Original subtitles

We were working with local military anti-drug forces

on a search and destroy mission on cocaine labs.

Lieutenant Dobbs and I had been training local pilots in

Cobras for their own strike forces against the cartel.

Lead, this is Snake 2, entering sector 4079%er.

Roger. Advise Clabber ops of our position.

Wilco, Dobbs.

How's the view up front, buddy?

I'm not crazy about it, man. I'll be glad when we get out of this canyon.

I was flying wing that day with Captain Tejada. Lieutenant Dobbs, the other

American, was with Captain Mendez, the flight leader in the front Cobra.

Between the two Cobras was a Black Hawk helicopter with

a support team of American and South American DEA agents.

It was our fourth mission as a team, and we'd worked well together.

We were now entering a sector we had never been before.

It was rumored among the locals that this was an area of offensive cartel activity.

But we were used to such rumors.

We were five miles from the objective when we saw the Scorpion attack helicopter.

Dobbs, bogey at your 12 o'clock!

Dobbs!

Snake 2 to Black Hawk, get the hell out of there!

The Black Hawk began evasive action.

But the Scorpion was too fast. Heavily armed and hard to find.

The pilot was better than anyone I'd ever seen before.

I tried to pull the Scorpion away from the Black Hawk, but to no use.

He was a cold killer.

Tejada! Tejada! Wake up, goddamn it!

I took the controls, put her in a dive, and crossed over the top of

the Scorpion before he could fire. And I made it out of the area.

He said the cartel was up to something.

I'm not blaming anybody.

Last time I looked, we were all on the same side.

We have some decisions to make.

Thank you, Mr. Preston. That will be all.

May I say something, sir?

Go ahead.

I volunteered to fly with these local anti-drug forces, sir.

And I watched the men in those choppers put their lives on

the line for their families and their country every day.

The cartel has them out-paid, outmanned, and out-gunned.

But knowing that, they still went out.

They didn't stand a chance.

They're heroes, and they should be avenged.

It's a little more complicated than that.

I beg your pardon, sir, but I think it's very simple.

They killed our people, and they killed our friends.

Their drugs kill Americans every day.

It's a war, and it's our duty to fight.

Thank you, Mr. Preston. You're excused.

Gentlemen, does anyone else in this room feel as frustrated as I do?

We all do, Oscar, but it's a complex problem.

I disagree. We have an executive mandate to stop

the drug cartel, and we're sitting on our hands.

That pilot out there has the clearest take on this mess.

We are at war, and we deal with the problem as such.

So what are we going to do?

Go back to the same sort of operation?

Sir, the DEA is fighting a war with its hands tied, and we're losing.

Not anymore.

General Olcott, I want the Army to ready a task

force immediately. I want that operation taken out.

Yes, sir.

My Apache crews are trained for ground support, general.

They're just not up to speed on air-to-air combat.

If this enemy helicopter is half as good as we

hear, I'm gonna need help to bring him down.

Anything you want.

Well, I need as much information as I can get on this

operation. Who is this enemy pilot, and what's his support like?

And I've got to have Brad Little and his team. They're

down at Fort Rucker right now training rookies.

I want 'em at Fort Mitchell as soon as possible.

This is a need-to-know operation. All reports, eyes only to me.

And that Preston... he impressed them in there. See if you can keep him in the mix.

Will do, General.

Preston.

Yes, sir.

You've seen this bogey work.

Can the Apaches stand up to it?

It is the only aircraft that will, sir.

How soon can you be qualified in the bird?

I've completed the academics, and I'm scheduled to

start hands-on as soon as I get back to Fort Mitchell.

General Olcott wants you in this mission.

And I believe in you, son.

Can you handle it?

You can count on me, sir.

Please. Take a seat.

Gentlemen, we've all got a lot to do today, so I'll make this brief.

It's my honor to introduce our new combat instructor pilot,

Chief Warrant Officer Brad Little.

He's here to bring us up to speed on air combat maneuvers.

Mr. Little.

You men know all there is to know about air-ground technique.

Starting right now, you have a new objective in your lives. And this

new objective is to become masters of air-to-air combat tactics.

When we have mastered these tactics, we will use them to seek out

and confront the forces of evil and kill 'em deader than hell!

We're lucky men.

We're in the United States Army, and we face the opportunity of a lifetime.

I do not expect you to waste or throw away or neglect this opportunity.

I expect you to improve every shining minute of my time by becoming

the best air-to-air helicopter pilots in the whole wide world.

You will fight as teams of gunners and pilots, each more deadly...

depended on the other than they were their own mama.

Sir.

Our mission has the highest national priority.

I can't stress that enough.

We're going against an enemy who's defending his own territory.

We've got to get up to speed immediately.

The clock is running, folks.

And it's running fast.

Room, attention!

Carry on.

Looks like a fine group of aviators, sir.

They are that, Brad.

That kid Preston showed extraordinary courage in South America.

I want you to pay special attention to him.

It's beautiful in an ugly kind of way.

Somebody called it a flying race car with guns,

but that's bullshit. It's not that simple.

Here.

Put your hands here, here, and there.

Put your feet here, here, here, and here, and here.

Do not step here or there.

That's it. Crawl right on in there, lad.

Riding in the gunner seat of this aircraft at 150 knots through the

treetops is like having your ass backed to the nose of a bullet.

Basically, you will be flying like a bat out of hell.

You will be shooting at the enemy.

