Corrected entry: When attempting to start the engine of the rebuilt plane, the propeller simply rolls to a lazy stop instead of a "lumpy" kind of stop then rocking back and forth a little like in a real aeroplance engine.
Corrected entry: In many scenes of the interior of the original aeroplane, in Flight of the Phoenix, up to three fire extinguishers can be seen. These are red fire extinguishers and would therefore have contained water. One of the main issues in the film is the lack of water; it seems strange that no one takes advantage of this source of water.
Correction: With regard to the contents of the extinguisher of the period the operation is by use of a striker at the top breaking an acid filled glass vial, this mixes with the water, which is already laced with bicarbonate of soda. The fizzy reaction produces the gas pressure to drive it. You wouldn't want to drink a lot of water with sodium bicarbonate in it, that would just add to your thirst.
Corrected entry: In the scene where the Phoenix is finally taking off you can see wheels mounted in the skis, even though it was established earlier in the film that the only way to build take-off and landing gear for the plane was with sand skis.
Correction: Not really a goof.True it is mentioned in the film that the "Phoenix" will be able to take off from the ground with skis, but it was meant that a "skit cradle" would have to be built around the wheels. If you observe the scene during where the men are pulling the left boom apart from the main fuselage, the undercarriage seems to be already designed with integrated tire within the ski itself. Sort of a "snowshoe" invention to help glide in deep sand and at the same time hard ground.
Corrected entry: Unfortunately the whole premise of this film is flawed. You can't cut a twin engined aeroplane up and make a single-engined one out of the pieces. The torque from the second engine prevents the first from flipping the whole aircraft over, as there is no 'axis' through which to rotate. (If one engine fails, the torque from the first can become a big problem.) Without this compensating effect the Phoenix would simply flip upside down and crash as soon as the undercarriage left the ground. Single engined aircraft like the Mustang or the Spitfire have carefully weighted wings to balance the torque of the engine in flight - twin engined aircraft like the Fairchild C82 in this film have no such requirements. The stripped down, rebuilt 'Phoenix' would have no such protection and would roll as soon as it took off.
Correction: The author of the "mistake" knows nothing about aerodynamics. The "weight of the wings" has NOTHING to do with the stability of an aircraft, which the designer of flying model airplanes would know far better than a designer of full-sized aircraft. As in the movie, a model aircraft engineer has to design for a pilot-less super-stable aircraft. I'm an ex-USAF C-130 pilot of Viet Nam era and the "Beast" is much easier to fly than a 1/4th scale R/C Super Cub.
Actually full sized aircraft designers know just as well that the stability of the aircraft has nothing to with the weight of the wing. Otherwise they wouldn't be full sized aircraft designers. And just because you're an ex USAF C-130 pilot or vet doesn't mean you would know how aerodynamics works.
I think the dialogue in the movie covers all these issues: big engine, small airplane, good but untested design, and it comes down to the skill of the pilot to get it up and keep it flying.
Also, full sized aircraft designers have a superior knowledge about aircraft to model aircraft designers, and pilots. They have information about aircraft that even experienced model aircraft designers, and pilots are not familiar with.
Correction: A real aeroplane engine was used thoughout the film.