The Invisible Pilot

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.

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.

One episode down and I'm hooked! Super crazy story that's even crazier because it's TRUE! If you like shows that blow your mind with lots of unexpected twist, then you need to watch TIP. I like how the show is edited, because It keeps you engaged. There wasn't one dull moment! Pleeeease HBO, are you really going to make us wait a whole week for the 2nd episode??? I can't wait!

Otherwise it will seem like a complete waste of time. Note to timeline: everybody in the south during the 70s had a story like this. My cousin disappeared in the gulf and the rumor was, for years, he was killed because he was working for the cia. The truth was more likely he went on a fishing trip, got drunk and fell off the boat. See, it only took a few secs to sum up his life, not 3 hrs. Honestly, I only made it thru half of the first episode before throwing in. First, the worst doc I've ever watched with the exception of the 'search for big foot in east la'. Just a whole lot of nothing and when they turned the camera on the childhood friend/so-called film maker that was it for me.

Second, the quick edits of a whole lot of artsy dramatic effects like a bad acid trip gave me a headache. But hey, what do I know, I don't like manga either. Third, as I said, it was a flashback to the 70s. And all the rumors swirling around; sometimes about family, sometimes about other people long forgotten. Personally, I think the heat and humidity of arkansas summers causes the brain to jellify. But hey, for those who are drinking the koolaid here, go watch clash of the ozarks, another hillbilly exploitation produced on gopro with mashups from the web.

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.