Smells like...victory

The recent transfer of five former US Army Bell UH-1 Hueys to the Philippines made me think of Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 film Apocalypse Now.

Vietnam being off limits, the film was shot entirely in the Philippines. The helicopters in the famous Ride of the Valkyries attack scene were former Vietnam War choppers flown by Philippine Air Force crews. Several times during filming they broke off mid-scene - to Coppola's horror - and flew off to bombard rebels operating in the nearby jungle.

The film is now a classic among war buffs. Like many classic aircraft, the film's birth was a difficult one. The project ran years behind schedule, blew its budget, and suffered from several personnel changes. A testament that something really cool can emerge from something really messy.