Original subtitles

(high pitched violin and cymbals)

(exciting music)

- This is the Test Flight Controller to F-116.

That completes the high altitude test, Jim.

- Fine. I'm coming in for the low level run.

Here I come. Hold on to your ears.

Bead, Mach three point two,

three point five,

three point seven,

three point nine, four.

Mach 4, leveling out.

- There he is.

(sonic boom)

Magnificent!

Well, I think the Air Chiefs will be most impressed.

- They ought to be, sir.

That's the fastest run I've ever seen.

- [Controller] That was great, Jim. Bring her in.

(on radio) Do you read me?

Are you all right, Grant?

- Yes, I'm fine.

I'm coming in to land.

- Confirm with the General that the show

is next Friday at 1100 hours.

- Yes, sir.

As Chief Designer and head of the project,

may I offer you my congratulations, sir.

- Thank you. It's been a team effort, though.

The reward of two year's hard work.

- Sir, he's coming in a bit too fast.

- What's that?

(on radio) This is Flight Control to F-116.

Is anything wrong?

Do you read me, Jim?

Come in, please.

Come in, Grant. Come in!

It looks as if he's out of control.

- If he doesn't pull out soon, he's crash for certain.

- [Controller] Can you hear me, Jim?

Pull out of that dive!

Come in, Jim.

- The radio link must have gone.

- [Controller] Eject!

We do not read you,

but if you can hear this, eject.

Jimmy, listen to me!

You are going to crash! Eject!

Get out of there, Jim! Eject!

(explosion)

(upbeat 60s music)

- You've heard about the F-116 crash, Sam?

- Sure, Chief. Do they know the cause yet?

- Not yet. It'll take a couple of weeks

for the lab boys to report.

But it's imperative the demonstration

for the top brass scheduled for Friday goes ahead.

WIN are moving in.

- What's the drill, Chief?

- [Weston] The second prototype has been checked

and double checked.

It's faultless and as of now our agents

are mounting a round the clock guard.

No one's allowed within half a mile of that aircraft.

- You don't suspect that-

- [Weston] I'm not jumping to any conclusions, Sam.

But millions have been poured into developing the F-116.

And I'm going to insure nothing goes wrong next Friday.

- Well, the aircraft's covered, but we'll need a pilot.

- That's right, Sam. Joe 90. On your way.

- How do you feel, Jim?

- Fine.

- Want to talk about it?

- Sure.

- What happened up there, Jim?

- Hard to say. I was making my landing approach

when, well I can only put it down

to an electrical fault in the main circuit.

- But that's virtually impossible.

- Everything in the plane went dead.

What else could it have been?

- We did seem to lose radio contact.

- Somehow it must have righted itself,

but by then it was too late.

I held on as long as I could,

but then I had to eject,

and you know the rest.

- Well, it obviously wasn't your fault.

Must have been an electrical failure in the aircraft.

- I wish I could be more helpful.

It puts us in a real mess.

- You're right. But we've got to crack it

and before next Friday.

- I assume the equipment in the back

and the mad rush means an assignment for Joe.

- You're right, of course, Mac.

How'd you like to fly the F-116, Joe?

- The F-116, Uncle Sam?

- Yes, Joe, that's the code name the Air Force

have given their latest fighter.

- Fly an Air Force fighter?

That would really be something.

- What's all this?

The Air Force always use their own test pilots.

Why do they need Joe?

- It's a fair question, Mac.

Two days ago, Jim Grant, the test pilot,

was forced to eject.

He landed awkwardly and broke a bone in his foot.

Grant's been with the project since the start

and has a unique knowledge of the F-116.

The aircraft is due to be demonstrated on Friday morning.

We want Joe to pilot it.

- Sounds straightforward enough.

All we need is Jim Grant's brain pattern.

- It's just a hairline fracture.

The doctor's say it'll be fine in a couple of weeks.

- That's good news. Now one more photo should do it.

- I'm surprised the Flight Controller

gave you press boys the go ahead to come and see me.

- Oh, we'll keep the article pretty general.

No classified information.

Just a brief description of the F-116

and some background stuff on you.

How's the photograph coming, Mac?

- Just a few more seconds.

(signal beeping)

- That camera looks pretty ancient.