You will be jinking around, dodging bullets and missiles

and rocks and arrows and spears and ducks and geese.

Sounds like a full-time job.

Boy, you're going to be busy as a three-peckered goat.

So let's get to it.

You really get into this, don't you, sir?

I love it to death.

I can tell.

Evan, here we come.

So what do we do first?

Gee, is this a quiz, sir?

Your whole life's a quiz, young man.

Now you tell me the first order of business, hotshot.

Program the inertial nav systems.

Enter the laser codes.

Punch in target and Doppler coordinates, initialize weapon systems,

and optimize FLIR sensors.

Okay, perfect. Well done.

Now let's see if the damn thing will start.

It has a roll rate of 150 degrees per second.

So if you need to duck, dive or disappear, this

buggy will do it before your brain can think it up.

We can crash this aircraft at 20 Gs and

survive, but I am not gonna prove it to you.

Darn.

We got missiles on this thing that can take out a door at five miles without knocking.

But in air-to-air combat, your best weapon is agility,

and this gunship is agile, mobile and hostile.

That was great.

How's the ride up there, Preston?

Unreal!

Good.

God. Ordinarily what we'll do is hide in a hole

and cause things that are far away to blow up.

Your new trick is to move like a thief, keep your nose down,

then come out of nowhere and blow your enemy to pieces.

Sound like fun?

Yeah.

Good.

Sir?

Yeah.

That was totally cool.

I'd marry that thing.

You're as good a pilot as they say you are, I'll give away the bride. Buzzard!

I want you to meet Jake Preston. He's part of your Apache task force.

This is Scott Buzz, my chief scout IP and Billy Guthrie, his co-pilot.

Billy Lee Guthrie.

I think I've heard of you.

How you doing?

I do fine.

How about a drink this evening?

Uh, Jake, not a chance.

Not a chance.

How much flight time do you have, Buzzard?

2.3.

What?

2.3, sir.

2.3.

You have a problem with women in the army, Preston?

Not with all of them, sir.

Just that one.

I'll see you at 0700.

Cartel has made the decision to go on the offensive

and expand their operation into neighboring countries.

They've brought in Cuban arms, Cuban advisory team

and have hired this man, Eric Stoller, a crack helicopter attack

pilot and international mercenary to ride shotgun on their missions.

He received his terrorist training in Europe and North Korea.

Now he sells his expertise to the highest bidder.

In this tape, our DEA team thought they had Stoller cornered, but it was a setup.

Stoller acted as a decoy and drew them in.

There's a booby trap bomb waiting for those men.

Watch for the box at the bottom of the screen.

Everyone in Washington knows what we're up against.

This guy's a killer.

We need to support the DEA, and that means dealing with Stoller air-to-air.

Sir, I'd like to be considered for the Apache task force, sir.

Forget about it, Brad, I need you here.

Nobody better in the Apache than I am, sir.

I agree, that's why it's your job to convey that

knowledge and experience to these young pilots.

Time comes to use the experience, I want to fly this mission, sir.

Noted.

Is Janet joining you?

Yes, sir, she and the children arrive this afternoon.

And you want to fly away and get shot at.

Affirmative, yes sir.

Brad, we can't afford to lose you.

Just one drink.

I don't want a drink.

Oh honey, it's your birthday. Let's have a little fun.

I'm too old to have fun. I'm 40 years old and I want to go home.

At ease, Little.

Come on.

My birthday, a day in which everybody in the whole family gets

to do what they want to do on their birthday, except for dad.

SURPRISE!

Oh, no. No.

This is really stupid.

Happy birthday.

One more!

So how about that drink now?

Interested?

Uh, no thanks.

For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow...

for he's a jolly good fellow... which nobody can deny!

Welcome to the future, lads.

Ascend the stairway, turn right at the first platform,

enter the big black box, and make ready for war.

Want some strawberry gum, breaker?

Oh no thanks.

Little?

How about you? Strawberry gum?

No.

It's delicious.

Come on, Jake.

Gentlemen, this simulator will do anything the Apache will do.

It will also do anything your enemy will do.

Good, because I have a pocket full of quarters.

Let's go play.

Sergeant, start up X-ray and crank it.

Yes, sir.

Boys, first program is called X-ray. We're gonna start slow.

All babies need to crawl before they walk.

All right, all systems are up. Pilot has the controls. Proceed along route blue.

Remember, the name of the game is surprise,

gentlemen. Stay low. Use the terrain for cover.

Then pop up and nail your targets.

There is a town on the other side of those

mountains. Locate same and recon for targets.

Hang in there, breaker. Let's see what this baby can do.

Looks like a quiet Sunday afternoon to me.

That's a negative. We dialed in 9:00 a.m. Monday morning and we're open for business.

Heads up. Mad turtle on your 11.

Missile laser locked in.

Bye-bye.

Good shooting, breaker.

Hey, you're talking to a legend.

World of pigeons out there. I hunt 'em, you shoot 'em.

How are we doing, sir?

Well, you're looking good, gentlemen. We'll take it up a notch.

Resume your original heading and proceed up

to... Higgins, lead it up to Yankee program.

Schedule only calls for X-ray, sir.

I'm changing the schedule, Higgins.

Yes, sir.

All right, check out the highway on your 3 o'clock for suspected enemy ground threat.

I am the greatest.

Go Jake, go.

All right, free game!

I am the greatest.

My pilot's good.

Yes, he's good. He's very, very, very good.

