Bond movies and aviation have been intrinsically linked since the franchise made its big screen debut in the early 1960s. In a way, the movies have mirrored the trends and developments in global aviation in the same way they reflected global events and anxieties. We took a quick look at some of our favorite Bond movie aircraft, from the coolest to the silliest. Note – we are looking at aircraft that the character himself has flown (or flown on) in the movies.
The Coolest – Lockheed Jetstar – Goldfinger (1964)
Possibly the most beautiful private jet ever built, the Lockheed Jetstar was a four-engined business jet which first flew in 1957. The aircraft appears in several guises in the 1964 movie Goldfinger, both as a civilian model (the Lockheed L-329) and the military model (Lockheed C-140). The aircraft are even flown by Pussy Galore, arguably the best known pilot of the whole franchise. The closing scene of the movie even features a rapid decompression, and Goldfinger himself exiting the aircraft via a window.
The most unusual – Republic RC-3 Seabee – The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
A truly unique machine, this amphibious seaplane makes an appearance towards the tail end of 1974’s The Man with the Golden Gun. As well as widespread civilian usage, the seabee proved popular with the military forces of Israel and South Vietnam. Roger Moore’s bond uses the aircraft to fly to Scaramanga’s secret island, filmed on location in Phuket. Sadly, there isn’t a happy ending in store for the little aircraft, as it is destroyed by Scaramanga’s solar-powered heatray. Thankfully, only a mockup was destroyed for the movie.
The fastest – BAC Aerospatiale Concorde – Moonraker (1979)
Concorde’s one and only appearance in the Bond franchise came in 1979’s Moonraker (more on the sins of this movie to come). As such, Roger Moore is the only Bond to have flown on the supersonic passenger jet. Bond flies on an Air France Concorde in the movie, taking him from Paris to Rio de Janeiro.
The oldest – Beechcraft C45H Explorer – Octopussy (1983)
Not one of the most exciting choices of aircraft for an action movie, the aircraft of choice for Octopussy’s villain Kamal Khan is a simple affair. Based on the Beechcraft Model 18 and built between 1937 and 1969 (a world record of over 32 years at the time), the aircraft was particularly suited to the movie’s closing scenes, which see Roger Moore’s Bond battling with henchman Gobinda on the roof of the aircraft in mid-air.
The smallest – Wallis WA-116 Autogyro ‘Little Nellie’ – You Only Live Twice (1967)
Likely the smallest flying machine in the franchise, the autogyro nicknamed Little Nellie packed quite a punch thanks to its use of modifications such as missiles, flamethrowers, aerial mines and rockets. Coming in a close second is the Bede BD-5 mini-jet which appears in the opening scenes of Octopussy.
The largest – Antonov AN-124 – Die Another Day (2002)
There have been many critical words said about 2002’s camp perfection that is Die Another Day. The final part of the movie features Pierce Brosnan as 007 sees our hero battle with Toby Stevens’ villain onboard an aircraft representative of the AN-124 Ruslan. Unlike most other AN-124’s however, this one seems to have been kitted out with a fencing gym and a hold full of luxury cars (and a convenient escape helicopter) and a lot of creative license with other elements of the aircraft. The movie also features a British Airways (BA/BAW) Boeing 747-400, once one of BA’s most iconic jets.
The most frequent – Boeing 707 – Multiple movies from 1962
The Boeing 707 holds the crown of most frequently used Bond jet thanks to its frequent appearances in the early movies. A true icon of the jet age, the Boeing 707 makes its first appearance in the first Bond movie, Doctor No (1962). Sean Connery’s bond arrives in Kingston, Jamaica aboard a Pan American Airways 707. 007 also took a Pan Am 707 to Istanbul in the franchises’ second installment, from Russia with Love (1953). Sticking with Connery throughout his tenure, a Lufthansa (LH/DLH) took Bond to Los Angeles (LAX) in 1971’s Diamonds are Forever. Interestingly, it took some time for 007 to fly on the Boeing 747, with Roger Moore’s Bond flying on a Pan Am Boeing 747-100 in Live and Let Die (1973).
The silliest – Moonraker space Shuttle – Moonraker (1979)
Sorry, Moonraker fans, but this is a silly movie and by extension the Moonraker shuttle is also silly. Despite this, Bond’s 1979 romp in space does have its endearing moments (keeping the British end up, anyone?). The movie’s villain Hugo Drax has a fleet of these custom-built space shuttles ready to blast off into space and begin his own master race. Was this an early prediction of the private sector’s foray into space travel? Possibly. The movie even opens with the second appearance of a Boeing 747 in the franchise, when one Moonraker shuttle is hijacked right off the back of the jet. Hmm.
Honorable mentions
Whilst we focussed on the aircraft bond himself has graced over the years, it would be remiss of us not to mention a few curveballs.
Scaramanga’s Flying Car – The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)
Based on real flying car designs, the AMC Matador used in he movie had a wingspan of over 40ft, and supposedly almost took off in a strong gust of wind during filming.
Aviation Traders Carvair – Goldfinger (1964)
A genuinely brilliant that pioneered early ‘Air Ferry’ services for cars, the Carvair was a four-engined piston aircraft with a swing-opening nose and a fuselage share reminiscent of the Boeing 747F (years before the latter was even conceived). Learn more about it here.
The Skyfleet S570 airliner – Casino Royale (2006)
A close second for the silliest aircraft prize, this pure plot-device, double-decked, eight-engined aeroplane is supposedly developed in partnership with NASA to burn 25% less fuel that comparable aircraft.
Cover photo: The revolutionary Skyfleet S570. Source: James Bond Wiki / EON Productions
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