รักสยามเท่าฟ้า
THE THAI MOVIE "FIRST FLIGHT"

1911, the birth of Aviation in Siam. A time of innocence, where the Kingdom of Siam boldly leaped forward and started the first aviation program in Asia. A story where East meets West in the days of iron men and wooden airplanes. Thailand's King Rama VI sent 1,284 expeditionary forces (including 95 pilots) to France during WWI, thereby preserving Siam's independence after the war.  Based on actual events, a story of dreams and courage in the skies of Siam. "FIRST FLIGHT" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007

 

View the trailer for "First Flight"
 

 

MAKING THE MOVIE

"FIRST FLIGHT," the Thai Feature Film, began production in 2002. The film had approximately 3 different scripts, 5 different directors, 4 different producers, and 3 different titles. The poster for "First Flight" appeared at Cannes Film Festival for three consecutive years previous to May 2007, when the film finally premiered under the title "Rak Siam Tao Fah" (Love Siam as much as the sky). The completion of "First Flight" was a labor of love. This was the first Thai movie to use real aerials in the production of a film. Three scale models of the Breguet 14 were built and filmed against a blue screen to later be inserted in the aerials. The computer graphic team had never flown before; they were taken flying and given the controls of the plane, so that they could feel the movements that they would need to create with computer graphics. The film chronicles a remarkable period in Thai history when the first aircraft arrived in the Kingdom. Much of Southeast Asia was being colonized at the time by Britain (Burma, Malaysia), France (Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia), and Holland (Indonesia). When King Rama VI made the bold decision to support France in WWI with expeditionary forces and pilots from Siam, he preserved Siam's independence after the war. The film depicts a classical era in early Siam with a young farmer boy that has a dream to fly. It would be impossible for him to ever fly, but there is a Thai proverb "fan hai glei, pai hai teung" which means as far as you dream, you can go. Lieutenant Colonel Luang Kaj Yuthakarn is the founder of the aviation program. He invites his former instructor and flying ace Pierre Pupong from France to help him. Duong is a poor farmer with a dream, and the beautiful Malai makes it all that more interesting. It is a story of a meeting of two different cultures and how each adapts to the other, and in the end, it is a story of pride and remembering the early pioneering aviators in the Kingdom of Siam. "First Flight" premiered in Thailand on 31 January 2008 -- List of Film Credits.



"FIRST FLIGHT"

available on DVD with English subtitles

US$30

 

THAI AVIATION HISTORY


Prepared by Group Captain Sakpinit Promthep - sakpinit@hotmail.com

Breguet 14 at sunset on location in Pak Chong.The First Flight in Thailand
1911

The Société d’ Aviation d’ Extrème Orient, formed by Karl Offer, organized a flying demonstration by Belgian aviator, Charles van Den Born, in a Henri Farman IV biplane named “Wanda,”  from January 31 to February 6, 1911, at Sra Pathum Racecourse (presently the Royal Bangkok Sports Club). Extra demonstration was added on February 9, 1911, due to public demand.

The First Thai Aviators
1911-1913

Having the will to build a powerful military, His Majesty King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) envisioned the airplane as a means of defense as well as fostering a spirit of nationalism. The initiatives of His Royal Highness Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath and His Royal Highness Field Marshal Prince Nakorn Jaisri Suradej, the Minister of War, who had been on a military tour to Europe in 1911 and learned about military aviation in France, also confirmed the necessity for Thailand to have the airplane as a military tool. Thus, on January 18, 1912, the Ministry of War sent three officers to France. They were Major Luang Sakdi Sanlayawut (later Air Marshal Phraya Chalermakas), Captain Luang Arwut Sikikorn (later Group Captain Phraya Vehasayan Silapasit ) and Lieutenant Thip Ketuthat (later Group Captain Phraya Thayanpikart ). These three founders of Thai aviation are recognized as “ Founding Fathers of the Royal Thai Air Force.” While they were in training, the Ministry of War ordered four Nieuport monoplanes (Nieuport IIN and Nieuport IVG) and three Breguet biplanes (Breguet III) from France. Later, Chao Phraya Aphai Bhubet (Chum Aphaivong ) donated a fourth Breguet III to the Ministry of War, bringing the number to eight aircraft, comprising the first two aircraft in Thailand. The first three Thai pilots completed their training in August and returned to Thailand in November 1913. Sakdi received a military pilot's license #1090 and Arwut and Tip received civilian pilot's certificates from the Aero Club de France --
THE FIRST THREE THAI AVIATORS

The First Demonstration Flight
1913

In December 1913, the Ministry of War established the Aviation Section under the command of Field Marshal Prince Kamphaengphet Akhrayothin, Inspector General of the Royal Engineers at Sra Pathum Racecourse. The Aviation Section started with only eight aircraft and three pilots who served as mechanics as well. The three pilots conducted the first flying demonstration at Sra Pathum Racecourse, December 29 -30, 1913. On January 13, 1914, His Majesty King Vajiravudh presided over a demonstration flight. The three pilots had an audience with the King and proceeded to throw popped rice and flowers as a mark of honour and prosperity. His Majesty conferred upon Lieutenant Colonel Luang Sakdi Sanlayawut the Dushdi Mala Medal. This day has become National Aviation Day.

Pierre teaches Duang how to fly by using a bicycle and a wooden model airplane. The Road to Don Muang
1915

The Aviation Section was moved from a small and swampy Sra Pathum Racecourse to a higher ground area at Don Muang. The move to the new site began on March 5, 1915 and three days later, on March 8,1915, the three pilots touched down their airplanes on the newly constructed airfield at Don Muang for the first time. The move was completed on March 17, 1915 and the Aviation Section resumed operations at its new home. On March 27, 1915, the Aviation Section was organized as the Army Flying Corps. The Royal Thai Air Force celebrates this date as “ Air Force Memorial Day.” On May 24,1915, less than two months after the establishment of the Army Flying Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Phra Chalermakas successfully made the first flight – test in a Breguet Type III at an altitude of 300 feet. The airplane was built from local materials (except the engine) by the Engineering Section, with a performance equal to the purchased aircraft. This fulfilled the determination of Phra Chalermakas to “build our own airplanes.

Thailand in World War I
1917-1918

When the First World War broke out in Europe in 1914, Thailand adopted a policy of neutrality. However, on July 22, 1917, Thailand decided to declare war on the Central Powers and a Thai expeditionary force was sent to Europe. The participation in the war provided the opportunities for flying training. After returning to Thailand, this trained contingent became a valuable resource in the country‘s aviation development. On March 19, 1920, with the growth and expansion of Thai aviation, the status of the Army Flying Corps was raised to become “ The Aeronautical Department of the Army.” In World War I, Thailand sent a small expeditionary force consisting of 1,284 volunteers to France under the command of Major General Phya Pijaijarnrit (later promoted to Lieutenant General and known as Phya Devahastin) to serve with the British and French forces on the Western Front. Included was a contingent of the Army Air Corps. The Thais arrived in 1918 and the air personnel began training at the French Army Flying Schools at Avord and Istres. Over 95 men qualified as pilots and some were sent to Bomber School at Le Crotoy, Reconnaissance School at Chapelle-la-Reine, Gunnery School at Biscarosse, and to Fighter Conversion Courses at Piox -- THAI PILOTS in World War I
 

 

Article SKY OF DREAMS (Nation Newspaper)
Take a look Behind the Scenes
Interview with one of the actors (in Thai)
First Flight - Thai version

The long journey of RS Production making "First Flight"

First Flight - Poster 1


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