The Phoenix was, in fact, a real cobbled-together plane that actually flew. The cockpit was very spartan, not fully functioning, was very shallow, and was located behind the radial engine, not inside it. There are many videos available that depict the structure and history of the Tallmantz P-1, as the plane was officially called, as well as videos that show the actual crash in which it was destroyed during a filming sequence for The Flight of the Phoenix. This resulted in the death of pilot Paul Mantz, who is eulogized at the end of the film. The aircraft had been built specifically for use in The Flight of the Phoenix.
'Ratbags' Crow:
Don't forget to put it down in your diary, how very, very nice it was at the party here until the booze ran out!
When Captain Harris is preparing to walk across the desert, he declares that he had better get going because it is almost dark. However, the length of his shadow indicates it is much closer to noon than it is to dusk.
Closing credits epilogue: IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED...
THAT PAUL MANTZ, A FINE MAN AND A BRILLIANT FLYER GAVE HIS LIFE IN THE MAKING OF THIS FILM...
English, Italian, Arabic
$5,355,000 (estimated)