Ooh, I've played him before, but nothing like this.

All right, so much for the warmup, gentlemen.

You now have air-to-air threat in your sector.

I am the greatest.

I am the greatest.

I am the greatest!

I am the greatest!

I am the greatest!

Why don't you try to crank us up for Zulus, sir?

Pardon, sir? Zulus for experts, sir.

Holt the exercise.

All these boys are experts, Higgins. And if you keep on making me

tell you things twice, I'm going to have you washing windshields.

We're back in Bogey Land, boys.

Watch those wires or we're french fries!

Nice view on your desk, Preston.

Fast mover's coming up quick.

Oh, damn.

Nose coming up.

Must have been on him. Smoke one fast mover.

Shoot him, blast him, nail him, grab him, shake him, bake him, cook him, clean

him, hose him, boil him, kick him, nail him, twist him, pop him! Oh, gone, bye-bye!

Very impressive, gentlemen. Let's see how well you fly with your monocles down.

I need to know if we can pump all the information eight computers

will hold through your eyes and into your little bird brains.

A bit different.

This is unbelievable. Let's go get him, Jake.

Working, working. Come around.

Come on, Jake, what's wrong?

Can't focus.

Lock him now!

Almost. Almost. There! Yeah, we got him. Wax him. Come on.

Watch those wires, kid.

Wax him now!

Goddamn it.

It's okay, Jake.

Well, don't worry about it, boys, it's only a video game.

None of this is real. It's just a big toy the army built

for your personal amusement. While you're having so much

fun, try to make believe they just notified your next of kin.

Get out of there.

I think we're pushing these guys a little too hard, sir.

Well, I don't know about you, Higgins, but I am.

Sharon! You can get it to click, you know what I mean?

- Hey! - Yeah? You can get it to click.

You know where Billie is?

Like that.

How do I know? She wants to see you.

You don't know. So why don't you tell me where she

is and I'll go over there and give her the choice.

The laundromat.

Laundromat. Well, that's just Jim Dandy.

- Breaker? - Yeah? - I'll see you later, Jake.

What are you doing here?

I owe you a congratulations.

You got what you wanted. You got your wings.

A mere two years of my life. A D-model maintenance test pilot, no less.

- Told you I'd do it. - Yep.

So... was it worth the price?

What price?

Us. Remember?

Yeah, I remember.

That's all behind us now.

The main thing is that we're here together, we're seeing each other every day, and you

look really sexy in that skirt, which is why

I think we should give it another chance.

I don't think so, Jake.

Why not?

Because I don't want to set myself up for that again.

Can't we at least be friends?

Yeah. We can just be best of friends.

Good.

What are you doing?

A kiss. It's a tradition for friends to seal a bargain with a kiss.

Oh, the tradition is a handshake.

You can't resist me.

I can try.

Aren't you forgetting something?

You keep them.

- Good morning. - Morning.

- Morning, Chief. - Morning.

Don't!

All right.

- Good painting, sir. - All right.

- Morning. - Beautiful day, sir.

- All right. - Sir!

Rules of engagement: One, whoever sees the other first

is the winner. Two, whoever gets seen first is toast.

Name of the game here, gentlemen, is surprise. The land mass, behind which you

can hide is your friend. The open sky, in which you cannot hide, is your enemy.

If you remember anything at all, remember this. Once the helicopter battle has been

engaged, somebody is gonna die. You boys do not have the speed to run from a fight.

When you engage, you must bring the nose of your aircraft to bear on the bogey.

Unmasking, pop-ups, pedal turns, hovers, sideward

flight can all be combined to affect your

nose-on position, put your weapons system on

the target. The optimum attack position is...

Above and behind on a 6 o'clock.

Good. The optimum kill shot is...

Down through the rotor blades.

Good.

Some of you boys have been paying attention. I thought

you were all sitting there dreaming about chasing women.

Get out of here. Dismissed.

Have fun. Stay out of trouble.

What kind of women do you think come here?

I don't know, strippers, scandalous women, you know, the kind that you like, Breaker.

And you too, Jake.

Because there's Billie.

Excuse me.

Hey. Back off, slick.

I just wanna dance with the lady, partner.

Then get in line, friend.

While the music's playing, she's mine. And when it stops, I'll let her go.

Now beat it before I whip your ass.

You wouldn't get between a man and his fiance, would you?

Oh, Jake.

Come on, boys, take your best shot.

Billie!

Hey.

Stay away from me, Jake.

Hey, scaredy cat. I just wanted to dance with you.

I'm not a piece of steak for you two to fight over.

Understand?

We don't go out together anymore, remember?

That's going to change.

It didn't work before and it's gonna work now? Too many things haven't changed.

Like what?

Like that Neanderthal crap back there.

Me man, you woman. I am not Jane of the jungle.

I thought it was kind of cavalier, myself.

Jake, I think you want me to stay home and have babies and cook.

Well, I mean, I did... Well, what's wrong with babies and

cooking, Billie? I mean, it's a tradition. My mother did that.

Your mother didn't fly helicopters.

Too many things haven't changed.

You're right, Billie Lee, she never flew helicopters. What else hasn't changed?

We fight all the time.

We always make up.

Because I always wanted to.

You still care about me, don't you?

I want you to stop this.

I'm going.

I have a low-level flight test at 0500.

Don't you?

Oh, Jake. So what if I do? You think it changes anything?

Intelligence reports the site will be fully functional within a few

days. It has already become the headquarters for their operation.

