for a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II used to film the scene. Despite doubting it would work, Nelson Tyler spent two months developing two mounts for the camera helicopters, one to film forward-moving shots and another equipped with a camera dolly to film from the side, allowing smooth aerial shots. Remote-controlled devices were built to move the second mount. The helicopters were piloted by George Nolan, Chuck Phillips, and Adrian Brooks. Mounts were also made by Boeing for the Boeing 747, and on Art Scholl's "Super Chipmunk" aircraft, which was used to film front point-of-views. The mounts took weeks to test so the camera could stay intact without vibrating. The Navy donated helium for the opening scene's hot-air-balloon, thanks to the Blue Angels' presence in the film. Aerial work platforms were used to support the balloon basket and the camera; two platforms supported the basket as it moved in opposing directions to heighten the illusion of actual in-flight motion". Scenes with the real hot-air balloon flying were later shot from a helicopter in West Virginia. The hot-air balloon itself was decorated with 13 American flags, the number of states in the US during the period, sewn by a vexillography shop. To create a scene in which a Sierra Railway 3 locomotive seemingly hits the camera, the film crew placed a mirror at the end of the track then pointed the wide-angle camera sideways to image the mirror for a symmetrical view of the rail as the locomotive approached and shattered the screen. For close-ups of the pilots "flying" the aircraft, the illusion was made by filming with the sky in the background while the aircraft's engines rev and the camera moves in and out of a "rough" dolly. Bob Wills flew a hang glider along the coastline of Kauai, one of the scenes Collins and Zisfein suggested. Various kinds of transportation were used. In one scene, a stagecoach races with the locomotive; the previous scene includes a Conestoga wagon. The airborne Boeing 747 scene was filmed from a 737 that Boeing donated. Frank Tallman flew a Curtiss Model D airplane for the mechanical flight sequence. A Ford Flivver was used in a segue between the car and the mechanical flight scene: it begins with a shot pointing towards the ground and accelerating; audiences assumed this is the car but it takes off and flies above Coastal California. Other filming locations