Ilminster filmmaker follows US Army Black Hawk helicopters

Louis Skupien recently spent several days embedded with Black Hawk crews at Los Alamitos Army Airfield in California, capturing both day and night flights and interviews with personnel.

He said: "For me personally, it was the fulfilment of a childhood fascination with aviation and military aircraft."

He said: "Across the project, I flew on four sorties, including a nine-ship Black Hawk formation flight; assault landing instruction and low-level flying around the peaks of Mount Antonio; a night vision goggle flight through low-level valley routes; and low-level coastal flying at approximately 20 feet above sea level."

Mr Skupien, who also hosts the TALK4 podcast, is beginning post-production and the full documentary will be released on his YouTube channel in the coming weeks.

He was given extensive access to crews, maintenance teams, and behind-the-scenes operations, offering a rare civilian perspective on one of the world’s most iconic military helicopters.

He said: "I spent time with aircrew and maintainers and conducted hours of interviews designed to capture not just the aircraft itself, but the people, professionalism, and preparation behind every mission."

The filmmaker praised the hospitality and professionalism of the US Army team throughout the project.

He said: "The team at Los Alamitos were exceptional throughout, professional, welcoming, and incredibly patient with the demands of filming in an operational military environment.

"I’ve got huge respect for everyone involved and genuine gratitude for the trust they placed in me to tell their story accurately and responsibly."

He also thanked those who helped secure the opportunity.

He said: "A significant thank you also goes to the National Guard Bureau and to the many people behind the scenes who helped connect the dots and make the project possible.

"As with all military aviation projects, this only happened through careful coordination, trust, and approval at multiple levels."