good talent............often wonder if it was the same guy...rip,........

[@regsmith7604]

Magnum P.I., and Simon and Simon were my shows

[@WilliamHolden-t5g]

Both came from The Rockford Files. One of my favorites.

[@regsmith7604]

@@WilliamHolden-t5g Jim Rockford, his dad and the lieutenant were funny

[@WilliamHolden-t5g]

Definitely so!!. And Angel Martin! Lol. It’s playing every night on FETV.. Great show. Tom Selleck played a character on Rockford twice called Lance Armstrong who was also a P.I. That’s how Magnum P.I got started.

[@WilliamHolden-t5g]

Gerald McCraney of Simon and Simon also on Rockford four episodes. He was also on Magnum, too.

[@regsmith7604]

@@WilliamHolden-t5g O’yeah, Angel. He was really funny. I remember Issac Hayes was on Rockfish, I mean Rockford😂🤣

[@TheStuport]

I personally thought there were Two "Magnums" that were the best in my own personal Best Of.....one was called "Did You see The Sun Rise" with Bo Swenson as the "bad guy" and the other had Frank Sinatra in it called "Laura"!

[@kayequinn7146]

Those were great episodes. The endings were top notch. I think the episode "Never Again,Never Again" was great too. That had a perfect ending I didn't expect but satisfying.

[@TheStuport]

@@kayequinn7146 I have forgotten that one Kaye...I'll have to go back to see this! Cheers!

[@kayequinn7146]

@@TheStuport Yes,watch it. Won't spoil the ending for you,in case you hadn't already seen it

[@exteriorized]

I also thought the episode did you see the sunrise was tops for all the edgy dialog and the final scene where magum ask Ivan that question.

[@TheStuport]

Aloha! 👋

[@stijnvandamme76]

I like how the Stearman makes tire touching chirp noises on landing... on grass

[@AirTales]

Yep...haha

[@jwpike246]

One of my favorites remember watching them and everyone in my high school would be talking about what happened on the show it was a big deal for a small town Appalachian school in Virginia

[@redsabreanakin]

"Well, Higgins i didn't put it there!!"

[@charlespeterson3877]

Bill Lucking played bubba in an episode,which made him one of my favorite Character actors! "You guys are hold up in a Khyber Temple!"

[@SJR_Media_Group]

*_Refreshing Style of Review... nuts and bolts plus drama and foretelling... gotta love it..._* You have keen insight and know your aircraft better than many pros. You were identifying them on sight. You even gave history on most aircraft. Very impressive. Former Boeing... Been up close and personal with 737, 747, 757, 767,777, plus F-15, and F/A-18. Have stood inside the Giant GE 9x Turbofan Jet Engine. It's so big, it won't fit inside a typical house. It's main front bypass fan is over 11 feet in diameter. Add cowling and explosion containment it is Huge. Also a huge Magnum P.I. fan since the 80's. Always wanted a red Ferrari 308 GTS like Robbin Master's. I dreamed of owning one and had to get a job that paid enough to buy one. Pretty soon realized I needed 2 jobs to afford Insurance and huge fuel bill. Never bought that particular car, but I did buy a Maserati GT 2 Door Sports Coupe. It has a Ferrari Engine. It beats the Ferrari 308 GTS in every measure. It's faster, quicker, looks fast even when at light idling. Engine sounds like angry monsters are trying to escape out of the tuned exhaust system. I bought it for the sound alone. The rest was 'bonus'. Unlike the Ferrari 308 GTS, my Italian Supercar has full size back seats, plush leather interior, and a large trunk in rear of car. The engine is mounted behind front wheels and is considered mid-engine. It has perfect 50 / 50 front / rear weight distribution. It is not red, it is very sleek, but blends in with traffic. Red Ferrari is screaming 'give ticket'. Found out "Maserati GT" stood for (GT) "Give Ticket". When I'm driving about, everyone points and stares. Drivers, both Young and Old alike want to race me all the time. *_I kindly decline.... put it in 1st gear and go from Zero to Insanity is less than 3 seconds._* *PS: I Liked and Subscribed... plane lover too....*

[@tolson57]

I didn't know wheels squealed when landing on grass!

