Aurora: Operation Intercept
Encyclopedia
Aurora: Operation Intercept is a 1995 film directed by Paul Levine
and starring Bruce Payne
, Lance Henriksen
and John Stockwell
.
The "Aurora" is a secret hypersonic
military aircraft based at Groom Lake
. It is very similar to what aviation experts assume to be the Aurora aircraft
. In the film, it is being stolen by a Russian terrorist who tries to destroy the White House
. The propulsion system is a "combined cycle" conventional/scramjet
engine.
) believes that the U.S. government murdered her father (Curt Lowens
), a Soviet scientist and defector, and made it look like suicide.
Francesca sets up her own base in the deserts of Kazakhstan, wielding powerful electromagnetic pulses channelled though orbiting navigation satellites to attack and bring down civilian aircraft. She also captures the revolutionary high-altitude fighter-bomber Aurora One.
Summoned to strike back are Major Paul Gordon Pruitt (Bruce Payne
) and Major Andy Aldrich (John Stockwell
), who soar into action in Aurora Two. Forced down by Zaborszin, the pair are caught and tortured by her private army of sinister Slavs, but Pruitt escapes.
Eventually, things lead lead both Francesca and Pruitt to take to the skies in separate Auroras. She penetrates D.C. airspace to make a bombing run at the White House, but Pruitt's afterburners cause Francesca's jet to barrel roll and explode, killing Francesca.
Paul Levine
Paul Levine is an American author of crime fiction, particularly legal thrillers. His novels have been translated into 21 languages. He has written three series, known generally by the names of the protagonists: "Jake Lassiter," "Solomon and Lord," and “Jimmy Payne.”Lassiter, a Miami Dolphins...
and starring Bruce Payne
Bruce Payne
Bruce Martyn Payne is an award winning English character actor and producer and was a member of the 1980's Brit Pack. Although he is best known for his villainous roles, Bruce Payne has played characters across the spectrum...
, Lance Henriksen
Lance Henriksen
Lance James Henriksen is an American actor and artist best known to film and television audiences for his roles in science fiction, action, and horror films such as the Alien film franchise, and on television shows such as Millennium....
and John Stockwell
John Stockwell (actor)
John Stockwell is an American actor, director, producer, writer and former model.Stockwell was born John Stockwell Samuels IV in Galveston, Texas, the son of an attorney. His first feature film as an actor came in 1981's So Fine...
.
The "Aurora" is a secret hypersonic
Hypersonic
In aerodynamics, a hypersonic speed is one that is highly supersonic. Since the 1970s, the term has generally been assumed to refer to speeds of Mach 5 and above...
military aircraft based at Groom Lake
Groom Lake
Groom Lake is a salt flat in Nevada used for runways of the Nellis Bombing Range Test Site airport on the north of the Area 51 USAF military installation. The lake at elevation is ~ from north to south and from east to west at its widest point...
. It is very similar to what aviation experts assume to be the Aurora aircraft
Aurora aircraft
Aurora was a rumored mid-1980s American reconnaissance aircraft. There is no substantial evidence that it was ever built or flown and it has been termed a myth.The U.S. government has consistently denied such an aircraft was ever built...
. In the film, it is being stolen by a Russian terrorist who tries to destroy the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. The propulsion system is a "combined cycle" conventional/scramjet
Scramjet
A scramjet is a variant of a ramjet airbreathing jet engine in which combustion takes place in supersonic airflow...
engine.
Summary
Francesca Zaborszin (Natalya AndreychenkoNatalya Andreychenko
Natalya Andrejchenko is a popular Soviet actress of 1970s and 1980s. She is famous as the Russian Mary Poppins.Natalya made a decision to become an actress in early high school. After an unsuccessful attempt to get into the Schepkin Art School, she was admitted to the Gerasimov Institute of...
) believes that the U.S. government murdered her father (Curt Lowens
Curt Lowens
Curt Lowens is a German actor of the stage and films, and a survivor and resistant of the Holocaust.-Life and career:...
), a Soviet scientist and defector, and made it look like suicide.
Francesca sets up her own base in the deserts of Kazakhstan, wielding powerful electromagnetic pulses channelled though orbiting navigation satellites to attack and bring down civilian aircraft. She also captures the revolutionary high-altitude fighter-bomber Aurora One.
Summoned to strike back are Major Paul Gordon Pruitt (Bruce Payne
Bruce Payne
Bruce Martyn Payne is an award winning English character actor and producer and was a member of the 1980's Brit Pack. Although he is best known for his villainous roles, Bruce Payne has played characters across the spectrum...
) and Major Andy Aldrich (John Stockwell
John Stockwell
John R. Stockwell is a former CIA officer who became a critic of United States government policies after serving in the Agency for thirteen years serving seven tours of duty. After managing U.S...
), who soar into action in Aurora Two. Forced down by Zaborszin, the pair are caught and tortured by her private army of sinister Slavs, but Pruitt escapes.
Eventually, things lead lead both Francesca and Pruitt to take to the skies in separate Auroras. She penetrates D.C. airspace to make a bombing run at the White House, but Pruitt's afterburners cause Francesca's jet to barrel roll and explode, killing Francesca.
Cast
- Bruce PayneBruce PayneBruce Martyn Payne is an award winning English character actor and producer and was a member of the 1980's Brit Pack. Although he is best known for his villainous roles, Bruce Payne has played characters across the spectrum...
as Gordon Pruett - Natalya AndreychenkoNatalya AndreychenkoNatalya Andrejchenko is a popular Soviet actress of 1970s and 1980s. She is famous as the Russian Mary Poppins.Natalya made a decision to become an actress in early high school. After an unsuccessful attempt to get into the Schepkin Art School, she was admitted to the Gerasimov Institute of...
as Francesca Zaborszin - Lance HenriksenLance HenriksenLance James Henriksen is an American actor and artist best known to film and television audiences for his roles in science fiction, action, and horror films such as the Alien film franchise, and on television shows such as Millennium....
as William Stenghel - Corbin BernsenCorbin BernsenCorbin Dean Bernsen is an American actor and director, known for his work on television. He is best known for his roles as divorce attorney Arnold Becker on the NBC drama series L.A. Law, and as retired police detective Henry Spencer on the USA Network comedy-drama series Psych...
as Flight Engineer Murphy - Curt LowensCurt LowensCurt Lowens is a German actor of the stage and films, and a survivor and resistant of the Holocaust.-Life and career:...
as Dr. Zaborszin - John StockwellJohn StockwellJohn R. Stockwell is a former CIA officer who became a critic of United States government policies after serving in the Agency for thirteen years serving seven tours of duty. After managing U.S...
as Andy Aldrich - Michael Champion as Johann Wells
- Dennis ChristopherDennis ChristopherDennis Christopher is an American actor. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is known for playing Dave Stoller in Breaking Away and tragic film buff psychopath Eric Binford in Fade to Black....
as Victor Varenkov - Corinne BohrerCorinne BohrerCorinne Vilhelma Bohrer is an American movie and television actress.-Early life:She grew up in Arlington, Texas, a suburb of the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex area, where she attended Lamar High School. She was active in drama, band, and student government...
as Sharon Pruett