FJ-2:
FJ-2 Capabilities - a 1953 USN training film featuring very good colour film of the XFJ-2s with NATC at Patuxent River. Especially noteworthy are extensive views of aircraft 755 fitted with wingtip camera pod and sporting white photo calibration marks.
FJ-2 Procedures - another 1953 USN training film, this time focussing on familiarisation and emergency procedures. XFJ-2s '754 and '755 are featured.
FJ-2 Carrier Ops - A short film showing a very early FJ-2 carrier handling exercise. The aircraft featured is natural metal with USMC markings. Again the film is in colour, but with no audio.
FJ-2 Procedures with audio extras - This is the above film, but with a modelling voice-over by James Duffy of rocket.aero. The narrative is well-researched and provides details and tips on the current state of FJ-Fury model kits.
FJ-3:
FJ-3 Ops - a non-audio colour film shot at Barber's Point, Hawaii in July 1959 and featuring the colourful FJ-3Ds of GMGRU-1.
FJ-4:
FJ-4 Briefing - A black and white aircraft recognition film with extensive in-flight footage of the Fury Four.
FJ-4 Weapons Testing - Colour non-audio film of VX-5 FJ-4Bs delivering a variety of weapons on the Edwards AFB ranges in 1959. There are also some very good shots of FJ-4s loaded with dummy nuclear 'shapes' performing LABS delivery manoeuvres.
Photos and More:
FJ-2 Photos
FJ-3 Photos
FJ-4 Photos
Supersonic Wind Tunnel Documentary - seemingly out of place here, this film details the construction of NAA's 16-inch supersonic wind tunnel. As author Duffy explains elsewhere, his quest to find FJ-1 footage was generally fruitless, and the only known moving pictures of the FJ-1 appear within this film, hence its inclusion.
Though there is a modelling aspect to this DVD, don’t be put off by thinking that it’s only aimed at that market. It is obvious that a lot of thought has gone into presenting you with good coverage of the Fury in all its incarnations, and this has been achieved with some success.
My only reservation is that the ‘Photos’ sections only contain stills from the various films on the DVD; it would have been nice to see some close-up detail shots, even if they are from preserved machines.
However, this minor criticism aside, I think this is a great addition to any enthusiast’s DVD library – especially as the Fury is such a neglected subtype. From start to finish, it exudes quality and is well worth the very reasonable price of $14.95 it costs in the US. My only hope now is that rocket.aero will go on to cover the F-86 variants individually. Just a dream? Let’s hope not. In the meantime, buy this DVD, sit back and enjoy something you won’t have seen before.