The strip definitely would support an attack

force. Large transports, even fighter aircraft.

The other reason for accelerating our plan is this

information. These were taken just a few days ago.

All of the major players in the cartel have suddenly disappeared.

Intelligence believes that they will show up at this air strip.

Your Apaches had better be ready to go at short notice.

We'll do it, general.

The crew and the team assignments are...

Preston and Breaker with Guthrie,

Davis and Proctor go with me, and Rivas and Tippett with Wade.

Okay, listen up, gun bunnies.

Straight from the buzz man.

Just like Indian scouts in the old days, we're the modern day equivalent.

Your eyes and your ears.

The folks who stick their necks out to see what's out

there, so you can shoot it down and be the heroes.

Preston, get your brains out of your pants.

As forward observer, I can find a target and get coordinates to you fast.

Let's talk about us instead.

No, this is important, Jake. To prevent radio detection,

we're set up with ATGS direct to your video display.

I've got a display of your tail that is just mind boggling.

Think of us scouts as extensions of your own sight in the air.

Hmm, I think I like that.

You only have eyes for me.

You will need reconnaissance going into battle, Jake.

For example, with our laser designator, we can paint your target while you're

hidden in some canyon, so you can nail it from cover without ever being seen.

I'd love to nail it.

In an emergency, it's possible to distract the

adversary or temporarily blind him with the laser.

Watch this, Breaker.

Let's get serious.

Jake, where are you?

I remember you like me on top.

Jake, you've still got your brains in your cockpit.

That's because it's easier to fly that way, honey.

Loaded and ready to fire.

Jake, we've both been there before when those guns just didn't go off.

Don't worry about that, baby.

So how about that drink tonight?

Man, you never let up, do you?

Jake, let's get a hold of ourselves.

I've got a hold of myself.

Good, then you don't need me. Have fun with yourselves, boys.

Really?

Where'd she go?

You try and catch me, Jake.

That darn girl disappeared, Breaker.

Looks like she's got you, buddy.

She sure does, Breaker. She sure does.

I see you took Preston and his gunner up to Zulu.

Oh yeah, why not?

Had a hell of a score.

He's a hell of a pilot.

Sir, has a decision been reached on my request to join the Task Force?

Brad, I'm sorry. You're too important to

this program and combat's a young man's game.

I'm the best you've got.

It wasn't easy for me either, partner.

Now, give it up.

Hi.

Hi there.

Hey, you want to go a couple of rounds?

No, no thanks.

No?

How about you, Breaker, you box?

No, sir. That kind of stuff scares me.

I'm more into cooking and cleaning.

Hey, you're dropping your right there with your jab.

You're leaving yourself wide open for the counter.

I don't think so.

Oh yeah, wide open, that's the way I see it.

And you are talking to the former light heavyweight

champion of Southeastern Arizona State University, 1969.

Intramural.

You're in a world of trouble now, Preston.

Come on, let's go.

Okay, a couple of rounds.

Show me those keenly honed reflexes, young man. I want to see those cat-like moves.

Ready for some coffee?

Mm-hm.

Slept in this morning, huh?

Mm-hm.

Honey.

What happened?

Nothing.

My back's a little sore.

No, but your face.

What did you do to your eye?

I don't know, I hit it.

With what? A 2x4?

No. No, I was boxing a little down at the gym.

Who with? Mike Tyson?

Ha ha. How much time do I have?

10 minutes. You want some cereal?

No, no. I'll get something later.

Are you sure you're okay?

I'm fine, okay?

Just fine. I'm a little sore, maybe I pulled a muscle or something.

Are you sure?

For God's sake, Janey, you think I have my dick shot off?

Well, I better check.

Don't you think?

Yeah, you better see for yourself, darling.

Morning, sir.

Good morning.

Everything cool?

Totally cool.

Good.

Gentlemen, we have some shapshots here today of a very special individual.

His name is Eric Stoler.

Charming, isn't he?

Here he is on one of his better days.

This man kills people for money.

And someone has paid him to kill you.

In air-to-air combat, he has no equal.

His instrument of choice is the Scorpion Tactical Assault Helicopter.

Don't let the size of this aircraft fool you, because of its speed and

agility, it is one of the most deadly things you will ever see in the sky.

Put this personality into this machine, and if you

blink up there, people, you are in the body bag.

On the local scene, law enforcement agencies from three counties moved

in unison today in a series of sweeping raids of suspected crack houses.

The officers say that despite the 24 arrests made today,

and the large drug bust made last week, which netted over

$500,000 in cash and cocaine, they are overwhelmed by the

sheer massiveness of a problem that appears to have no end.

Stalks, bogey at your 12 o'clock.

Stalks!

Well, good morning.

Good morning.

Eat your Wheaties this morning, boy?

Two bowls, sir.

Good.

All right, welcome to the bag.

Thank you.

You will be flying in total darkness,

completely dependent on your sighting system.

Do your homework last night?

Yes, sir.

Good.

Lights out.

It's very dark.

All right, nice and easy.

Nice and easy. Try to keep the airplane level and the velocity vector centered.

You're sliding left.

Don't second-guess the equipment, go with your data, maintain your heading.

What you see through the egg with your right eye should be

coordinated with what you see on a video screen with your left eye.

I want you to look right, 70 degrees, tell me what you see.

Where you taking us, Preston?

Do not turn the airplane, turn your head.

Maintain your heading.

