Striker [To camera, after being rejected by Elaine]
What a pisser.
Played by Robert Hays 
Airplane! (1980) · 61 quotes
Airplane! (1980) · 61 quotes
Most-quoted character in Airplane! (1980): in 14 of its 61 quotes
Most scenes with: Rumack (3), Elaine (3)
Hello! (...hello! ...hello!) Echo! (...echo! ...echo!)
[Stiffens] Pinch hitting... for Pedro Borbon... Manny Mota... Mota... Mota...!
I guess the foot's on the other hand now, isn't it, Kramer?
More lines from Striker
4 quotes Striker Striker [In voice over, with echo]
I've got to concentrate! (...concentrate ...concentrate) I've got to concentrate! (...concentrate ...concentrate)
Striker The oil pressure, I forgot to check the oil pressure. When Kramer hears about this, the shit's gonna hit the fan. [cut to a shot of shit hitting a fan in the airport control room]
Striker It was a rough place - the seediest dive on the wharf. Populated with every reject and cutthroat from Bombay to Calcutta. It's worse than Detroit.
Scenes with Striker
9 scenes Striker Surely you can't be serious?
I am serious. And don't call me Shirley.
Note: this exchange is ranked #79 in the American Film Institute's list of the top 100 movie quotations in American cinema.
Old Lady
Nervous?
Striker Yes.
Old Lady
First time?
Striker No, I've been nervous lots of times.
Striker My orders came through. My squadron ships out tomorrow, we're bombing the storage depots at Daiquiri at 18:00 hours. We're coming in from the North, below their radar.
When will you be back?
Striker I can't tell you that. It's classified.
What flying experience have you had?
Striker I flew single engine fighters in the Air Force, but this plane has four engines. It's an entirely different kind of flying... altogether.
All (Together)
"It's an entirely different kind of flying."
Kramer (Over radio): How's it handling?
Striker Sluggish, like a wet sponge.
Elaine (Dutifully relaying via radio to Kramer): Sluggish, like a wet sponge.
Striker (To Elaine): It's a damn good thing he doesn't know how much I hate his guts.
Elaine (Over radio): It's a damn good thing you don't know how much he hates your guts.
Ted! What are you doing here! You can't fly this plane!
Striker That's what I've been trying to tell these people!
Randy Excuse me sir, there's been a little problem in the cockpit...
Striker The cockpit...what is it?
Randy It's the little room in the front of the plane where the pilots sit, but that's not important right now.
You got a telegram from headquarters today.
Striker Headquarters? What is it?
Well, it's a big building where generals meet. But that's not important right now.
Striker (trying to keep the crashing plane under control)
Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!
Mayday? What the hell is that for?
Mayday? Why that's the Russian New Year. You know, we'll have a big parade, we'll serve hot hors d'oeuvre...
Striker Surely there must be something you can do.
I'm doing everything I can, and stop calling me Shirley.
