10 Facts About The Iconic James Bond Film Gadgets
9. The Lethal "Little Nellie" - You Only Live Twice
Second to the DB5, this gyrocopter is possibly one of the most famous James Bond vehicles. Based on the real-life vehicle designed by Wing Commander Ken Wallis, production designer Ken Adam heard about the little yellow vehicle while listening to a radio interview with the commander.
Inspired by the technology, Ken Adams and Harry Saltzman asked Wallis for a test flight behind Pinewood Studios, and the rest is history. In the film, the deceiving little yellow gyro manages to take down four machinegun wielding helicopters and goes undetected while searching for missing Soviet Union space ships. Wallis's version wasn't equipped with the same machine guns, rocket launchers, flame guns or missiles, but it was definitely a major part of the inspiration.
During the filming, which took part in Spain, aerial cameraman Johnny Jordan had one of his legs severed while being suspended below a helicopter. The wind picked up while filming, directing him into the blades of a helicopter below him.
Despite the drama caused by Little Nellie, Wallis built a replica of Little Nellie for Planet Hollywood, which can now be seen on display in London. Don't be fooled by her appearance, for Little Nellie is a feisty fighting machine.