Don't fail me, son. You've got us close enough to these rocks to count lizards.

Maintain your heading. I do not want to

smack that canyon wall if it's okay with you.

Can't focus.

Didn't know the aircraft was turning.

That canyon wall is your line of sight, not the heading of your aircraft.

Now, come to a heading of 240, drop us down to 300 feet.

Come on.

Come on.

You gotta cross-check your picture with your data. Keep your eye moving.

Goddamn.

Where's the cock-surest guy Jacque had last week?

You're yawing, man.

Step on a ball and trim it up.

I'm working on it.

Now level off, come to a heading of 200. See that big rock out there?

Do you see that big rock out there?

Preston, do you see that big hog and airplane-killing rock out there?

Yes, goddammit, I see it. What the hell do you want me to do with it?

Take it easy, son.

I want you to approach that chimney rock on exactly this

heading until you are within what you think is 500 feet of

it, then cross left in front of it on heading 170, climbing

out at 500 feet to clear the canyon rim. You clear on that?

Yeah.

Well, do it, Preston.

Do it.

Got a turn coming up, make your turn.

Il am.

Make your turn.

I am, I'm doing it.

Yeah, but you're doing it ugly, kid.

Watch yourself.

I'm turning.

Turn, you're closing on it.

I am, I'm turning.

Climb, climb, take it up, take it up, take it up.

I gotit, I got it.

No, sir. Negative. This flight is

terminated. I have the controls, Mr. Preston.

You're on probation until further notified.

Let's go home. I gotta take my little girl fishing.

I had high hopes for you, soldier.

It's like sex.

Hardly anybody gets it perfect the first time.

The bag is very intimidating.

You heard?

The whole base heard.

I blew it.

Jake Preston, super pilot, blew it.

What happened?

I couldn't keep the data in my right eye in focus.

My left eye kept taking over and screwing things up for some reason.

You ever shoot a gun as a kid, play cowboys and Indians?

Yeah.

Shoot me.

Why?

Shoot me!

What you're talking about is not a flying problem.

It's an eye dominance problem.

What do you mean?

Eye dominance. We all have one eye that naturally takes over.

We get used to using it without even knowing

it. My dad always shot the way you just did.

He was right-handed and left eye dominant.

So if I was left eye dominant,

you'd have a hard time accepting data from your right eye.

But you can learn.

Talk to Little. He can help you.

Daddy, can we get this?

No, no, no. Remember, Mom said no more candy.

Go get some of that bread you like. It's got the little swirls on it.

Dad, I wanna get something. What can I get?

You can get the spaghetti.

The curly kind?

Yes.

And barbecue sauce. Get a big thing of barbecue sauce.

I need to speak with you.

So speak.

I'm going to need your help to get through the bag.

I don't think you've been fair with me.

You've been pushing me from the beginning,

harder than you pushed anybody else.

And you think I'm pushing you because I want you out.

Maybe.

If I wanted you out of here, you'd be gone.

I'm pushing you because I think you could be one of the best.

Now, give her that bottle, will you? Stick it in her mouth.

You fly conventional helicopters beautifully, Preston.

Your instincts and reflexes are so damn good you remind me of me 20 years ago.

But the Apache is not a conventional helicopter and instinct means diddly.

Most complicated piece of equipment on that aircraft is your brain.

Come on, there's nothing wrong with my brain.

It's my eyes that are screwing up.

I'm not gonna quit on this.

It's everything I work for. I need you to help me out.

You get one more shot at the bag.

If you fail it, you're out. If you pass it, you're in. That's all there is to it.

We don't make any exceptions in this outfit, ever.

You're not gonna help me, are you?

Well, that's real big of you, Little.

You want to tell me about it?

Nothing to tell.

You've been up three times tonight, honey.

There was a kid in the mission.

One of the pilots.

His name's Jake Preston.

You mean old 2 by 4?

Give me a break, Janet.

It's no secret. The whole base knows about it.

So what?

He's good, this kid. You know, he's just a damn good pilot.

So what's the problem?

Problem is he's got an eye dominance thing. He failed the bag.

Well, you beat it.

So can he.

And if he doesn't, then you wash him out.

Damn, you're tough.

Well, they were tough on you.

I know enough about helicopters to make a lot of money in

civilian life, Janet. I could have made you a rich woman.

You're a patriot, Little, hot a businessman.

That's right.

And I am chomping like hell at a shot to take the Apache air

to air against some very serious enemies of the good ol' USA.

I know you are, babe.

But I'm not gonna get the shot. It's gonna go to guys who are younger, who

are quicker, maybe even better, if I train them well enough to replace me.

Come on. You've lost enough sleep over this already.

Let's go to bed.

Don't I get my hot coffee?

Yeah.

And I don't care if we aren't rich.

I care about you.

What was that thing that helped you?

Are you up to some kind of silly joke, sir?

Well, technically this is bullshit, but when I couldn't pass the bag, it cured me.

Of course, if we wanted to make you look like a

total dack ass, this would work just fine for that.

I always said you look good in red panties, Jake.

As long as you're having fun, Breaker.

Oh, I am. All right, let's go.

Try to maintain 0 degrees of steering, Preston.

I do not want to destroy any United States government property.

Okay, we're coming up on 90 degrees of steering to the hard right. Now!

Good. See how easy that is?

It's all about control, and control is all in your mind.

90 degrees hard right now!

Very good. Very good.

Now let's get that tank, Preston.

