The Invisible Pilot

My sorrow is for the kids, the parents were selfish and opportunistic. I find it absolutely amazed the parents feel so sorry for themselves. The mother could've left while the kids were young and given them a better life but she still was selfish as her no good ex-husband. I have no feeling towards the parents only their children.

The 1st episode introduces this guys life, and the characters in his life. Can't give away spoilers but its absolutely worth seeing the 2nd + 3rd episodes (the entire series is 3 episodes)...as he was involved in quite the scandal. Reviews based on only the first episode make 0 sense, as they haven't even seen 1/3rd of the story. It was really interesting, and anyone under a certain age probably doesn't know much about these incidences so it was very fascinating to see. The relationship to his family is also interesting and is the undercurrent to the series, but the stuff he is involved with is more in episodes 2+3 so they should be watched. Incomplete otherwise.

As Episode 1 of "The Invisible Pilot " (2022 release; 3 episodes of about 55 min each) opens, we are on "Hazen , Arkansas", and the voice -over reminds is that 'truth is stranger than fiction". We are introduced to Gary Betzner, who loves to fly small planes. We then go to "September 18, 1977" as Gary and his wife Sally and their 2 kids go for a drive. Gary stops the car on a tall bridge, and much to the shock of Sally, he jumps off the bridge to his certain death. Why did Gary do this? Was the Dixie mafia somehow involved? At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this documentary is the brainchild of Phil Lott ("Murder In the Heartland") and Ari Mark. Here they look back, 45 years after the facts, what happened on that fateful day in 1977 and, more importantly, why. While the film makers were able to unearth a lot of 8mm and other video footage from half a century ago, and get the apparent cooperation of Sally and the kids, now well into their forties, I nevertheless got the feeling that this story doesn't seem to merit 3 hours, and probably would've benefited from a tighter edit. Certainly Episode 1 feels a little thin. Not a lot of ground is covered. Am i intrigued enough to seek out the remaining 2 episodes? I'll probably give Episode 2 a shot and see where we go from here.

"The Invisible Pilot" premiered earlier this week on HBO Max, wit Episodes 2 and 3 coming in the next 2 weeks. If you are into documentaries where "the truth is stranger than fiction", I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Only one episode in and I'm ready for another one. I'm not familiar with this story but have family near Hazen, AR. Very familiar with the scenery and have an Uncle who is a crop duster in that county.

Positives: this is a fascinating story with a twist that makes you want the next episode to be available. It's interesting and they don't try to hide the trauma and mental struggles of the family members.

Negatives The editing of the footage could have been a higher production value. At one point, they display Hazen, Arkansas in a title, then a shot of the Hazen square. Then it pans to a shot if the Dickson Street Bookstore in Fayetteville, Arkansas which is over 3 hours from Hazen. I know that most people watching will just see a bookstore shot that they think is in Hazen. But having been to both places many times, those two towns are so different from each other, from people to politics.

Overall, very satisfying to watch and I look forward to the next episode. It's always fun to watch a good documentary with familiar scenery, from the Des Arc bridge to Pulaski Heights Middle School in Little Rock.

I won't spoil the details here if you haven't heard about this story before, just a couple of benign broad strokes.

Selfish and grandiose man justifies smuggling drugs, names players in government scandal, shows again how dirty our government is all the way to the top regardless of party affiliation by being involved in organized crime for money and self advancement...shocker. Oh and did I mention he abandoned his family in many nefarious ways? Ha. So, unless you're really young or had lived under a rock...we've seen it and heard this story for a lifetime, those before me, mine and yours.

To the pilot, wherever you are, you broke the law. You deserved jail time and to have to look at how your poor children suffered because of your abrupt and total abandonment. The mother of two is not innocent and no one in this was remorseful. I think they were confused about the MeToo movement...I'll clear it up...it doesn't mean, they got off scot free, so pardon me too.

For those who don't know a lot about the drug trades or the Iran-Contra political and humanitarian crimes, it helps fill in some interesting gaps which are referenced in many movies, documentaries, books, magazines and news reels.