Jimmy Stewart’s experience with aircraft and the fact that he did this movie has always fascinated me. I think the characters he played after WWII had a harder edge to them than before the war. Dad liked all his movies but this was one of his favorites. It was one thing we completely agreed on as I grew up.
I’m a big fan of Stewart in “Strategic Air Command”, which was largely set in Tampa - my home town for 37 years before it went blue.
My favorite was Flight of the Phoenix with Richard Attenburough , not the remake though.