- Oh it still does it's job, Mr. Grant.

- Finished, Mac?

- Finished.

- Then we better be going.

- Nice to have met you, Mr. Grant.

I hope to be a test pilot myself one day.

- Well, maybe in about 10 or 12 years, Joe.

- Maybe a lot sooner than he thinks.

Like tomorrow morning.

- Yes, Sam.

(military music)

- There's a Professor McClaine with a caravan

at the gate, sir.

- What? A caravan? Tell the guard to inform the Professor

that this is a restricted area, not a camping site.

- No, let him in. He's bringing the pilot.

- In a caravan? Oh, very well. Let him pass.

But I still can't see the need for this secrecy.

No one allowed near the plane.

It's radio has been modified to WIN wavebands,

and it's even guarded by your own agents.

Your pilot must be very special.

- Yeah, you could say he's our most special agent.

- Won't be long now, Joe.

Better put on your glasses.

- Right. The General's arrived, sir.

- Well, this is a routine assignment, Joe.

A great aircraft, the brain pattern of a top test pilot.

It'll be easy.

- If you'll sit here, sir.

I think you'll get a good view of the aircraft.

- All right. All right.

It's 11:05, let's get on with it.

- All set, Mr. Loover?

- Yeah, right. Sam Loover to Joe 90. You read me?

- Loud and clear. Radio link fine.

- Good. Prepare for takeoff.

- Okay, Sam. I'm on my way.

- The F-116, sir, is a hypersonic fighter

capable of speeds in excess of 3000 miles per hour.

The engine develops-

- I have read the specifications.

Let's just see it in action.

- Good luck, son.

(engines roaring)

- Landing procedure. Can't remember.

No!

No!

I can't land!

- No, no, don't touch him.

He's reliving the flight just before the crash.

- Can't remember. Can't remember.

Landing procedure.

- I'd better phone the Flight Controller.

He must have suffered some kind

of mental blackout prior to landing.

Wait a minute!

That's why he crashed!

(intense music)

- Yes. I understand. Right. Thank you.

- Important phone call?

- No, nothing that can't wait anyway.

- The pilot is coming in

for the low level speed run now, sir.

- I think you'll be impressed, sir.

- We'll see.

(engines roaring)

- Three point six,

three point seven,

three point eight,

three point nine.

Four. Mach 4, leveling out.

- Here he comes.

(sonic boom)

Great! Just great.

- What a display!

- He was really moving!

- What did you think, General?

- I'll make my report to the Chiefs of Staff.

I think we might possibly be interested.

- Thank you, sir. We have some coffee ready downstairs.

- Thank you.

- Magnificent, Joe.

- That was great, Joe. Return to the airfield and land.

- Okay, Sam. Out.

Land?

- He's coming in too fast, sir.

- Are you sure?

- Yes, sir. He seems to be losing control,

just like last time.

- What do you mean, just like last time?

- Joe 90 to base.

I do not know the landing procedure.

Repeat, I do not know the landing procedure.

- Now don't worry, Joe. Take her up to 10,000 feet

and maintain safe cruise air speed.

I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

- Understood, Sam.

(engines accelerating)

- What's this about Joe not being able to land?

- Now calm down, Mac.

- Who are you? How did you get past security?

- Never mind that, what's going on up here?

- [Sam] Mac, Mac just-

- Someone better tell-

- Do you realize this is

a maximum security control building?

- Come on, Mac, just take it easy a moment.

- Don't try and shut me up, I've got a perfect right-

- Gentlemen, gentlemen.

I think you know something.

You'd better tell us.

- That phone call. It was from the hospital.

Grant had a mental blackout during his last test flight.

- What? Why was no one told about this?

- I only knew myself a few minutes ago.

When a test pilot cracks up you don't tell the world.

It's an Air Force matter.

- You don't realize what's happened.

- Now wait a minute, Mac.

What sort of mental blackout?

- A loss of memory.

- Loss of memory? Oh no!

- Has he recovered this memory blank?

- According to the doctor, not yet.

He still knows how to fly an aircraft,

but has forgotten the landing procedure.

- This is terrible, Sam. It means that-

- It means we're leaving, Mac. Come on.

Sam Loover to Joe 90, come in, Joe.

- I'm here, Sam.

