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Fighting On Film - The War Movie Podcast!

Fighting On Film - The War Movie Podcast!

Firebirds (1990)

Sep 9, 2026 · 43 min · 20 segments

Zip up your SRU vests and prepare for take off! This week the boys cover 1990s Firebirds, staring Nicolas Cage and Tommy Lee Jones. For some Apache Helicopter action, is the film just a Top gun knock…

Zip up your SRU vests and prepare for take off! This week the boys cover 1990s Firebirds, staring Nicolas Cage and Tommy Lee Jones. For some Apache Helicopter action, is the film just a Top gun knock off or does it offer something more? Check out our website for more - www.fightingonfilm.com We are thrilled to partner with www.warfaremedia.net, who have an incredible range of Cold War posters! Use the code 'FoF20' at checkout for a huge 20% discount. Don't miss out. Support Fighting On Film via Patreon and get a range of thank you perks! - www.patreon.com/fightingonfilm * * * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zip up your SRU vests and prepare for take off! This week the boys cover 1990s Firebirds, staring Nicolas Cage and Tommy Lee Jones. For some Apache Helicopter action, is the film just a Top gun knock…

Speakers: Matthew MossHostRobbie McGuireHost

Top entities: Dale Dye×38 Boeing AH-64 Apache×21 Fire Birds×20 Top Gun×14 David Green×4

The Cast and Its Oddities3:23 – 10:12

M

Matthew MossHost

3:23

So they do that in a film with the help of Dale Dye.

R

Robbie McGuireHost

3:26

Oh, yeah.

R

Robbie McGuireHost

3:27

And Matt, you're on cast, so please regale us.

M

Matthew MossHost

3:30

I am.

M

Matthew MossHost

3:30

As I mentioned, it's a Nick Cage vehicle.

M

Matthew MossHost

3:32

This is Ailey Cage.

M

Matthew MossHost

3:35

He plays Chief Warrant Officer Jake Preston, who is a helicopter pilot.

M

Matthew MossHost

3:42

He's introduced as a Cobra pilot, and then he transfers across to Apaches.

M

Matthew MossHost

3:47

And as I say, this is Ailey Cage, so he's coming off the back of things like Raising Arizona and Vampire's Kiss, but he hasn't quite got to the Oscar win at...

M

Matthew MossHost

4:00

Leaving Las Vegas yet.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:01

Not quite there.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:03

But he's on The Ascendance.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:06

And of course, we know him on the show for such delights as The Rock, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Windtalkers, which we famously loved.

R

Robbie McGuireHost

4:15

Heck

M

Matthew MossHost

4:15

yeah.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:16

Lord of War, 2005, which we do love, and apparently he's doing a sequel to.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:19

Incredible.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:21

And Indianapolis Men of Courage, 2016.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:23

I haven't seen it, but I believe it has sharks in it.

R

Robbie McGuireHost

4:26

oh no I'm alright you would

M

Matthew MossHost

4:28

have watched it no no

R

Robbie McGuireHost

4:29

no I think he's one of the few actors where he's probably done every genre at this point

M

Matthew MossHost

4:35

He is taking phenomenal bags.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:37

He's just going, yeah,

R

Robbie McGuireHost

4:38

I'll do it.

