“AIR POWER ’56“ 1956 BENDIX TROPHY RACE & NATIONAL AIRCRAFT SHOW F-100 SUPER SABRE 25894

This short film covering the 1956 Bendix Race and the National Aircraft Show in Philadelphia gives viewers a great look at the air power of the U.S. military. The film opens with pilots sitting next to a jet at George Air Force Base near Victorville, CA, studying a map. The men are preparing to fly their North American F-100 Super Sabres in the Bendix Trophy Event, the famed continental speed race. The pilots run through their safety checks (01:20), then put on their gear and climb into their jets. The first F-100 takes off from the base in California (02:38), and the other five soon follow. The National Aircraft Show at Philadelphia International Airport (03:08) features crowds walking around the grounds and looking at the following aircraft on display: a Piasecki HUP Retriever, a Grumman F9F Cougar, a North American FJ-4 Fury, a Bell VTOL prototype (04:27), a Grumman S2F-1 Tracker (sub killer), a Vought F7U Cutlass (04:55), an old WWI biplane sitting next to a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (05:23), a B-47 Stratojet, a C-17 Globemaster, and a Convair B-36 Peacemaker (06:31). Kids and people crowd around various planes, and in some cases pilots are on hand to talk to people. At the Army aviation area, a man gives a parachute packing demonstration (06:40). Viewers also see a Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw (07:11), a Cessna L-19, a Douglas Nike missile that the operator lowers for members of the crowd (07:26), a Beachcraft L-23 Seminole, a Piasecki H-25 Retriever/Army Mule, and a Bell H-13 Sioux helicopter. A young girl sits in the H-13 (08:38), looking unamused. People crowd in the stands to watch the Army’s H-13 helicopters “square dance” (08:44). The helicopters maneuver around in a square dance pattern. Next, the crowd is treated to the start of a simulated battle maneuver (10:39): an L-19 passes by; a transport helicopter drops off troops. An H-13 flies overhead; a H-19 carries a 75mm howitzer. An H-25 drops off cargo during the simulation (12:27), and an L-19 parachutes cargo (12:43). An atomic artillery shell is shown being detonated at 12:56.. Spectators watch the skies for one of the F-100s to arrive; the first F-100 flies overhead (13:57) and then lands; the pilot, Col. Carlos Talbott, sits in his cockpit and watches his fellow pilots as they arrive. Off in the distance is the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) carrier (15:36). A Northrop F-17 takes off from the carrier, as does a and Grumman S2F-1. A Cutlass demonstrates a carrier landing on the airfield for spectators (16:42). Viewers then see various aircraft perform a flyby over the event: Martin P5M-2 Marlins fly overhead in formation; Lockeed P-2 Neptunes fly by; a Douglas A3D Skywarrior cruises past. Two helicopters lift a geo dome shelter and move it to demonstrate Marine mobility (17:29). The F-100 pilots gather for the Bendix trophy presentation (19:08), which is awarded to Col. Carlos Talbott. There is a good shot of the trophy, which was first won by James H. Doolittle in 1931. Two Lockheed F-104 Starfighters take off to demonstrate a mission. A Lockheed RC-121 flies overhead and is escorted by intercept fighters. 21:58 Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars over the spectators (21:58). A B-47 Stratojet takes off with a jet-assist takeoff demonstration (22:35). The film concludes with more footage of aircraft flying overhead, including a KC-135 Stratotanker refilling a B-47, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a McDonnell F101 Voodoo, a trio of Convair XF-92 delta wing supersonic interceptors, a trio of B-36 Peacemakers, a B-47 squadron, and a squadron of B-52 Stratofortress. We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“ This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit