Red Hats

When the CIA covertly acquires a state-of-the-art Russian stealth fighter jet, only one American pilot has the skills to fly it – CHRIS “UTAH” WILKES (20s). SLADE, a shadowy CIA agent travels to Kandahar, Afghanistan, recruits UTAH from his Air Force squadron and takes him to Las Vegas, Nevada. There, Utah meets his mission mate, DYLAN “SMOKE” McCOY (40s), as well as sexy Vegas nurse, MICHELLE DUNLOP (20s). The next day, Utah and Smoke catch a JANET flight out of McCarren Airport and disappear into the Nevada desert- arriving at the world-renowned but equally mysterious AREA 51, the most famous secret airbase in the world. While there’s instant attraction between Utah and Michelle, nothing’s as gorgeous as the Russian jet- dubbed “The Spectre” by the crews who study her- housed in a secure hangar. Utah learns the secrets of the “RED HATS”, a group of pilots who flew captured enemy aircraft during the Cold War. With the acquisition of the new Russian Spectre, the RED HATS are back in business. Utah learns their mission: to take out a facility which is ramping up production of nuclear weapons for Iran. It’s a “false flag” operation. Utah will misdirect- making sure the Communist Russian Spectre is deliberately seen- while Smoke flies in and drops the bombs with another stealth U.S. aircraft. They only have a few days to get to know each other and the Spectre, so Utah and Smoke run test missions over the desert. Utah is briefed by COLONEL SHELDON KECK (50s), who warns him that his predecessor, GALLAGHER, went rogue, accepting a bribe from Russian agents who suspect the Americans have the plane (but cannot admit it to the world) to sabotage the project. He warns Utah the Russians might try to get to him too. Back in Vegas, Smoke and Utah meet Michelle at a rooftop bar. Smoke wonders if Michelle could be a plant, but it’s Gallagher that corners Utah in a private hallway at gunpoint, insisting he’s been framed. He can’t come forward, but Utah still has a chance to get out and Gallagher gives him a number to call when he’s ready. Gallagher escapes, but the pilots still have their mission and they continue to run test flights – until the Spectre’s engines flame out. Utah’s orders are to bring the plane back in one piece at all costs and he pilots it, on fire, without engines, getting the landing gear down just in time. No one knows whether faulty Russian parts are to blame or if Utah has been sabotaged. Michelle and Utah spend a romantic day together. When he leaves the next morning, Michelle reports his whereabouts; she’s not who she seems. Meanwhile, Smoke gets his own stealth jet – the new super secret “Vampire” – and the guys set out for a weapons test. Back with Michelle, Utah discovers her deception; she has a camera loaded with surveillance pictures of him. He storms out. He reports to Keck and Slade, who inform him the mission profile has been changed- he’ll be flying alone and dropping the bombs himself from the Spectre. And if he fails, there will be no rescue mission. Smoke is outraged at the change- Utah is being hung out to dry- but Slade and Keck stand firm. The risk is too great of the new Vampire falling into enemy hands. Utah successfully infiltrates enemy airspace and drops his bombs, destroying the nuke plant. But as he leaves, a posse of 20 Russian jets give chase. Utah evades them, but now knows he was set up from the beginning. He calls Gallagher, but it’s Michelle that points a gun at them when they meet – she’s a federal agent who arrests Gallagher. Utah realizes it was Smoke who implicated Gallagher and set him (Utah) up to be captured by the Russians. Smoke wasn’t angry that Utah was being hung out to dry, he was angry at the change in plans-- he intended to steal the Vampire and defect to the Russians for a very large sum of money. Worse, Smoke is with the Vampire, transporting it back to Lockheed aboard a C5-A Galaxy, the largest cargo plane in the world. Utah knows the Vampire can’t be allowed to fall into Russian hands. He jumps back in the Spectre, and gives chase. Aboard the C5, Smoke opens the cargo door and commandeers the Vampire. He guns the engine and taxis the plane out the back of the lumbering transport. He drops safely away, and turns the Vampire west toward the Pacific Ocean. Utah races across the sky in pursuit. He comes under fire from the U.S. jets who mistake him for an enemy plane. He convinces them he’s a friendly. Utah and the U.S. jets are running on fumes when they finally catch up to Smoke. Utah tries to talk Smoke to the ground. Smoke will have none of it and shoots down the U.S. jets. He and Utah engage in a fierce air to air dogfight. With no missiles left, Utah sets the Spectre on a collision course and ejects. Smoke isn’t fast enough – he’s still in the Vampire as the planes collide in midair. Safely back at Area 51, with Michelle at his side, Utah joins the RED HATS squadron permanently. A look of awe crosses his face as he gets a look at his next new Top Secret ride.