Register

When Hollywood Takes Liberties with Aviation

Often when we go to the movies or watch television, flying becomes fiction.

A scene in an old television show that featured a V-tailed Beech Bonanza made the writer frustrated. [FLYING Archives]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Movies and fictional TV shows often misrepresent aviation, frequently defying aerodynamic principles, using mismatched stock footage, or creating unrealistic scenarios for comedic effect.
  • Reality television and news reports can also misrepresent aviation, either by sensationalizing routine events with dramatic editing and narration or by disseminating factually incorrect information due to a lack of expert knowledge.
See a mistake? Contact us.

“OH, NO WAY!”

If you are a pilot and you watch television shows or movies that feature aviation, chances are good this phrase comes out of your mouth from time to time. Very often Hollywood takes liberties with aviation. 

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE