Disc Reviews

Airwolf Review

11th May 2014

In a word: AWESOME.

Having nostalgically reviewed a host of shows from the 80’s, Airwolf is one of the few that far and above exceeded my memories of it.

It all kicks off with a slick, synth-heavy intro with three faceless pilots, one brandishing the Airwolf insignia on his shoulder. The slow beat picks up as the blades whir and and the wheels lift off and finally we see the most bad-ass of war machines; Airwolf.

But what is Airwolf, you ask? Airwolf is an aerodynamic lifting body with a wind turbine driven motor system capable of flying up to 300 knots which can achieve Mach One up to 65,000 feet 9.6 seconds after take off it – but you’ll get the whole technical spiel in episode one.

Built by the Firm, Airwolf has been stolen by the sadistic Dr Moffat, its designer. Moffat takes Airwolf to Libya, where Gaddafi kindly gives him permission to attack any American target he chooses. The Firm decide to recruit Stringfellow Hawke to retrieve the Airwolf. Without giving too much away, he does, but refuses to return it until the Firm helps him to find his long lost brother. The Firm puts up with this hostage situation as long as Hawke completes certain military missions.

Jan-Michael Vincent plays the lead with a perfect coolness and Ernest Borgnine has some of the funniest lines as an exasperated father figure to Hawke. The writing is excellent and completely timeless. I have to say that the female roles are fairly nuanced roles (for and 80’s TV show). I genuinely can’t come up with any reasons that you shouldn’t pick this series up.