One of the best parts of EAA AirVenture is being surrounded by so many other individuals that share your interest in aviation. This is particularly true at the Fly-In Theater, which will be showing a series of classic aviation movies during the week.
If you’re sometimes compelled to yell at the screen to correct aviation mistakes or roar in approval, this is for you.
This year the Fly-In Theater is screening six aviation-centered movies from July 18-24. The theater is located next to the Camp Scholler campground. The movies are free with admission to AirVenture. The screen is five stories tall, so bring your own chair or a blanket for the best seat in the house and take advantage of the free popcorn.
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The films will be preceded by special guests who bring their own insights and expertise to what you’re about to watch.
Here’s the movie lineup:
Saturday, July 18: Top Gun
Can you believe it’s been 40 years since we were first introduced to Maverick and Goose and felt the need for speed? The movie inspired many to pursue careers in aviation and increased enlistments in the Navy by 300 percent. The special guest is Lieutenant Commander Lloyd “Bozo” Abel, the pilot who gave Tom Cruise his F-14 orientation.
Sunday, July 19: Flying Misfits
If you grew up in the 1970s, you may remember the television series Baa Baa Blacksheep. Flying Misfits is the pilot episode that launched the show. The series was a fictionalization of the experiences of U.S. Marine pilot Greg “Pappy” Boyington, who formed his own fighter squadron made up of misfits and colorful characters. The special guest is Stephen Chapis, the author of a new book about the series.
Monday, July 20: ‘A Tribute to Jimmy Stewart’
Jimmy Stewart, Hollywood leading man and accomplished military pilot, will be honored with a behind-the-scenes look at an upcoming biopic. This will be followed by a screening of the 1955 classic Strategic Air Command. Stewart plays a former B-29 pilot turned professional baseball player who is called back into the Air Force during the Cold War. He is assigned to fly the B-36, the long-range bomber known as “The Peacemaker” and later the B-47 Stratojet. The movie parallels Stewart’s real life as he remained in the Air Force Reserve at the conclusion of his service in World War II, retiring as brigadier general. Fun fact: He was qualified to fly the B-36 and B-47 in real life.
Tuesday, July 21: The Rescue
This documentary chronicles B-25 owner and pilot Larry Kelly’s trip to China to explore the sites where the pilots of the 1942 Doolittle Raid were forced to crash-land after their one-way mission to Japan. The Doolittle Raiders famously launched off the deck of the USS Hornet. The raid was done in retaliation for the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Thursday, July 23: Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Ethan Hunt, the main protagonist of the series, returns to face his toughest enemy yet, a terrifying AI known simply as “the Entity” that has taken over intelligence networks across the globe. Hunt and his new allies must try to stop it before it changes the world as we know it forever. This end-of-series finale has some intense Stearman flying that will have you on the edge of your seat. Airshow pilot Susan Dacy is the special guest who will talk about the high-performance flying scenes.
Friday, July 24: Memphis Belle
This 1990 feature film follows the crew of the B-17 Memphis Belle as they embark on the 25th and therefore final mission flying deep into German territory. According to the late Robert “Bob” Morgan, the pilot of the Memphis Belle, the movie is a fictionalized account of actual experiences of B-17 crews during the war. Special guests include producer Catherine Wyler, along with key cast and crew members.
The regular showtime for each movie is 8:30 p.m. CDT, except for July 20 and 24, which start at 8:15 p.m.
