One of the most durable genres in cinema, the aviation film has captivated audiences for decades with tales of heroism, bravery and overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. Some of these movies have become national icons, achieving critical and commercial success when first released in cinemas and still attracting new audiences today.

But what are the stories that lie behind the production of these films? How did they come about? Where were they filmed? How did the production teams get access to all of the aircraft? And how were the special effects achieved?

In Planes on...