- Listen, Joe. We know the problem.

Don't try to land that aircraft.

Don't even think about it.

How long can he stay up there, Mac?

- He's got enough fuel for about 50 minutes.

- Joe, just keep flying at your present speed and altitude.

We'll get you down. Don't worry.

- Okay, Sam. I understand. Out.

- Well, it's the only answer, Mac.

Grant will have to talk Joe down.

- But he can't remember how to land.

And because we recorded his brain pattern

after the memory lapse, neither can Joe.

- He's got to remember.

- We've got to see him, it's a matter of life and death.

- You can't, I've had instructions from the Air Force-

- Well, it's the reporters. Oh, it's okay, doctor,

I feel fine now.

- Very well, but only for a few minutes.

- Grant we need your help.

You've got to come with us to the airfield.

- Well, I'd like to help but I don't think...

- Get up. You're coming with us.

- What is this?

- Have you gone mad?

- Don't argue just do as I say.

(suspenseful music)

- Look, I thought you were reporters.

- Somewhere above us is an F-116.

The pilot's in trouble.

You're going to talk him down.

- No. I'm sorry. I can't do it.

- You've got to.

Sam Loover to Joe 90.

Begin approach. We will talk you down.

- Okay, Sam. But you're going to have

to give me instructions all the way.

- Now imagine it's you coming in, Grant.

You're making your approach.

Here, use this.

- I can't remember. You don't understand.

I can't think.

- Two thousand feet. 28 miles from touchdown.

- Grant that's my son up there!

- Speed, check speed.

- [Joe] Air speed 800 miles per hour.

- Too fast. It'll crash.

- Correct it. Correct it!

- Reduce speed to 600.

- Reducing speed to 600.

- [Jim] Altitude?

- 1800 feet. 22 miles from touchdown.

- Too high.

- Do something about it!

- Increase rate of descent to...

I-I can't do it. I can't think.

(slapping sound)

- Get hold of yourself, Grant!

- Height, 900 feet. What do I do?

- Have, have you visual contact with runway?

- Yes, I can see it.

Eight miles from touchdown.

- There he is, Grant.

- I see him. Keep your nose up.

Steady, steady.

Ease back the throttle.

- Keep talking, Grant.

- [Jim] Okay, okay!

I'm all right. Steady.

Half flaps. Steady.

- [Sam] The undercarriage isn't down!

Take her up, Joe! Take her up full throttle!

(engines accelerating)

- You see? I forgot! I forgot to lower the undercarriage!

- I'm going to give it to you straight, Grant.

Do you ever want to fly again?

- Yes, yes.

Just as soon as I've had a little rest.

A couple of months, maybe.

- Listen to me. For years, subconsciously,

you've been terrified of landing.

And finally as a defense mechanism,

your mind has blanked out this area of fear.

- If you don't beat it now, you never will.

You'll never fly again.

- I can't. I just can't.

- It's up to you, Grant. A young life is in your hands.

(suspenseful music)

- Joe 90 to base. I have less than 10 minutes fuel left.

- This is Grant. Commence final approach.

I am going to talk you down.

Give me your flight details every 20 seconds.

- What's going on out there?

- Nothing to worry about, sir.

- 18 miles from touchdown.

Height, 1000 feet.

Air speed, 750 miles per hour.

- [Jim] Increase rate of descent.

Reduce air speed to 600 miles per hour.

Lower undercarriage.

- [Joe] 14 miles from touchdown.

- I have visual contact.

You're still too high.

And keep her steady.

- Nine miles from touchdown.

- [Jim] Reduce air speed.

Good. Fine.

Steady, steady.

Keep her nose up.

You're level.

Steady, full flaps.

(plane wheels skidding)

- He's going too fast, he'll overshoot.

- Brake parachute.

(engines powering down)

- I'll get over there and make sure he's okay.

- How do you feel, Jim?

- Oh, fine, fine.

- You're a great pilot. The best. Thanks.

(car engines revving)

- Magnificent. I'll take 200.

- 200 F-116's?

- F-116? No, I mean 200 of those weird looking cars.

Just what the Army needs.

- Yes, General.

- Yes. 200 cars.

And shall we say, 50 F-116's?

- Yes, General. Thank you, sir.

(happy music)

(upbeat 60s music)