[@fightersweep]

The Spitfire that crashes into the fuel truck in the Battle of Britain movie does so to the accompaniment of squealing tyres....on grass. It must be a thing then 🤣

[@thegreenberetlife0191]

That was an excellent episode. Magnum PI was the best series ever!

[@nocalsteve]

The Learjet N464CL was also used in one of the funniest scenes in movie history from the movie The In-Laws with Peter Falk and Alan Arkin. The scene was filmed at the Catalina Island airport and all I can say is, "SERPENTINE, SHEL, SERPENTINE!"

[@AirTales]

I will have to check that out!

[@MultiStrider]

Not just you. I was looking for scenes from this particular episode when I found this video. I never forgot watching this particular episode when I was a kid. Thanks for the flashback!

[@shrimpflea]

Yeah, the very rare lever pulling rocket firing F-4. They only made 2. Never caught on.

[@dougearnest7590]

If a Texan said he had to get to Waco, what he might have been saying is he needed to get to a small town in Texas in an area in which Waco was probably the biggest town the listener ever heard of. West of Waco would be somewhat hillier, and therefore closer to California. And if it's Daylight Savings Time --- yeah, I know, it was just laziness on the part of the writers, but I try to help them out when I can.

[@darrelljourdan3687]

yeah, but a Texan would have looked at the scenery shown in those Waco shots and slapped their knee laughing. There ain't any hills anywhere near that large and green in Texas... West Texas would give ya those hills, but those are barren. Still... great show, but pure Hollywood fluff as far as locations go.

[@luizmateiro]

The classic rear scne of shirley rogers was the best episode: trhee minus two, 1982

[@jeffreybrooks4061]

Def one of the best my top 5 episodes are the 2 where he goes bk to vietnam the one where hes stranded alone in the ocean the one where he goes home to va shows alot of his past backstory and then this one well lets face it they were all incredible

[@kevinwagers9015]

N121R is sitting in a hanger at Rosecrans memorial airport in Missouri. I haven't seen it fly but I've seen outside and running.

[@paulwhite1040]

soon tek oh made a living off 80s playing vietnamese characters.. think he was in all the main 80s action series multiple times

[@ericlawrence9729]

Great episode, love the funny commentary. Great job keep up the great work. God Bless

[@TowGunner]

Good episode but the best Magnum unarguably is: Did You See The Sunrise?

[@peterlee4682]

That was a good episode; heartwarming too.. My favorites though were the 4th of July episode (Home From the Sea (?), Paper War, and the Ivan episodes ending with "Ivan...; did you see the sun rise this morning?

[@Odin197188]

That Lear has the glide ratio of a lawn dart, right?

[@bill2066]

Selleck Lived up the street from us in Kahala. He lived at Black Point. We were on Aukai down the street. Memories...

[@pauldeegan6652]

I, for one, am grateful that when the great Don Bellisario did get an aviation themed show commissioned, it was ‘Airwolf’ and not ‘Hunter’. Airwolf could be a little silly on occasion, but the format and particularly the use of helicopters - instead of aircraft that always need runways, lent far more flexibility to the stories.

[@kleverich]

3:15 - I remember seeing this episode as a kid. I spent a lot of time hiking and camping in those lush green mountains outside of Waco, TX.

[@rollotomassi6374]

This really was a good one……

[@jameshastey3058]

"Mountains of Waco" - As a native Texan I had to laugh at that one considering that Waco is pretty much flat azz prairie!

[@andypeterson8013]

Yup, very boring to drive through that part of Texas. I always hated that drive.

[@MACvSOG]

I had forgot all about that episode. The photo in my avatar, is moi, at 12 years old, soloing that Stearman, that was one of the greatest thrills of my life, also that my father took that picture. I have flown all kinds of aircraft, since then, fly a Beech Premier now, but I've got to tell you, that slow Stearman, was almost like a romance, can't fully explain it, except, maybe it's the open air cockpit, don't know, but I'll never forget that day. Love that show by the way.

