I thought I’d start an index of airplane movie threads. Rather than discuss individual films here, let’s post to their existing threads. If you start or find an airplane-movie thread, please post the link here.
Airport 1975 (1974)
The Aviator (2004)
The Battle Of Britain (1968)
The Dam Busters (1954)
The High And The Mighty (1954)
Islands In The Sky (1953)
Memphis Belle (1990) and Memphis Belle (1944)
633 Squadron(1964)
Spitfire (The First Of The Few) (1942)
12 O’Clock High (1949)
An airplane movie related question: Are the Hurricanes used in A Piece of Cake still around and flyable?
As competition for The High and the Mighty, here’s a real lemon.
This film is so bad, it deserves more ridicule.
That’s right, and don’t call him Shirley.
Airplane! (1980)
Airport 1975 (1974)
The Aviator (2004)
The Battle Of Britain (1968)
The Dam Busters (1954)
The High And The Mighty (1954)
Islands In The Sky (1953)
Memphis Belle (1990) and Memphis Belle (1944)
Panic In The Skies! (1996)
633 Squadron(1964)
Spitfire (The First Of The Few) (1942)
12 O’Clock High (1949)
I didn’t include Final Descent because the link is not to a thread.
Are there threads for Always (1989) or Top Gun (1986)? I wasn’t able to search for them. (‘Always’ is too common, ‘top gun’ words are too short.)
The planes in the Masterpiece Theater were Spitfires, not Hurricanes. The squadron in the book used Hurricanes.
I have seen restored Spitfires flying around, and I’m sure someone’s restored a Hurricane of two.
My favorite airplane movie right now is The Hunters , with Robert Mitchum. It’s about Korean War air combat.
There is some truly breathtaking footage of F-86 Sabres, one of my favorite planes. This is why one of the final flying scenes broke my heart (although I won’t spoil it here).
The film was made long enough ago that they couldn’t use real MiG-15’s for the enemies. If you look closely, you’ll see they dressed up some late model F-84’s (the kind with swept wings) as MiGs.
They also show an actual crash, but they couldn’t find any good footage of an F-86 going in. You’ll see them cut away to an F-100, which is destroyed spectacularly.
Very different from the book, but each are enjoyable in their own way.
Does 1941 qualify?, it´s about 1/3 an airplane movie anyway. The shots of the P-40 flying around a canyon are great, and the chase along Hollywood´s streets is something to remember.
"Major General Joseph W. Stillwell: Bombs! I don’t hear any bombs! Now they’re up there. They came all the way from Asia. Don’t you think they’d bring a few bombs along? " 
And John Belushi is a riot as a deranged pilot.
Aslo, I just seen Fly Away Home, its that a valid entry too?, if anything it shows the real beauty of flight, it´s very inspiring.
SDMB threads:
Airplane! (1980)
Airport 1975 (1974)
Always (1989)
The Aviator (2004)
The Battle Of Britain (1968)
The Dam Busters (1954)
Final Descent (1997)
The High And The Mighty (1954)
Islands In The Sky (1953)
Memphis Belle (1990) and Memphis Belle (1944)
Panic In The Skies! (1996)
633 Squadron(1964)
Snakes On A Plane (2006)
Spitfire (The First Of The Few) (1942)
Top Gun (1986)
12 O’Clock High (1949)