What is your favorite aviation movie?

one man's opinion...

[ken5050]

Well, the cable news networks are non stop with their coverage of the air crash in San Francisco. Looking at the pictures, it seems a miracle that the number of fatalities is so low. If there is one unintended consequence of this crash..at least we will be spared talk about Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman for the next few days. As the networks are talking aviation and nothing but, I thought it would be a slight diversion to discuss our favorite aviation themed movies.

[Gamecock]

Apollo 13
12 O’Clock High
Airplane
Flying Tigers

[PilotDave]

Most of them have been covered. I will throw 3 out that have not. 1. The original Star wars. The x wing fighter battles/millennium falcon scenes. Very good. 2. Threshold: A Blue Angels Experience. Narrated by Leslie Neilson. I wore out 2 vhs tapes when I was a lad and I provided my inspiration to fly the F-4 smoke and thunder phantom. Phantanstic. 3. For the serious aviation junky, a series of documentories called “Big Rocks and Long Props”. Simply jaw dropping mind boggling universe changing bush pilot flying. Start with the first, you’ll want the rest.

[Charles Martel]

I’m with you- The Right Stuff. It had its corny moments, but ALL of the stuff about Chuck Yeager was great! Best pilot of them all- and he didn’t qualify!

I love that film, even with its flaws. It's artistically done, a damned rare thing now -and in the 80s. The Sally Rand fan dance / NF-104A sequence is just about perfect.

It's a pity that John Glenn's presidential primary bid coincided with the film and detracted from it.

[redangus]

Flight of the Phoenix

[redangus]

Don’t remember the name, but Jimmy Stewart plays an engineer who is trying to determine why the tail has fallen off a commercial plane. And of course Midway and Top Gun.

[D_Idaho]

My vote goes hands down to “No Highway in the Sky.” James Stewart is marvelous as are Glynis Johns and the great Jack Hawkins. The engineering has a pretty significant role in this picture as well. Two Thumbs Up!

[exit82]

The one that affected me the most growing up was “A Wing and a Prayer” with Don Ameche,(1944) about the Battle of Midway.

[MacNaughton]

104 Looks like a B-17 shadow. Was the camera supposedly aboard it.

Aaahhh, a true fan ...

IMBD-Dr.Strangelove

The background footage for the model B-52 is filmed from a Boeing B-17G, whose shadow can be seen on the ground.

[fella]

I’ve scrolled through this whole thread and I can’t believe that there’s no mention of Howard Hughes’ “Hells Angles” with real WWI planes and pilots strutting their stuff. “Dawn Patrol” is pretty good too.

[redangus]

Great movie

[exit82]

See post 267—GMTA.

[motor_racer]

Fathom. Ok it was only one scene but it spun my adolescent mind right out!

[Boogieman]

So bad, it's good:

Also:

[mad_as_he$$]

“The Rocketeer”.

[laplata]

Yes, a very good movie.

[FortWorthPatriot]

Airport.

I have always loved that movie and will watch it anytime it comes on. Never really liked the sequels though.

[Intolerant in NJ]

Obviously, "Airplane!" comes to mind...I was surprised and amused this week to catch a film on TCM called "Zero Hour!" from 1958 and starring Dana Andrews - it is apparently the original version of "Airplane!", complete with a failed former WWII fighter pilot named Ted Stryker trying to land a crippled airliner, flashbacks of crashing planes from the War as he remembers his past, a stewardess sitting next to him in the cockpit to assist in the landing, and a former officer who knows his background trying to talk him down over the radio and observing at one point "I picked a terrible week to stop smoking" - this was actually a serious version from which "Airplane!" must have been parodied, but it sure was difficult not to laugh during some of the scenes which, while in complete earnest, nevertheless brought memories of the comedy bits in "Airplane!"........

[doublecansiter]

Fighter_Squadron.

Sorry_for_the_subscores.

Space_bar_is_not_working_tonight.

[doublecansiter]

Gebel?

I_remember_Ernest_Borgnine_asking_Hardy_Kruger_why
anybody_would_want_to_go_there?