Sky Fighters

Sky Fighters Les chevaliers du ciel American movie poster Country France Directed by Gérard Pirès Release Date 2005 Language French English Arabic Studio Mandarin Films Main Cast Character Actor Capt. Antoine "Walk'n" Marchelli Benoît Magimel Capt. Sébastien "Fahrenheit" Vallois Clovis Cornillac Maelle Coste Géraldine Pailhas Capt. Estelle 'Pitbull' Kass Alice Taglioni Bertrand Philippe Torreton

Sky Fighters (Les chevaliers du ciel ) is a 2005 French action film starring Benoît Magimel and Clovis Cornillac as French Air Force pilots who uncover a conspiracy that involves terrorists stealing fighters. Directed by Gérard Pirès, the film is based on the French children's series Les chevaliers du ciel ("The Knights of the Sky"), which was based on the comic series Tanguy et Laverdure, although the character names are different. The film could be described as France's answer to Top Gun, as the production was granted full cooperation with the French Air Force. Unlike Top Gun, where most of the filming of the pilots was done on a soundstage, the actors in this film actually were filmed while flying in the actual jets. The majority of the aerial battles also were done with specially designed camera pods fitted to the Mirage 2000 fighters.

The following weapons were used in the film Sky Fighters:

Small Arms

AKMS

Captains Antoine "Walk'n" Marchelli (Benoît Magimel) and Sébastien "Fahrenheit" Vallois (Clovis Cornillac) briefly use AKMS rifles taken from terrorists.

AKMS, stamped steel receiver w/ slant muzzle brake and under-folding stock - 7.62x39mm

Walk'n with the AKMS he just took away.

A terrorist with an AKMS.

Fahrenheit (where do they get these names?) frees himself from his shackles with the AKMS.

Arsenal AR-SF

Terrorists are armed with Arsenal AR-SF carbines. "Ipod" (Jean-Baptiste Puech) uses one briefly as well.

Arsenal AR-SF - 5.56x45mm NATO

Ipod with the Arsenal AR-SF before being gunned down.

AKS-74U

Terrorists are armed with AKS-74Us when they capture the jets.

AKS-74U - 5.45x39mm

AIMR

Terrorists are armed with AIMR carbines.

AIMR - 7.62x39mm. The original Romanian designation for this rifle is the PM md. 90 cu țeavă scurtă (short barrelled).

Norinco Type 56

Terrorists are armed with Norinco Type 56s.

Norinco Type 56 (Imported into the U.S. as the Norinco AKS-47 or AKS-47 Sporter) - 7.62x39mm. Rather than having the underfolder pig sticker Bayonet assembly, this has the standard Bayonet lug underneath the gas block as the AKM and later variants.

A Type 56 is pointed at Walk'n's head.

FN FNC

One terrorists is armed with an FN FNC.

FN FNC - 5.56x45mm

Part of the FNC is seen briefly.

M16A1

One terrorist is armed with an M16A1.

M16A1 with 30 round magazine - 5.56x45mm

The terrorist on the right has the M16A1.

SIG-Sauer P232

A terrorist shoots the tanker crew with a SIG-Sauer P232. Bertrand (Philippe Torreton) uses a suppressed P232 in the end.

SIG-Sauer P232 - .380 ACP

The tanker crew is shot.

Bertrand draws his P232.

Glock 26

The air crews are issued Glock 26 pistols for personal protection, but they are taken away by the terrorists.

Glock 26 subcompact Pistol - 9x19mm

Walk'n with his Glock 26.

A terrorist with Kass's Glock 26.

FAMAS

French Air Force guards carry FAMAS rifles.

FAMAS-F1 - 5.56x45mm. Standard service rifle of the French Forces.

Air Force security confront Walk'n sitting in one of the jets. (This image has been enhanced.)

Beretta 92F Non-gun

Terrorists shoot the real Major Barth with a Beretta 92F Non-gun.

Beretta 92F Non Gun

Steyr SSG 69

As Walk'n and Fahrenheit watch the Bastille Day festivities from home, a Steyr SSG 69 is shown. Since they actually filmed on Bastille Day, it's not clear if this is actually just stock footage.

Steyr SSG 69 Police with Harris bipod - 7.62x51mm NATO

The police Steyr SSG 69. The reflection of Walk'n and Fahrenheit can be seen as well.

Other

DEFA 554

Walk'n shoots down the rogue Mirage 2000 with his DEFA 554 cannon.

DEFA cannon 30mm in twin mount

The DEFA 554 is featured quite prominently.

Walk'n's crew chief wipes off and smells the powder residue.

Matra R.550 Magic

Walk'n blows up the remaining Mirage 2000 with a single Matra R.550 Magic heat seeking missile.

It should be noted that instead of cutting to stock footage of an R.550 Magic missile firing, like in Top Gun, the filmmakers actually went out of their way to have a missile fired by the right plane. Notice that it is a two seater, with the second canopy missing, and even Fahrenheit (or a stunt double) in the back.

The first rogue Mirage 2000 with R.550 Magic and Super 530 missiles.

Matra Super 530

Walk'n blows up the last rogue Mirage 2000 with a single Matra Super 530 missile.

Crotale Surface-to-Air missile

A Crotale missile launcher is seen outside of the Special Missions base.

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