Wouldn't this be better if we're all blindfolded?

Well done.

I lost just a little bit of control there, but now everything's cool.

Another right turn coming up now, 90 degrees to the right.

Now!

No, no!

In the ditch!

Yee-haw! Now this is a lot better than he usually drives.

Preston, this operation will be a failure if we all die.

Road's over here to the right.

Well, I found that road.

Well done.

Now, easing off on the throttle... smooth as a baby's butt.

Very good. Well done.

A couple more training flights, you're gonna have this tub wired.

He's got panties on his head!

Brilliant, sir.

Get out of here.

A great day for a drive, isn't it?

Where'd he go, buddy?

You're doing great, Jake!

Fire!

Well, Mr. Preston, today is your big day.

It's your final shot at the bag.

Good luck, boy.

Listen, sweetheart.

You know we're meant to be together, so how

about getting me through it this time, okay?

I am looking for a smooth ride, Mr. Preston.

Smooth enough?

Now show me the world, boy.

How am I doing, sir?

What do you think, big boy?

Well, I'd say that I'm flying this perfect.

How do you feel?

I don't feel anything.

Good. Good. Let's go.

All right. On behalf of the United States Army, the

Department of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, VFW,

PTA, the Commander-in-Chief, and above all of these, me,

congratulations, Mr. Preston. You have passed the bag.

Who's the greatest?

Hey!

I passed the bag, thanks to you.

Hey!

Wanna help me celebrate?

Yeah, I'd love to.

Wow.

You look amazing.

This whole thing? I just threw it on as I was walking out the door.

You still have...

Yeah.

Some things should never change.

I'll put your suitcase in the trunk.

What are you doing?

I'm driving.

You knew that, didn't you?

Okay, hot rod.

Put the pedal to the metal, let's see what you got.

Oh, good night!

Whoa!

Wouldn't it be terrific if we could get a house out here and live together?

Why? There's nothing out here!

'Cause then, honey, I'd have you all to myself.

- Oh, Jake. - Huh?

Why'd you change?

Less to take off.

Let's skip dinner.

God, it is beautiful.

You're beautiful.

Uh... Uh...

Patience.

Anticipation. Food.

You know, I learned something today.

In the bag?

Yeah.

About dominance.

Put your right hand out to the side.

Close your left eye.

Good. Now,

Let's see, you put your left hand out to that side.

Close your right eye.

Oh...

Jake.

I hear there's a great place a couple miles up

the dirt road where we can swim sans clothes.

Jake, I gotta get back.

No, today is Sangria day.

I can't.

I got a FLIR test flight with Scott in two hours.

Well, you're just gonna have to get on the horn

with the Buzz Man and tell him you have plans.

You want to make the mission, right?

So if you had the same choice, a flight with Little or a picnic with me...

What would you do?

Do I always have to ask you first?

Jake, if you ask me first, I'd go damn near anywhere. If you tell me...

You go alone.

Good thing about the Army. I only have to take orders from my superiors.

You drive a Scout. I drive an Apache,

and therefore, I am your superior, darling.

Now get in the car and I'll drive you home.

Come on, Jake, I'm driving.

I'm driving!

Thank you.

I'm sorry about the sangria.

Hey, baby. Don't you ever want me to win?

No.

Today, you are entering the final phase of aerial combat training.

You will engage in air-to-air combat with your flight instructors.

Your scores today will be the determining

factor for selection to the Apache Task Force.

Good luck out there, day trippers.

Thanks for getting me through the bag.

That's my job to get you through the bag.

You're doing very well. I'm glad to see ya.

Just so you know...

I will be kicking your ass today!

Good.

All right. Good. Good.

Radler ops, this is Radler. Ready for Ridge Pole A, out.

Roger. Proceed with Stinger to sector kilo, over.

Radler Ops, this is Stinger. Roger, out.

Okay, boys, let's go to our corners and come out fighting.

This guy's a serious Jake.

All right, it's iron.

- Breaker. - Yeah?

- You like history? - No.

You better start liking it, 'cause we're about to make it.

Bring 'em on.

Jump ball, kids, let's see who comes down with it.

Get me up there, Jake. Get me in position.

You want position?

You got position.

Shit, that kid's good.

Come on, come on. I can't lock him.

Come on, we got to get around. He's got position on us.

Not bad flying for a couple of old-timers.

Old-timers, my ass.

Those guys can fly, man.

Now, Breaker.

Let's get 'em.

Get me closer, Jake.

I got lock.

Shit, Bradly's got a lock on us.

Drop her long.

Come on, come on. I can't lock him.

Look alive, Ryce.

Good try, boys. Try again.

Hang on here, Ryce, man, let's see if we can keep up with this.

Where'd he go?

Where is he, Breaker?

I don't know.

Clever, Chief.

Come on, Grandpa, let's do it.

Okay, get ready for that little curve wood, Ryce.

Done deal. We're gonna park him right here.

I lost him, Jake.

He's taken a vertical, going over the top.

Damn, that was a sweet move.

Come on, let's get 'em.

He's gonna pop right through that notch.

That old snake's hiding in a hole.

You want vertical? I'll give him vertical with a twist.

Look what we found.

I'll survive by, Chief.

Nose down, Breaker.

I got lock. Now!

This is gone.

Shit.

He's toast.

That's great flying, man.

Radler, they just notified your next of kin.

I got your next of kin.

Well done, boys. Very well done. Let's go to the house, get some supper.

Good flying, Preston.

Intelligence reports the cartel offensive is set to launch.

All the major players are there, but we do not know for how long.

The DEA mustn't let this opportunity slip through their fingers.

How much time do we have, sir?

We have to move immediately.

We have less than 24 hours to eliminate this threat.

Any word on Stoller?

He's there, making sure that we don't get near.

Morning, trippers. Let's go to it.

- Good to see you, sir. - Sir.

Sir.

Task Force, attention!

At ease. Listen up.

In less than 24 hours, you'll be asked to use what you've learned here.

Our mission is to fly support for a DEA operation of critical importance.

Operation Fire Bird.

We launch immediately.

We move out tomorrow morning.

Our staging area is in South America.

Once we're on the ground down there, you'll get a

full background briefing and your operations order.

What I can tell you now, folks,

is that we will be going air-to-air

against the Scorpion attack helicopter and its backup.

Now there'll be officials on hand down there to arrest cartel leaders.

Our job, make damn sure they get that chance.

That's all. Carry on. Let's get hot.

- Yeah! - Yeah!

- Congratulations, Jake. - Thank you, Colonel.

Okay. All right.

Good luck.

Brad Jake.

Brad.

I've been reviewing the gun camera tapes from your training flights.

Every man has got his place at maximum effect.

Brad Little's, he's with this Apache task force flying the mission.

You're my flight leader, Brad.

I knew that.

I wanna talk to you before I leave.

I've got a lot to do. We can talk on the flight down.

What do you mean on the flight down?

On the flight to South America.

How the hell did that happen?

I asked and AK cleared it.

They allowed you to go into combat?

I don't believe I'm hearing this.

Billie, wait a second.

You think it's fine for me to be a pilot as long as there's nothing at stake.

But a dangerous mission, no way, that's only for men.

Thanks, Jake. I have my orders.

Why is it so hard for you to understand that I just don't want you to get hurt?

I chose this career, and you as my friend are going to have to accept it.

My friend!

The Zanti cartel has been amassing heavy arms and

military personnel for an attack on a friendly government,

and we must stop them.

Every operation that the DEA and our South American

allies has mounted has been blown away by Eric Stoler.

We believe they are about to airlift some of the

major figures in the cartel under Stoler's cover.

The local government is sick and tired of having

their army chewed up by this guy in the air.

Now they've asked for your help, and they're counting on it.

Colonel.

All right, people, on your feet. Get some sleep.

Sleep well?

Hell no.

What do you think?

I think it all depends on things we don't know right now.

You can train all you want.

You can know you're capable.

But when it comes time to let it rip, you begin to wonder what you're

really going to do, whether you're going to take it up, bring it down,

ever going to see an orange again.

Makes for a long night.

That's a long night that's been around for 100,000

years, kid. Full of men waiting to go into battle.

You know, I think every one of them's been walking and talking all night long, huh?

Yeah.

You got chops you hadn't even begun to dream of yet, kid.

Just relax. Your instincts and your training will take over.

Count on it. You had a brilliant teacher.

You know I've been pretty arrogant with you.

Mhm.

I mean, I'm vain and I know I'm great, but you're definitely the best.

No, you're better.

I can't learn anymore, you can.

Every time we went up together, I kept thinking,

damn, that kid is good. How'd he figure that one out?

You're a natural.

You're a natural. You got a lot of talent.

How about that roll out you did during the fly-off?

Man, I had you dead. Nobody but you could have done that.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm not a genius.

You know, I joined the army for the same reason you did, and that's to kick ass.

Just like in the old war movies, you know, be a hero.

That's what I'm looking for in you.

First-class All-American hero with his heart and brain wired

together, cooking full-tilt boogie for freedom and justice.

Okay?

The oldest, corniest story in the whole world.

But I got... this could be our happy day.

- Commander, we're under attack! - Billy, get on!

Incoming!

Incoming missile!

I'm hit in the air!

Get the helicopters in the air!

Shot dead! I'm on my own!

Nightrider Op, this is Rattler 2. Do you copy? Over.

Uh, Rattler Rattler, Nightrider 6. I have you leave it Charlie, Javi. Over.

Negative Charlie. They shot down Reba's and Tivitt on take-off. I have

St. Davis and Brock in the right shotgun for the Black Hawks. Over.

Guthrie, this is Flight Leader. You have two very bad boys up

here looking for something to do. Locate the ground radar, check

all canyon rims. When you find it, let us know, we'll blow it

up. I don't want these sons of bitches knowing where we're at.

Roger, Rattler.

Weebles hunting.

Found it. Site unmanned. Proceed to 3-7-0-8.

Roger that, we're on the way.

Stoler's out there. I can smell him.

Go find him, kid.

Okay, we're coming up on the coordinates. Looking high, looking

low. Find me a bunch of high-tech shit on the rim of that canyon.

All right, man. I see it, grandpa. Locking in the missiles.

Make that damn thing go away, son.

Good shooting, man.

Okay, they're working without radar now. What's happening, Guthrie?

There it is.

What's happening, Guthrie? Talk to me, talk to me.

Rebels located enemy airstrip, evacuation underway. Request fire support.

I've got a fast-mover bogey on heading 0-7-0.

This area is heavily armed, boys.

Apache's rolling in hot.

That's your stinger.

Wait a minute. I'm picking up something else.

It's Stoler!

Billie, listen to me. Keep moving and stay close to

the rocks. Don't give him a target. Just keep moving.

