The project has been a labour of love for the last three years for film director and actor Daniel Arbon. The film uses a mix of replica aircraft, hand-built miniatures, life-size cockpits and CGI to tell the story of the action on July 25th 1915, when Hawker downed three enemy aircraft in one sortie and won the first Victoria Cross for his achievements. Before this point, aircraft had largely only been used for reconnaissance or bombing missions.
The film has been funded on a budget of £20,000, raised through a combination of grants from The Great War Aviation Society, other sponsors, and crowdfunding. As well as writing and directing the film, Daniel plays the role of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Burke and has built many of the sets himself, including the cockpits. Much of the flying footage was filmed using a replica Bristol Scout, owned and operated by David Bremner and Theo Willford to recreate the aircraft flown by David’s grandfather, Flt.Sub.Lt F.D.H. Bremner, in World War 1. For the filming, the replica aircraft was adapted with Hawker’s iconic side-mounted Lewis Gun, and the markings changed to match those employed by Hawker.
The project has been a labour of love for the last three years for film director and actor Daniel Arbon. The film uses a mix of replica aircraft, hand-built miniatures, life-size cockpits and CGI to tell the story of the action on July 25th 1915, when Hawker downed three enemy aircraft in one sortie and won the first Victoria Cross for his achievements. Before this point, aircraft had largely only been used for reconnaissance or bombing missions.
The film has been funded on a budget of £20,000, raised through a combination of grants from The Great War Aviation Society, other sponsors, and crowdfunding. As well as writing and directing the film, Daniel plays the role of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Burke and has built many of the sets himself, including the cockpits. Much of the flying footage was filmed using a replica Bristol Scout, owned and operated by David Bremner and Theo Willford to recreate the aircraft flown by David’s grandfather, Flt.Sub.Lt F.D.H. Bremner, in World War 1. For the filming, the replica aircraft was adapted with Hawker’s iconic side-mounted Lewis Gun, and the markings changed to match those employed by Hawker.
