I have so many idea brewing for promoting a show in my area. Redding California lacks magic entertainment. That is another story. As for a future idea to promote my show at a local theater, I thought it would be great to vanish a helicopter on the evening news or to include as a video feed in the show. Aside from being a magician, I am a Firefighter EMT on a small Bell 206 L-4 Longranger helicopter (basically a news-crew sized ship). I like the vanishes Lance Burton has done at the beginning of his TV specials; with the big metal doors and the bus driving through the paper, etc. What a great idea it would be to promote an upcoming show. Any ideas? Would love to hear what you've got!
Bryan- Gilles Galaxies Magical Productions

I have a method where you would land the helicopter in the middle of a stretch of deserted highway. No other people for miles. You get out of the helicopter, hold a curtain up between the camera and the copter, (yes you can see all around it at all times!) You remove the curtain and the helicopter is GONE!
The camera never moves during the vanish. Its one shot and never cuts away. No lazy-susans or any other way to manipulate the shot.
I originally intended this to be done with a car. Drive the car and stop in the median of the road. Get out and cover the car and it vanishes. But the method can be adapted to the helicopter.

Chad

Hi Chad,

I am interested in publicity illusions. How practical is your idea. Does it really have nothing to do with the camera?

Didn't Burton do something very similar with elephants? haha...

Hi Mindfreak,

Are you talking about the herd of elephants vanish? If so, is it the one that is advertised in the Owenmagic catalogue?