Oh god!

Stoler is closing. I'm not going to make it.

Amy, don't panic. If you keep moving...

I can't lock on. I'm on my way.

Oh Jake, saved my ass.

You're not touching her, you filthy piece of shit.

Damn it!

Jake, don't let them get away.

Stinger, this is Radler. Have you engaged over?

We're on 'em, Radler.

All right, here we come. Grab your ass, Rice.

I'm gonna get you closer, buddy, but you gotta nail him.

Hit!

Stay on 'em.

Oh, shit!

He's getting away.

Damn, he's fast.

Where the hell is he?

Wait a minute, I hear him.

That's not Stoller.

I got him.

Radler, need some help here. We got a bogey fast mover coming hot and heavy.

Now, what'd you got kid? Listen to your old coach.

We're right behind you. Just bring him to me and Rice might'll punch his lights out.

Do it, Radler.

We'll never make it, Jake!

He thinks he's got you, son. Just lead him on. Bring him to us.

You gotta get me in closer.

One shot, Rice man. I don't wanna lose this kid.

If I can just get around that ridge.

We're gonna make our move, Radler.

He's on us, Jake. We gotta do something.

Down and out on three.

Stay on him Rice, he shows us a little sky, we got him.

He's got us in missile lock.

We're there, he's yours.

Looking for the sweet spot. Looking for the sweet spot, baby.

Lock on.

Not bad shooting for an old dog like you, Rice.

Thanks, grandpa.

Solid gold, Radler. That was solid gold.

What goes on, Guthrie?

Looking. Unmasking to take a peek.

There's another fast mover at your 1 o'clock.

Have they got a whole air force down here now?

It's Stoller! Get out of there!

Shit, he's on our six!

Hang on Rice.

He's tracking Little.

I'm coming around.

Goddamn, we're gonna get shot at, brace yourself, Rice man.

Brace yourself now, where is he? Where is he? Where is he?

Shit!

We lost the tail rotor!

Help me out Rice, main rotor RPM.

RPM's dropping, they're dropping.

I'm pulling Stoller out of the area.

Stoller's on our ass.

Oh yeah?

Good.

Mayday, Mayday, Knight Rider Ops, this is Radler, we are going in.

Hang on there, boy, get this.

Mayday, mayday, we are going in.

Get Brad, find us a soft spot, man.

He missed.

Billie, your area is clear. Get in and check on Radler.

Roger. I have him in sight.

There was no explosion, no fire.

I'm going in to see if they're alive.

That make you nervous, Breaker?

No, the guy on our ass is making me nervous.

Have a chill. We're out of here.

How's it going, Calvin?

Jake, only my mother calls me Calvin.

I am your mother now, Calvin.

Rice?

Dad?

Can you move?

No, both my legs are broke.

Get your ass in here.

See if we can outrun him, Stinger.

He's got us dead on us again!

Not for long.

This one looks okay.

Go to the aft storage, confirm and get the grip stock in the BCU.

What?

Little cigar box looking thing with a pistol grip

on it. Little round thing looks like a coffee can.

You got 20 seconds, max.

Screw that coffee can inside of that cigar box.

Good, go pop three latches on that missile, bring it over here.

Get hard on him!

Oh shit!

Fire in the dirt.

Once you've tested it on the ground...

Fuse the cigar box onto the missile.

There. Snap it up.

Pop that latch.

Very good. Open up the side frame, the square thing on the side. Good.

He's turning inbound.

No shit.

Put it on your shoulder, quick, quick, quick, quick, quick.

Pull down the metal looking thing with your right thumb.

You're now activated. Hide your ass.

Guthrie.

Turn around.

I've got him in my sights, and I'm hearing a noise!

Shoot him in the ass.

Know what that, sucker?

We got him.

He's going vertical.

Where'd he go?

He's in the sun.

Stoller's on our ass.

Get ready to throw the dog a bone, Breaker.

He's getting position to hit.

Argh! I'm hit.

How bad?

Can't shoot.

All right, hang tight, buddy.

He's mine.

Come on. Come on. Come to daddy.

Brace yourself, Breaker.

Let's see how good he really is.

Oops.

You blew it.

It's gonna kill him now!

Aaahh!

That was for Dobbs.

This is Stinger. Request permission to join Firebird supported airstrip.

Negative Stinger. DEA troops are mopping up Firebird now. They've

arrested all cartel members and have the area under control.

Once you took out Stoller and their air support, it was over. Come on home.

Where's Billy and Little?

We just got confirmation on their position. They're alive!

Rice is dead. Little is down and hurt. But Billie's

with him. And that medevac bird is just about to leave.

Go, you're going to miss the bus.

All right.

It's a gurney over there. Gurney over there.

Oh, Christ, this hurts. Where's a meat wagon?

Just over the hill, sir!

Don't drop me.

No, sir!

You drop me, it'll be the end of life as

you've come to know it in the US Army trooper.

Sir!

Did you kill him?

Yeah.

Yeah, I killed him.

Good, son. Well done.

Well done.

You look like a first class hero, chief. You too, son, you both do.

First class, all-American.

You did it.

We did it.

Okay. We did it. I'm not gonna argue.

Oh yeah?

Since when?

I'll give you a ride home.

Great. I'll drive.

No, I'm gonna drive.

No. I'll drive.

Jake, it's my helicopter.

I'll drive.

No, no, no, no, no, no. I drive.