Airwolf (1984–1986)

As part of a deal with an intelligence agency to look for his missing brother, a renegade pilot goes on missions with an advanced battle helicopter.

Creator:

Donald P. Bellisario

Stars:

Jan-Michael Vincent, Alex Cord, Ernest Borgnine

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Stringfellow Hawke (55 episodes, 1984-1986)
Alex Cord	...	Michael Coldsmith Briggs III (55 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ernest Borgnine	...	Dominic (55 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jean Bruce Scott	...	Caitlin O'Shannessy (44 episodes, 1984-1986)

Storyline

Airwolf is the most sophisticated helicopter imaginable (flies halfway round the world, outruns jet planes). Stringfellow Hawke is its pilot, essentially blackmailing a secret US agency into finding his brother (lost in Vietnam) while he flies dangerous assignments for "The Firm."

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Plot Keywords:

helicopter | vietnam veteran | electronic music score | attack helicopter | prototype | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official soundtrack site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blackwolf

Filming Locations:

Baxter Pharmaceutical - 1 Baxter Way, Thousand Oaks, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Belisarius Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (58 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

In order for Airwolf to fly with it's weapons deployed, they needed special permission from the FAA. Even though they were props, the FAA insisted on it.

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Quotes

Le Van 'Half-Pint' Hawke: I was so scared for you.
Stringfellow Hawke: They were no match for the Lady.
Michael Archangel: Come 'on Marlene; there must be something out here that desperately needs our attention.
Stringfellow Hawke: You know Half-Pint, How about coming and living with me? I'll make you part of the family, like Caitlan and Dom.
Le Van 'Half-Pint' Hawke: But what if your brother comes back, and it turns out he's not my dad?
Stringfellow Hawke: I'll be your dad.

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Connections

Referenced in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Diff'rent Strokes' (2006)

User Reviews

Ahead of it's time.

This show was very well written in the first three seasons, we will not talk of the fourth season,(Airwolf II -a disgrace to the original series). The scenes were spectacular and the plots where well knitted in most of the episodes. I liked the attention to detail and the ability for it to be fairly believable, despite the fictional capability of Airwolf. The characters complimented each other and made the show very dynamic. Even the music created by S. Levay was really good. It is very unfortunate that the series ended the way it did. Jan M. Vincent had problems with alcohol and the politics with universal infringed on Bellisario's ideas. The "lady" did not go down with a blaze of glory but rather an un-answered and open ended destruction with the final series. I think that is why so many enthusiast still hang on to Airwolf, it was a killer show that just suddenly ended, even though the ratings were so high. It would be cool to have a new movie produced to give Airwolf a final resting place in T.V. history. But that is unlikely. However, there are all kinds of fan clubs and sites that celebrate this one of a kind 80's show, you will see that Airwolf is very much alive out on the internet. C.L.