Historical Flying Floating Magic
An Interview with FLYING BOAT Filmmaker/Photographer/Pilot, Dirk Braun
Filming of the Flying Boat took the filmmakers to unique places to trace the history of this amazing ship. (Courtesy Flying Boat)
By Annamarie Buonocore
Aviation has several noteworthy parts to its history that are truly magical and make younger generations wish they could experience them first hand. One such piece of historical magic is the Flying Boat (the last one used by Pan Am Airways is the Grumman Albatross which is the subject of this film) or Pan Am Clipper, which pioneered long distance air travel. This magnificent aircraft was a technological wonder that changed the world. Passengers would enjoy flying on these aircrafts all across the world and would revel in first-class service on board.
Even some of the most passionate aviation enthusiasts know little about the Flying Boat, as its legacy was short lived. The aircraft was used before runways were abundant and served in all kinds of missions. Once an increase in airports and runways were built during WWII, the need for the flying boat diminished and the short-lived era was over. A beautiful art deco building at New York's LaGuardia Airport is the Marine Air Terminal, a remnant from that era that is still in active use as a terminal today.
For those who have always longed for a more complete story on how air travel worked before runways, there is a new breakout documentary film by Aspen-Los Angeles-based Filmmaker/ photographer/Pilot Dirk Braun. The 77-minute film is set in his dream and chronicles the experience of flying the legendary Grumman Albatross, a near perfect blend of form and function, told through ten passionate mechanics and pilots who have restored, fly, and maintain the last remaining examples of this legendary aircraft.
The movie provides a detailed history of the aircraft and offers perspectives of the handful of those who still fly and maintain them.
The World Premiere of the film was presented to thousands at the Fly-in Theatre, headlining The 68th EAA Air Venture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on the opening night of the world's largest aviation celebration. It was shown later in the week to the public at Marcus Theatre in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Among those who attended the public premiere included retired United States Air Force officer, fighter pilot, test pilot, and record-breaking aviator Dick Rutan and American aviator, businessman and author Robert DeLaurentis.
In celebration of the movie's debut, Braun is donating sales from 100 limited edition fine art FLYING BOAT film posters (both signed and framed) to Pan Am Museum Foundation, Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisc. and Aspen Flight Academy.
In Flight USA is fortunate to have had the opportunity to talk to Filmmaker/Pilot Photographer Dirk Braun and learn more about his inspirations and background. After all, it is not everyday when a young filmmaker takes on such a rare subject in aviation. This is the story of how FLYING BOAT came to be.
In Flight USA: Is this your first film? Have you always been interested in making films?
Dirk Braum: This is my first film. It took me about five or six years to make. It is actually a dream that I have had for a long time. My friend introduced me to the Albatross about 17 years ago. I deemed it the greatest adventure machine and
fantasized about what I would do with one. I thought it would be such an exciting and spectacular thing to film, and kept running with the idea until finally finishing the movie. In high school I worked at an independent movie rental and have a had a lifelong interest in cinema.
IFUSA: What prompted your interest in the flying boat?
DB: I don't have any aviation history in my family, but I have always been interested in unique and capable machinery. There are certain cars that I really like. I also love airplanes and filmmaking and the relationship of both of them. Like I said, my friend introduced me to the Albatross, and that never left me. Then by chance, I found out that my father's friend he met in kindergarten, Tom Casey, who is in the film, was in the process of restoring an Albatross, which had been sitting in neglect in Tucson, Arizona for decades. To see an aircraft of this type being restored and brought back to airworthiness is so inspiring. They are so big and mystical and I knew that there was a story that needed to be told.
IFUSA: I understand that the aircraft was filmed in many iconic and spectacular locations. What are some of those?
DB: As for iconic, I like to think of the notable skylines that everyone is familiar with, like New York and Miami. uncovered some spectacular archival footage in those places and beyond. The flying boat ruled the skies back in the days prior to World War II. It went to so many different places, and it was the first aircraft to take people long distances. Before there were runways, there were flying boats. Most of the major cities are on the water so the flying boat was designed to service these areas. I wanted to film in those places and also wanted to capture them in exotic, remote locations. The flying boat speaks to fantasy and the mission was to use them to the most of their capabilities and my imagination.
IFUSA: How did you manage to have your film premiere at Air Venture 2021?
DB: It took a little luck and a lot of dedication. I am blessed and honored to have been able to premiere it there. We had such good turnout at the Fly-In Theatre at EA's Air Venture this year and I was awed by the number of people who attended and how well it was received. couldn't have asked for a better premiere.
IFUSA:: I understand that the film features 10 pilots and mechanics. How did you capture the people in those rules?
DB: I wanted to develop them as characters. It started off with interviewing Tom Casey. He is a New York City author and a former American Airlines Boeing 777 pilot and Air Force pilot. He is enthralled by history and looks up at the skyline with the dream of flying his Albatross along it. The other characters found were all uniquely diverse and different from one another. Take Joe Duke, for example. He has a beautifully restored Albatross. He is an explorer and goes to the remote areas of the Bahamas among all kinds of other places. Then there's Mike Barron. He is restoring seven Albatrosses and flew them out of the boneyard (where they go to retire in permanent storage) in Arizona, a vast area of thousands of retired and neglected aircraft. The seven he took on to restore had been sitting there 30 years. found those who fly and maintain the Albatross to have different aspirations and ambitions as to why they're involved with it but all share a common denominator, of love for this aircraft. My mission was to develop their character in the film and bring them to the places that best match their personalities.
IFUSA: Have you done any aircraft restoration yourself?
DB: In some ways, yes. have an old 1960 Cessna that I got a few years ago that I absolutely love and I have been managing the upkeep on this aircraft. It's a beautiful old airplane, and it's my stepping stone to other aircraft.
IFUSA: Are a you a pilot yourself?
DB: Yes, am. Tom Casey got me to solo, and we did that in Connecticut. I continued my training all the way to my license in the high altitude conditions of Colorado.
IFUSA: What else do you think is remarkable about the flying boat?
DB: There's so much history to it. What iS unique about the Albatross itself is that it was designed for one purpose but continued to be used for many others. It was originally designed for open ocean search and rescue, has served many military operations, used for exploration and research missions and to access remote surf locations amongst many other purposes. It is now in the hands of a few civilians who are passionate about keeping these machines running. What is unique about this tight-knit and niche community is that they are all in contact with one another. They exchange parts, get each other type-rated, and those kinds of things. It's very special.
IFUSA: Do you have the numbers on how many were built and how many are still flying?
DB: Yes, 466 were built, and there are about a dozen or so that are currently airworthy. Most are privately owned in the United States, but there are a couple in other parts of the world as well as in museums.
IFUSA: Can you give a physical description of the aircraft?
DB: The Grumman Albatross is a flying yacht. It is 60 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 25 feet high. It can land on both land and water and can travel nearly 3,000 miles before needing to refuel. It is one of the most diversely capable machines ever created and has been to more places on earth than any other aircraft.
IFUSA: Thank you!
Visit www.FlyingBoatFilm.com for more information and to view the FLYING BOAT limited edition poster, neon sign, fine art photography gallery, and other merchandise.
