Gene tries to rescue the United States Agency for International Development official in charge of the camp; however, she refuses to leave without the refugees. After some initial resistance, Gene dumps the weapons to make room for the refugees, blowing up the weapons cache to cover their escape. In the air, Gene and Billy come up with a scheme to sell the aircraft to give Gene his money back. Senator Davenport recognizes the setup for what it was, and the Senator threatens to reveal Lemond and Diehl's operation to Washington. Cast Mel Gibson as Gene Ryack Robert Downey Jr. as Billy Covington Nancy Travis as Corinne Landreaux Ken Jenkins as Major Donald Lemond (Based on Richard Secord) David Marshall Grant as Robert Diehl (Based on Jerry Daniels) Lane Smith as Senator Davenport (Based on Senator Stuart Symington) Art LaFleur as Jack Neely Ned Eisenberg as Nick Pirelli Marshall Bell as O.V. David Bowe as Saunders Burt Kwouk as General Lu Soong (Based on General Vang Pao) Tim Thomerson as Babo Harvey Jason as Nino Production Development Director Richard Rush tried to develop the film in 1985, as the first comedy about Vietnam. Carolco Pictures bought the project as Rush wrote a script and found locations. Sean Connery was attached to play the older pilot, Gene Ryack, and the younger flier Billy Covington was at different times to be played by Bill Murray, James Belushi and Kevin Costner. The project was sold to producer Daniel Melnick after Connery and Costner became too expensive. Melnick hired screenwriter John Eskow to write a new script; and first hired director Bob Rafelson to work with Rush, but eventually hiring director Roger Spottiswoode. Mel Gibson was cast for a reported $7 million, for the role of Ryack, and Robert Downey Jr. took on the role of Covington. Nancy Travis was cast as Corinne Landroaux, replacing Ally Sheedy, and Michael Dudikoff was cast as General Lee. Filming The budget of Air America increased to $35 million as the production involved a 500-member crew shooting in 49 different locations between Thailand, London, and Los Angeles; operating between eight and fifteen cameras at a time. Principal photography began on October 3, 1989, and continued until February 10, 1990. The production was plagued by two earthquakes and a typhoon. The producers rented 26 aircraft from the Thai military, although some of the stunt flyers refused to perform some of