What are the airplane movies/t.v. series that you could watch over and over ? They can be based on historical accuracy, great flying scenes, great cast, favorite aircraft, or just plane fun to watch ? Were there any old t.v. shows that you wish they would bring back ? Are there any that you find so innacurate or ridiculous that you love slamming it ?
Here are mine :
Historical accuracy - Midway ( Charlton Heston )
Great flying scenes - Test Pilot ( Errol Flynn ) Oh ! Those yellow wings ! ! !
Great cast - The War Lover - ( Steve Mc Queen ) / 12 O’Clock High ( Gregory Peck )
Great aircraft - Black Sheep Squadron ( O.K.- they’re not the right variant, but . . . )
Fun to Watch - Air Force ( John Garfield )
Bring back the 12 O’Clock High T.V. series !
Fave to Slam - Flying Tigers ( John Wayne ) But I do love the real A.V.G. ! ! !
How could I leave out " Airplane " with Leslie Nielson ? I LOVE that movie ! ! !
So what’s yours ?
My movie would have to be Midway also. Its fantastic. It has been along time since I have seen it but Tora Tora Tora was decent also ( although if I remember correctly not very accurate). Honorable mention to Memphis Belle. Flying scenes would have to be Top Gun. Those 14s are just wicked aircraft. Television series, hard to say but the first one that comes to mind would be one back in the 80s. I cant remeber the name but Craig T Nelson was the star. Had some really great shots of an SR-71. My favorite one to pick on would have to be Top Gun also, it is just so cheesy 
God Bless
Dave
I can watch ‘Memphis Belle’ over and over again…in fact i bought the DVD to facilitate just such impromptu viewings…i love it!
‘1941’
Tanguy et Laverdure (a french series from the 70s, based upon a graphic novel, starring lots of Mirages…)
Battle of Britain
Airplane
And that absolutely great movie with the race between London and Paris at the beginning of the 20th Century… What is it called!? Can’t remember it now! I just loved the Japanese aviator in that movie!
Midway, Tora Tora Tora, Memphis Belle, Always, Black Sheep Squadron, Tuskegee Airmen, Top Gun and Pearl Harbor. Super Carrier was an “ok” show that road on the “coat-tails” of Top Gun.
The film was 'those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, starring James Fox, Sarah Miles, Tony Hancock, Terry Thomas, John leMesurier, eric Sykes.
It was produced by 20th Century Fox but, as far as I’m aware, has never been released on DVD [:(]
I would love to see somebody bring back the “12 'Clock High” series again.
If I’m flipping through the channels and “Top Gun” is on I can’t help but watch it even though I have it on tape and it’s pretty much just a cartoon. Same goes with “Memphis Belle”(nothing to do with the real "Belle’ and crew) and “12 O’Clock High”
“Flying Tigers” with John Wayne is just way too embarassing to watch. Will someone please make a good movie about the AVG?
“Black Sheep Squadron”- fun to watch as long as you remember that it in no way bears any resemblance to reality. It irritates me that the producers of the show portrayed VMF 214 as being made up of a bunch of guys who really belonged in some sort of correctional facility. But Boyington (so-called “technical advisor” to the show) himself was behind the perpetuation of that myth.
Dave, the series with Craig T.Nelson was called “Call To Glory”
My favorite aviatoin TV series were 1. The Whirlybirds 2. Airwolf. #. Chopper one 4. Black Sheep Squadron.
Lee
For me : " Tuskegee Airmen " in the movie category and for series The blacksheep squadron
“Two A-4s, left ten o’clock level, continue left turn.”
Ive watched Top Gun around 42 times already. Thats probably why Im sad to see the F-14 being replaced. The media has such an influence on an otherwise objective mind.
Though I’ve only watched it two or three times, I enjoy the Tom Selleck film " High Road To China ".
I like Tora Tara Tora the best then next to that Top Gun.
I love some of the classics like Tora, Tora, Tora, & Midway but Top Gun would have to top my list- it’s what got me (seriously) into modeling! I’m reliving my childhood right now by building Hasegawa’s 1/48th kit.
I’m also fond of the modern Pearl Harbor (AFLACK!), the battle scense are spectacular.
As far as TV series goes- The A-TEAM! And I pity the fool who disagrees!
Favorite Hollwierd movies:
12 O’CLOCK HIGH ( all-time favorite )
Battle of Britain
Bridges at Toko-Ri
Wing and a Prayer
The Dam Busters
Test Pilot
Dive Bomber
Always
Great Waldo Pepper
Air Force
Tora Tora Tora
The Hunters
The War Lover
Dawn Patrol
Reach for the Sky
Documetaries:
Thunderbolt (friend flew with the 57th FG)
Memphis Belle
Zemke’s Way
Thunderbolts - The Conquest of the Reich
TV shows:
Sky King
Whirlybirds
(showing my age with these two !)
Piece of Cake (TV miniseries - I enjoyed the book more)
Jim
I liked “Tora Tora Tora” much more than “Pearl Harbor”, none of them being very accurate. Few months ago I watched “Battle of Britain” - Merlin engined 109’s are so bizzare [:D]. I remember watching “Airwolf”, when I was a kid. Back then I was impressed by jet powered helicopter [:D]
Movie would have to be “Dark Blue World”. Its about CZhek pilots (spellIng?) who escape from their country and join the RAF to fight the Germans at the battle of britain. Best fight scenes and it has an intriguing plot.
TV show would have to be “BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON”
I’ve yet to see “Dark Blue World” but its been recomended to me by several folks who know I’m a wingnut, so eventually I’ll take a look at it.
I liked the Topgun film for the flying scenes alone, the acting was an atrocity and the plot line too thin.
For helicopters, I liked both the “Blue Thunder” film and series that followed it, generally I found the flight scenes in it to be more believable and with better continuity than in Airwolf (plus the Blue Thunder chopper just looked a heck of a lot meaner.)
I also liked “The Right Stuff” enough to watch it a few times over.
I liked “Top Gun” because of the F-14, even though Tom Cruise sucks…
Battle of Britain, Tora, Tora, Tora, Midway are movies I could watch over and over again.
cmtaylor, thanks for the reminder! What a great movie that was! I have it, somewhere on Video, but you are right, it’s not yet available on DVD…
A bit off the subject, but I also loved the Captain Scarlet puppet show. Those Angel Interceptors were out of this world…!