[@johnosbourn4312]

That book that Magnum is flipping through, and showing the color profiles of various F-4s could be one of Lou Drendell's F-4 Phantom In Combat books that he wrote, and illustrated for Squadron Signal Publishing.

[@scottysgarage4393]

The Lear is a '66 with a top speed around 370MPH. The Mustang is modified to some degree and should easily do 450+, so it should be able to catch the Lear and mess with it as much as he wants...

[@dominiquechesson4857]

It’s a great idea, thank you.

[@winstonp.prescott3845]

this is one of the best episode without a doubt..

[@JonathanHallOverAllen]

Makes me think of Barry Seal.

[@jeffbennett8707]

The landing sounds of rubber hitting the road was wrong too since it was a grass field!

[@cameraman655]

3:51 Lived in Waco there are no hills like these in Waco...😂

[@MrRathel]

And the biplane sound break on the grass is funny

[@jeffbennett8707]

The biggest issue wasn’t the lever to fire rockets. It was the one seat F-4. All Phantoms are 2 seaters.

[@ehsnils]

According to Quora: "Yes, there was a single seat version of the F-4 Phantom. It was called the F-4E and it was used by the US Air Force and the US Navy."

[@martinleicht5911]

The F 4E was a 2 seater !!

[@WilliamHolden-t5g]

All F-4s were two crew members. Pilot and WSO (Weapons Systems Officer) or RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) but I don’t know which one they used in Vietnam era.

[@hinmonster89]

"Gratuitous 747 shot." - I'm just dying.

[@DarthBias1]

And let's not forget the sighting of Woody over a decade before Toy Story, LoL.

[@randybaumery5090]

There's that Asian actor from THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!! Speaking of aviation eye candy movies!

[@redsabreanakin]

Right? The F-14 Tomcat 👍🥰

[@BryonLape]

I was just thinking about this episode the other day.

[@MatadorShifter]

Death and Taxes is my fav one, I don't know, maybe it's because it felt like Miami Vice. But I loved it and I think of it everytime I hear Mama

[@frederickwise5238]

I well remember that episode and I thot it really cool. Loved that Stearman. BTW was it later repainted for JAG, so Harm could fly it?

[@hanscombe72]

Clay Lacey flew his jet as a camera aircraft for TopGun.

[@RocketToTheMoose]

Did they just reuse the F-4 shots from The Great Santini?

[@AirTales]

I don't think so, it looks like a different F-4 squadron.

[@RocketToTheMoose]

@@AirTales Yeah, you're probably right...wish the TV resolution was better. Anyway, fun video! I have no memory of this episode, but I must have seen it. The story reminds me a bit of "Cloud Dancer," where David Carradine is an aerobatic pilot in a Pitt's Special who must fend off drug smugglers with a P-51 (or something like that). Check it out if you haven't seen it....some cool aerial footage in that one.

[@kellyjensen9628]

It appears they used the NASA Lear Jet crash landing scenes from Capricorn One.

[@DougPoulton]

That was one of my favorite episodes. William Lucking's portrayal of Sam Hunter was brilliant. The original Magnum PI series had some really good guest appearances but weak screenplays couldn't save it. I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did. They couldn't have had much of a budget to work with because they used all the same outdoor scenes and sound stage indoor scenes from "Hawaii 50".

[@joagargo01]

SInce you were mentioning all kinds of weird stuff, I believe you missed the Tires of the Super Stearman "screeching" when he lands on grass!!!!

[@AirTales]

True! There was so much to analyze...

[@briangoodpaster2438]

I love your commentary, there's no way I would know any of this information

[@AirTales]

Thanks!

[@aegisofhonor]

it is pretty silly, the standard cruising speed of a Lear Jet is about the same as a Mustang's top speed even when it was new (restored Mustang's circa 1980 would have had this speed shaved off to around 380 to fly safely) meaning that it had basically no chance at catching the Lear jet in almost any circumstance

[@BandanazX]

Did you see the sunrise?

