11 of Our Favorite Pilots in Movies
They’re heroes. They protect us civilians. And they have some amazing skills up in the air. Pilots have always been a fascinating subject in movies. And while the stunts they generally pull in film are probably not the kinds of things that happen in real life, it’s pretty awesome to see in the theaters.
Whether it’s a dogfight, a mission to the middle east, or even landing a commercial airliner when no one else could do it, pilots play an extremely important role in the outcome of a film
Here are 10 awesome pilots in movies.
Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell – Top Gun
As “Jester” says, he “flies by the seat of his pants.” Taking out 3 fighters all by himself at the end was pretty badass. “That’s right Iceman, I am dangerous.” Plus he was a pretty good volleyball player.
Doug Masters – Iron Eagle
Pretty impressive that a guy who spent most of his time in a flight simulator was able to pull off a covert operation in the middle east and virtually take out an entire country by himself. Oh yeah, he’s just out of high school.
Han Solo – Star Wars Movies
You didn’t think I’d leave out the Captain of the Millennium Falcon did you? Han has got some serious skills riding around that clunk of junk.
Captain Dennis Dearborn – Memphis Belle
Going 24 missions in World War II without a scratch and then making it home after number 25 constitutes being a damned good pilot in my book. An underrated movie in my opinion.
Lt. Ted “Iceman” Kazansky
That he was able to survive that dogfight until Maverick got into the mix was pretty impressive. Plus you know Iceman, he’s “Ice Cold, no mistakes.” He wears you down man. One mistake and he’ll nail ya. Plus the guy does cool stuff with his hands.
Ted Striker – Airplane
Considering he hadn’t flown since his days with George Zip, to be able to successfully land a commercial airliner with instructions from a man he hated and no visual aids, is pretty impressive.
Charles “Chappy” Sinclair – Iron Eagle
Put it this way. He made it through all the Iron Eagle Movies. That’s gotta say something right?
Captain Steven Hiller – Independence Day
He was the only man to outrun and survive an attack from one of the alien fighter ships. Not only that, the very first time he flew one of their ships we was able to successfully escape an attack from multiple ships. Pretty damned good and pretty damned unrealistic.
Luke Skywalker – Star Wars Movies
Sure he used the force but how the hell else are you going to penetrate the Death Star?
Darth Vader – Star Wars Movies
I mean the man gave Luke his genetic skills. He’s gotta be mentioned.
Hannibal Lee
I couldn’t forget the Tuskegee Airmen. Hannibal Lee was a badass. Not only in name but he barely took a scratch the entire film
* Honorable mention to Viper from Top Gun but he only flew in practice so we couldn’t really see his skills. Also I have to give the nod to Topper Harley even though you only get to see him fly in Hot Shots and not the sequel.
…you can’t forget Randy Quaid in Independence Day
Hate to say it but you cant leave out Keenan Thompson in Snakes on a Plane. He trained on a Playstation!
How can you leave out Wash from Serenity? He’s a leaf on the wind…..
Man, you’re gonna have to knock this list up to a 20. off the top of my head you missed
Frank Murphy – Blue Thunder
Alex Rogan – The Last Starfighter.
and there’s got to be an honourable mention for that Riker guy who can steer a ship the size of the Enterprise with an Amiga joystick.
Where’s Macready from ‘The Thing’?
Good list, although when I first jumped I was certain I would find my favorite pilot of all time:
Lieutenant Farrow in Aliens – While her screen time was minimal, her impeccably steel-nerved professionalism both got the job done and practically created the archetypal bad ass space marine pilot – Halo and Starcraft being the most obvious tributes. Of course, Aliens forged and perfected the entire space marine scene to begin with, just another of the millions of reasons why its my #1 favorite movie!
I’m now going to search Unreality for Aliens related articles!
Where’s Wash (Firefly)? Where’s Starbuck (the hot chick) (BSG)?
Dude,
watch more movies. You missed so, so many. Battle of Britan, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, The Great Waldo Pepper… try going back further than 1978!
One word: WEDGE
He is way better pilot than Luke
st_riot
its Ferro, not Farrow.
Yes, I agree there should be 20!
Definitely Frank Murphy – Blue Thunder and Alex Rogan (good suggestions Thomas!!) but how about Lone Star – Spaceballs? And please, PUSSY GALORE “I’m a damn good pilot” (Goldfinger)!!
Sterling Hayden as Jack Ripper in Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
This list sucks
Ok, if you’re going to bring up the fictional stuff, don’t forget about Stringfellow hawke (not a movie, but still worth mentioning) of AIRWOLF, and one of the greatest icons in history. . . Howard Hughes of the Aviator. I think special note should be made of both the Aviator, and Tuskegee Airmen considering they are hisotrical recounts of real events and people (for the most part) It’s important to not only appreciate the action and dazzle factor, but also to dig a little deeper and understand what these people have done to change our lives generations later.
How could you forget Danny and Rafe from “Pearl Harbor”!!!!
Don’t forget Rod Taylor as Jack Savage in Fate is the Hunter.
And for now something completely different, there was Ted Striker (Robert Hays) who saved the day in Airplane!
Great list, but you missed a couple in my humble opinion. Jimmy Stewart in “Flight of the Phoenix” and James Garner in “Space Cowboys”. Just tap on the brakes a little bit…