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IMDbPro

Peter McKernan Sr.(1932-2020)

  • Additional Crew
  • Stunts
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
When retired Marine Corps jet pilot Peter McKernan purchased a helicopter to support his real estate business, little did he know that his investment would morph into something bigger. A request by ABC News (1956) to cover a flood and later, last minute request to support an episode of Hart to Hart (1979) inspired him to start a helicopter/aircraft chartering business, plus support of Hollywood productions.

His company, Jetcopters, Inc. provided many aerial scenes and support for TV shows plus motion pictures like, Blue Thunder (1983), Airwolf (1984), Commando (1985), and many others. McKernan, his staff of full time and part time pilots, plus his son, Peter McKernan, Jr. all performed the stunt flying.

Born in Brookhaven, New York, after Marine Corps retirement, Peter McKernan spent the rest of his life in California briefly flying for United Airlines, then subsequently running his real estate and aerial charter businesses.
BornOctober 3, 1932
DiedJanuary 23, 2020(87)
BornOctober 3, 1932
DiedJanuary 23, 2020(87)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels

Known for

Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard
8.2
  • Additional Crew(as Peter McKernan)
  • 1988
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando (1985)
Commando
6.7
  • Additional Crew
  • 1985
Colin Farrell and Anton Yelchin in Fright Night (2011)
Fright Night
6.4
  • Additional Crew(New Mexico)
  • 2011
Anne Heche in Psycho (1998)
Psycho
4.6
  • Additional Crew
  • 1998

Credits

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IMDbPro

Additional Crew



  • Colin Farrell and Anton Yelchin in Fright Night (2011)
    Fright Night
    6.4
    • ground safety coordinator: New Mexico
    • 2011
  • Tim Matheson, Nadia Bjorlin, Angus Macfadyen, Eddie Griffin, and Nathan Phillips in Redline (2007)
    Redline
    4.0
    • helicopter co-pilot (as Peter McKernan Sr.)
    • 2007
  • The Hitcher (2007)
    The Hitcher
    5.6
    • helicopter ground safety
    • 2007
  • Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn in The Interpreter (2005)
    The Interpreter
    6.4
    • helicopter pilot
    • 2005
  • Steve Martin and Queen Latifah in Bringing Down the House (2003)
    Bringing Down the House
    5.6
    • helicopter pilot (as Peter J. McKernan Sr.)
    • 2003
  • Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy in Bowfinger (1999)
    Bowfinger
    6.5
    • helicopter pilot (as Peter J. McKernan Sr.)
    • 1999
  • Yasmine Bleeth, Christopher Lloyd, John Ritter, and JoBeth Williams in It Came from the Sky (1999)
    It Came from the Sky
    5.8
    TV Movie
    • helicopter pilot: second unit
    • 1999
  • Anne Heche in Psycho (1998)
    Psycho
    4.6
    • safety pilot
    • 1998
  • Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Die Hard
    8.2
    • pilot (as Peter McKernan)
    • 1988
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando (1985)
    Commando
    6.7
    • helicopter pilot
    • 1985
  • Blue Thunder (1983)
    Blue Thunder
    6.4
    • helicopter pilot (uncredited)
    • 1983

Stunts



  • Yasmine Bleeth, Christopher Lloyd, John Ritter, and JoBeth Williams in It Came from the Sky (1999)
    It Came from the Sky
    5.8
    TV Movie
    • stunt pilot (as Peter J. McKernan Sr.)
    • 1999
  • Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)
    The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
    6.9
    • stunts
    • 1991

Actor



  • Alien Nation: Body and Soul (1995)
    Alien Nation: Body and Soul
    6.4
    TV Movie
    • Pilot
    • 1995

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Peter J. McKernan Sr.
  • Born
    • October 3, 1932
    • Brookhaven, New York
  • Died
    • January 23, 2020
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(Undisclosed)
  • Children
    • Peter McKernan

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a jet fighter pilot attaining the rank of Major (his tombstone indicates Major, though some sources say his highest rank was Lieutenant Colonel). In a twist of irony, he avoided (flying) helicopters like the plague while in the USMC; his later venture/career as owner/operator of Jetcopters, Inc. he flew them for a living.

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