[@Dirthauler65]

Some of this exact same footage ended up in an episode of AirWolf.

[@whattowatchrightnow]

this was a really good episode

[@birdg2112]

“Death and Taxes” is the GOAT.

[@charleshetrick3152]

The most impressive part is the tires of the Steerman squeaking as he touch down on grass.

[@zackdaniels6858]

Is this "Jeff" as narrator? My appoligys, sounds like Jeff from the awsome channel "history hunters".

[@AirTales]

No, not Jeff

[@billyray3761]

I had my reservations, but that was good.

[@rony41165]

This would become tge series airwolf.

[@toinimoore3463]

I’m a chopper lady myself!🤩🇺🇸✝️🙏🥰

[@JohnSmith-cn4cw]

They must live in a different part of Waco Texas than I am familiar with, looks more like California.

[@RyanNX211]

Hunter played a similar character in Tales of the Gold Monkey with a temple obsession

[@JonathanHallOverAllen]

Wow! The Waco Mountain Range! They really thought people were stupid in the 80s.

[@maureencora1]

One of Greatest Episode is "Did You See the Sunrise?"

[@VTOC39]

I guessing the producer of Magnum P.I. Was a fan of “SKY KING”.

[@ezrabarker5173]

the producer also mad air wolf

[@alankordzikowski7670]

There’s an episode of Walker Texas Ranger where they use a P51

[@AirTales]

There is a good chance that episode may be the best episode of Texas Walker Ranger...

[@tstahler5420]

"Mountains of Waco" coffee out my nose! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@kenmazoch]

the learjet was probably at economical cruise speed when hunter caught up to it. the as shown, unlikely in real life as it would be, he just had to keep getting in the way.

[@nativevirginian8344]

Wasn’t this supposed to be some kind of spin-off for a show with the pilot?

[@joylibertygrant8556]

What’s the second best episode of Magnum all time?

[@TheRealVolk]

I actually liked this episode. It was random and different and I liked the switch up. I had no idea this was supposed to be a back door pilot episode for a Hunter show. I can see why it didn’t take off. No premise or hook for the show. Not sure where they could have gone with it. And there was already a cop show called Hunter, at the time. Personally, I don’t think the music works either, but maybe would have been popular with the kids. Thanks for sharing that info about this episode. An episode I liked to birth a show I probably would not have watched. Cheers!

[@r12e5p]

Another good one was the one that started with two F-4s being scrambled to intercept a defecting Soviet MiG that happened to look exactly like another F-4 😂

[@malakiblunt]

tire squeal on grass as the stearman lands ! add that to aviation scenes that annoy you

[@susannay.3437]

Mountains in Waco? Lol

[@greggirons67]

I have that book that Magnum is checking out at the end, its "... And Kill MiGs" by Lou Drendal ...

[@AirTales]

Thats a cool point, I will have to look for that book

[@Treetopflyer777]

Waco Texas has big mountains?

[@harryc1971]

Isn't this the one that was reworked into Airwolf?

[@paulwhite1040]

was this not meant to be a prelude to Airwolf originally?, the episode I mean

[@AirTales]

Not Airwolf, but a show featuring this new character.

[@Tom-ic7hw]

toss up for mr also like the on with Ian McShane as clutterbuck ...

[@fobbitoperator3620]

Uuhhh...there are exactly zero "mountains" in Waco Texas...

[@darrelljourdan3687]

What cracks me up is that he is supposed to be landing in Texas.... While Texas does have a few hills, there ain't no terrain that looks like this!!! Oh well, that's Hollywood!!!!

[@robinrichards6275]

"Did you see the sunrise."

[@PetesGuide]

That mustang is still flying!

[@AirTales]

Yes! Vicky Benzing has recently bought it.

[@paulc1173]

There aren’t any mountains in Waco, TX…

[@joylibertygrant8556]

This is a scary one

[@larrysfarris]

@ 3:35 - “Mountains of Waco”…. how funny❗️🙄

[@michaelzaug8750]

What did I just watch 😮