Movie History: Tulsa Overpass Involved In 1980s Film Where Plane, Helicopter Flew Under Set For Demolition

Many movies and TV shows have been filmed in Tulsa over the years, from The Outsiders to Killers of the Flower Moon. One movie released in 1985 shows a glimpse of Tulsa from a unique perspective.

People have been driving over the new overpass at Highway 169 and 244 interchanges for about a month now, but it's the old bridge it replaces that holds a bit of movie history you might not know about.

The movie was called Fandango, a 1985 college road trip flick starring Kevin Costner.

It takes place in Texas, but one scene shows a daredevil pilot flying over the Tulsa skyline.

As the pilot tries to escape a police helicopter in hot pursuit, he flies underneath a highway overpass. Yes, that's Highway 169 at 244.

"Obviously this would not happen today, I don't see this happening today at all," says Oklahoma Department of Transportation Spokesman T.J. Gerlach.

He was shocked to see such a crazy movie stunt take place on a state highway.

"They'd probably just CGI that today anyway."

He says ODOT does work with movie productions to facilitate scenes involving highways. An online forum for the movie says part of the reason this scene was shot in Tulsa is because Dallas authorities denied the request for such a crazy stunt.

"For something like this I can't imagine the highway would be open at all so it would definitely be shut down," he says.

Accomplishing this feat wasn't for the faint of heart, but some pilots love the thrill.

"Is it something we would do? No. Is it something we would do if we knew we wouldn't get caught? Maybe,” says pilot Carl Potter.

Potter has never flown for the movies, but he and his buddies at Haskell Airport were enthralled by the thrill ride.

"Here we go here's the loop, here he goes woah yeah baby."

Potter isn't sure how they pulled off the scene back in 1985, but he wants to keep on the good side of the FAA.

"The problem is if you did it, you wouldn't want to tell anybody because then you'd get in trouble, but if you did it you'd want to tell everyone that you did it," says Potter.

While Tulsa is losing a little piece of movie history, the scene lives on to entertain Oklahomans looking for a fun throwback to the city's past.

ODOT crews plan to start tearing down the old bridge this weekend.