High Flight 1957

A group of flight cadets arrive at RAF Cranwell to begin a three-year training course to become RAF pilots. Amongst them is Tony Winchester, Kenneth Haigh, who makes a memorable entrance by landing his civilian Taylorcraft Auster aircraft with his girlfriend aboard on the RAF runway, just ahead of a De Havilland Vampire jet trainer piloted by Wing Commander Rudge, Ray Milland.

During the Second World War, Winchester’s father had been Rudge’s commanding officer and was killed protecting him, at a moment when Rudge had disobeyed orders. Winchester is a difficult individual who harbors animosity towards Rudge over his father’s death. Another aspiring pilot is the scientifically minded Roger Endicott, Richard Bennett who is determined to create a working flying saucer. Endicott’s flying radio-controlled model develops difficulties and crashes into the middle of a Bishop’s tea party.

Winchester doesn’t learn the meaning of teamwork and is nearly killed when he disobeys orders, flying into a storm. Rudge demands his resignation but reconsiders, remembering his own rash behavior had been the cause of the death of Winchester’s father. Rudge ultimately selects Winchester to fly in a precision aerial team training for the Farnborough Airshow.

When the squadron is temporarily posted to a forward base in West Germany, Winchester flies close to hostile territory near the inner-German border and is nearly shot down by East German anti-aircraft guns firing across the border. The wounded airman and his stricken aircraft are rescued by Rudge, who brings him back safely to a crash landing at his home base. Finally, Winchester comes to understand his role in the RAF and that he is part of a team effort.