Dale DyePersonAmerican actor and technical advisor
99%38 mentions
Boeing AH-64 ApacheEntityAttack helicopter
98%21 mentions
Fire BirdsMovie1990 film
97%20 mentions
Top GunMovie1986 film
96%14 mentions
David GreenPersonBritish film director and television producer
95%4 mentions
United States ArmyCompanyArmed forces
94%6 mentions
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
93%8 mentions
Grow TherapyCompanyCompany
92%7 mentions
Back to the Future Part IIIMovie1990 film
91%3 mentions
Sean YoungPersonAmerican actress
90%7 mentions
Nicolas CagePersonAmerican actor and film producer
89%11 mentions
Tony ImiPersonBritish cinematographer
88%2 mentions
Progressive CorporationCompanyInsurance company
87%7 mentions
Drug Enforcement AdministrationGovernment OrganizationFederal agency
86%6 mentions
Val KilmerPersonAmerican actor
85%2 mentions
Captain Corelli's MandolinMovie2001 film
84%1 mention
Lord of WarMovie2005 film
83%1 mention
AcastCompanyAdvertising agency company
82%12 mentions
Tommy Lee JonesPersonAmerican actor and film director
81%16 mentions
PatreonCompanyCompany
79%4 mentions
Cold WarEventWar
78%1 mention
Vickers machine gunEntity
77%4 mentions
Ad CouncilCompanyNonprofit organization
76%2 mentions
EpisodeEntity
75%2 mentions
ArizonaAdministrative AreaUS state
74%2 mentions
National Guard of the United StatesOrganizationArmed forces
73%3 mentions
Gulf WarEventArmed conflict
72%3 mentions
MS-DOSSoftware ApplicationOperating system
71%2 mentions
KiowaEntityNative American tribe
69%1 mention
McDonnell Douglas MD 500 DefenderEntityAircraft model
69%1 mention
NikeCompanyFootwear company
68%1 mention
Total RecallMovie1990 film
67%2 mentions
HumveeEntityCar model
66%1 mention
VietnamCountryCountry in Asia
65%1 mention
TexasAdministrative AreaUS state
64%2 mentions
FIM-92 StingerProduct Model
63%3 mentions
Gunship 2000EntityVideo game
62%3 mentions
GodEntitySupreme being
61%2 mentions
pornographic filmEntityTV category
59%1 mention
Raising ArizonaMovie1987 film
58%1 mention
Leaving Las VegasMovie1995 film
57%1 mention
The RockMovie1996 film
56%1 mention
LetterboxdSoftware ApplicationSocial network
55%1 mention
USS Indianapolis: Men of CourageMovie2016 film
54%1 mention
Phil CollinsPersonSinger
53%1 mention
Vampire's KissMovie1988 film
52%1 mention
WindtalkersMovie2002 film
51%1 mention
Pima Community CollegeEntityCollege in Tucson, Arizona
50%1 mention
Paul GreengrassPersonFilmmaker and former journalist
49%2 mentions
Saving Private RyanMovie1998 film
48%1 mention

Film GenresEntertainment > Film
Military TrainingMilitary > Military Aviation > Helicopters > Apache Helicopters
Audience ReceptionEntertainment > Film > Film Criticism > Film Reviews
Film ProductionEntertainment > Film
Film ReceptionEntertainment > Film > Film Production > Film Cast
Film CriticismEntertainment > Film
Military AviationMilitary
Career HighlightsEntertainment > Film > Actors > Nicolas Cage
Action FilmsEntertainment > Film > Film Genres
Military Action FilmsEntertainment > Film > Film Genres > Action Films
Film CastEntertainment > Film > Film Production
Apache HelicoptersMilitary > Military Aviation > Helicopters
Film ReviewsEntertainment > Film > Film Criticism
ActorsEntertainment > Film
Entertainment
Military
FilmEntertainment
Nicolas CageEntertainment > Film > Actors
HelicoptersMilitary > Military Aviation

The Cast and Its Oddities3:23 – 10:12

M

Matthew MossHost

3:23

So they do that in a film with the help of Dale Dye.

R

Robbie McGuireHost

3:26

Oh, yeah.

R

Robbie McGuireHost

3:27

And Matt, you're on cast, so please regale us.

M

Matthew MossHost

3:30

I am.

M

Matthew MossHost

3:30

As I mentioned, it's a Nick Cage vehicle.

M

Matthew MossHost

3:32

This is Ailey Cage.

M

Matthew MossHost

3:35

He plays Chief Warrant Officer Jake Preston, who is a helicopter pilot.

M

Matthew MossHost

3:42

He's introduced as a Cobra pilot, and then he transfers across to Apaches.

M

Matthew MossHost

3:47

And as I say, this is Ailey Cage, so he's coming off the back of things like Raising Arizona and Vampire's Kiss, but he hasn't quite got to the Oscar win at...

M

Matthew MossHost

4:00

Leaving Las Vegas yet.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:01

Not quite there.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:03

But he's on The Ascendance.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:06

And of course, we know him on the show for such delights as The Rock, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Windtalkers, which we famously loved.

R

Robbie McGuireHost

4:15

Heck

M

Matthew MossHost

4:15

yeah.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:16

Lord of War, 2005, which we do love, and apparently he's doing a sequel to.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:19

Incredible.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:21

And Indianapolis Men of Courage, 2016.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:23

I haven't seen it, but I believe it has sharks in it.

R

Robbie McGuireHost

4:26

oh no I'm alright you would

M

Matthew MossHost

4:28

have watched it no no

R

Robbie McGuireHost

4:29

no I think he's one of the few actors where he's probably done every genre at this point

M

Matthew MossHost

4:35

He is taking phenomenal bags.

M

Matthew MossHost

4:37

He's just going, yeah,

R

Robbie McGuireHost

4:38

I'll do it.

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