World on Fire

(intense music) - It's going to get a little bumpy, sir.

- That's rather the point, isn't it?

Every time I survive, they give me a more dangerous job.

- [Voice Over Radio] Good luck, David.

(plane engine whirring) - [Gregg] Hello, hello, back again.

Back again.

- I wanted to go up, put the camera on the plane, and shoot the show, but I couldn't actually fly.

So that was a lot of imagination.

But I did do a lot of research.

I've sat in a Cherokee cockpit.

I have also been in helicopters and things like that.

So I love aviation.

I watched "Top Gun" before I came onto this production.

In fact, I watched it twice, 'caus it's so good.

I've been told that we're not doing it like they did.

I think their budgets were a little bit bigger, and Tom Cruise decides what he wants to do.

Whereas here, I don't really have that luxury in my career yet.

So I guess we're doing a lot on green screen.

- [David] Mission accomplished.

(intense music continues) (plane clanking) (David breathing deeply) (plane whirring) - During the missions, it's a matter of life and death.

So while David's up in the air, he crashes.

(plane clanking) (David breathing heavily) (dramatic music) (David gasping) (plane thumping) - He lands in a field, has to hide out from those who are patrolling.

Thankfully, the internet now has people's personal stories about what it felt like during that time.

As an actor, thankfully, we're now just acting, but having the knowledge definitely helps you put yourself into that mindset.

And I take my hat off, obviously, and respect so much all the pilots back in the day.

Because what they did to go up into the air and fight for your country, it's pretty remarkable.

(dramatic music continues)