Air America
Air America is a 1990 American action comedy film directed by Roger Spottiswoode and starring Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. as Air America pilots flying missions in Laos during the Vietnam War. When the protagonists discover their aircraft is being used by government agents to smuggle heroin, they must avoid being framed as the drug-smugglers.
Plot
In late 1969, Billy Covington works as a helicopter traffic pilot for a Los Angeles radio station. When he breaks several safety regulations by flying too low, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration suspends his pilot's license. However, his skills, bravery and disregard for the law are noticed by a government agent, who tells Billy he can get his license back if he accepts a job in Laos, working for the "strictly civilian" company Air America. Air America turns out to be a front for CIA operations in Laos.
More details
author | John Eskow Richard Rush |
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contentLocation | Laos |
director | Roger Spottiswoode |
editor | John Bloom |
events | aviation Vietnam War |
genre | action adventure comedy |
keywords | arms dealer black market c-123 capture disillusion distress call drug trafficking fairchild c-123 provider federal aviation administration fly fuel gauge government agent kill kingdom of laos lao los angeles lose moving in pilatus pc-6 pilatus pc-6 porter radio station refugee camp retirement plan run away smuggle traffic united states agency for international development wash wife and child |
musicBy | Charles Gross |
producer | Daniel Melnick Mario Kassar |
productionCompany | Carolco Pictures |
publisher | TriStar Pictures |
recordedAt | Pinewood Studios Thailand |
theme | action comedy buddy comedy |