Matte World Digital was called upon to create an establishing shot of an Airforce Base at night. The Airforce was reluctant to allow the production to shoot at an actual Airforce Base since they were uncomfortable with the film's premise that featured a crackpot pilot holding cities ransom with nuclear devices.

The airbase was pieced together from elements photographed in VistaVision, such as this B-52 from the aircraft museum.

The final composite with a digital matte and CG F-15 in the background, taxiing across the tarmac.