Air America (film)

Air America is a 1990 American action comedy film directed by Roger Spottiswoode, starring Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. as Air America pilots, during the Vietnam War, flying missions in Laos. When the protagonists discover their aircraft is being used by other government agents to smuggle heroin, they must avoid being framed as the drugsmugglers.

Unemployed and unable to find work, Billy takes the job. In Laos, he is introduced to Air Americas unorthodox pilots and aircraft, being taken under the wing of Gene Ryack Mel Gibson, a cynical and eccentric pilot and an arms dealer who uses official flights to buy black market weapons for his private cache. His dream, which he refers to as his retirement plan, is to make a sale big enough so that he can afford to quit his job at Air America.The next day, Senator Davenport Lane Smith arrives in Laos on a fact finding mission to determine if Washington, D.C. rumors are true about Air Americas drug smuggling business. Major Lemond Ken Jenkins and Rob Diehl David Marshall Grant, CIA leaders of Air America, have a coverup in place. Senator Davenport is shown around refugee camps, shrines, temples, and major cities in a careful deception to keep him out of the loop. At the same time, while airdropping livestock into rural villages in their C123 cargo aircraft, Billy and Jack Neely Art LaFleur are shot down. The Air America rescue effort turns out to be nothing but a cover for the transport of opium. When the Pilatus PC6 of General Soong Burt Kwouk arrives at the crash site, his soldiers load bags of opium on board, but leave Billy and Jack behind with Communist forces moving in. Gene and another pilot arrive and while he boards Genes helicopter, Billys crew escapes in the other aircraft. ........

Source: Wikipedia