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Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land

  • TV Movie
  • 19831983
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,523
374
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
  • Sci-Fi
  • Thriller
On the maiden flight of the first hypersonic commercial plane which can make the flight from New York City to London in four hours, a minor disaster occurs resulting in the plane actually le... Read allOn the maiden flight of the first hypersonic commercial plane which can make the flight from New York City to London in four hours, a minor disaster occurs resulting in the plane actually leaving the Earth's atmosphere and orbiting around the globe. A lack of heat-resistant tilin... Read allOn the maiden flight of the first hypersonic commercial plane which can make the flight from New York City to London in four hours, a minor disaster occurs resulting in the plane actually leaving the Earth's atmosphere and orbiting around the globe. A lack of heat-resistant tiling prevents the plane from simply re-entering the atmosphere. With oxygen (and therefore ti... Read all
IMDb RATING
4.7/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,523
374
  • Director
    • Jerry Jameson
  • Writers
    • Robert Malcolm Young(screenplay by)
    • Peter R. Brooke(story by)
    • Gene Warren(based on an idea by)
  • Stars
    • Lee Majors
    • Hal Linden
    • Lauren Hutton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jerry Jameson
  • Writers
    • Robert Malcolm Young(screenplay by)
    • Peter R. Brooke(story by)
    • Gene Warren(based on an idea by)
  • Stars
    • Lee Majors
    • Hal Linden
    • Lauren Hutton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 26User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos25

    Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
    Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
    Lee Majors in Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
    Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
    Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
    Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
    Lee Majors, Pat Corley, and Hal Linden in Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
    Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
    Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
    Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
    Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)
    Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lee Majors
    Lee Majors
    • Captain Cody Briggsas Captain Cody Briggs
    Hal Linden
    Hal Linden
    • Josh Gilliamas Josh Gilliam
    Lauren Hutton
    Lauren Hutton
    • Erica Hansenas Erica Hansen
    Ray Milland
    Ray Milland
    • Q. T. Thornwellas Q. T. Thornwell
    Gail Strickland
    Gail Strickland
    • Nancy Gilliamas Nancy Gilliam
    George DiCenzo
    George DiCenzo
    • Bowdishas Bowdish
    • (as George Di Cenzo)
    Tess Harper
    Tess Harper
    • Janet Briggsas Janet Briggs
    Terry Kiser
    Terry Kiser
    • Freddie Barrettas Freddie Barrett
    Heather McAdam
    Heather McAdam
    • Laurie Hansenas Laurie Hansen
    • (as Heather Mc Adam)
    Michael Sacks
    Michael Sacks
    • Peteas Pete
    Gary Bayer
    • Martinas Martin
    Pat Corley
    Pat Corley
    • Joe Pedowskias Joe Pedowski
    Robert Webber
    Robert Webber
    • Felixas Felix
    Jocelyn Brando
    Jocelyn Brando
    • Mrs. Harveyas Mrs. Harvey
    Diane Stilwell
    • Bettyas Betty
    Phil Coccioletti
    • Halas Hal
    Peter Jason
    Peter Jason
    • Schultieas Schultie
    Kirk Scott
    Kirk Scott
    • Delas Del
    • Director
      • Jerry Jameson
    • Writers
      • Robert Malcolm Young(screenplay by)
      • Peter R. Brooke(story by)
      • Gene Warren(based on an idea by) (uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    On the maiden flight of the first hypersonic commercial plane which can make the flight from New York City to London in four hours, a minor disaster occurs resulting in the plane actually leaving the Earth's atmosphere and orbiting around the globe. A lack of heat-resistant tiling prevents the plane from simply re-entering the atmosphere. With oxygen (and therefore time) running out, the crew of the plane and the crew on the ground must figure out a way to return the plane and its passengers to safety. —Afterburner <aburner@erols.com>
    • commercial air travel
    • passenger
    • oxygen
    • orbit
    • nasa
    • 25 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The first hypersonic flight turns into a terrifying nightmare...in space. [Australia Theatrical]
    • Genres
      • Sci-Fi
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The movie is loosely based on the novel "Orbit" by Thomas H. Block, from 1982. In the novel, a hypersonic plane on a cruise from New York City to Sydney exceeds its cruise altitude, due to sabotage by a revenge-seeking company engineer.
    • Goofs
      The footage of a rocket referred to as "Delta" is clearly that of the Saturn V moon rocket.
    • Quotes

      Joe Pedowski: You're gonna try to fly this thing back?

      Captain Cody Briggs: Joe, did you ever skip a flat rock across a lake and watch it skim and bounce along the surface? I wanna give reentry that kind of shot.

      Joe Pedowski: I have skipped a few rocks on a few lakes in my time and I never saw yet one that didn't sink. It's one chance in a million.

      Captain Cody Briggs: So was this accident.

      Joe Pedowski: I am scared out of my mind being up here inside this plane and you want me to go outside?

      [laughs nervously]

      Joe Pedowski: oh no!

      [pause]

      Joe Pedowski: I'll need a wire stripper and some wire nuts... and a dry pair of pants when I get back.

      Joe Pedowski: cannot unselect the speaker.

    • Crazy credits
      While the credits list the character played by Herbert Jefferson Jr. as 'Kenny', at 1:31:57 Capt Cody Briggs (Lee Majors) addresses the character as 'Benny', in conjunction with the subtitles. At 1:32:07 the character, and the subtitles clearly note the characters name as 'Benny'

    User reviews26

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Good TV Movie version of an Airport film
    The earlier reviewer who said that Starflight (or as my video copy is titled, Starflight One) should have been called Airport '83 hit the nail on the head. This is very much an Airport style disaster movie, albeit one with pretty decent effects (for a TV movie from 1983!) and a very original storyline. Its not great by any stretch of the imagination, but I found it to be a diverting way to spend 2 hours, and that is all I asked from it. I liked Lee Majors, and Hal Linden, but the rest of the cast was lacking. Dykstra's effects are very good for the most part, and I really enjoyed his model work and motion control shots -- very nice especially considering they were crafted for the small screen. If you like Airport and its sequels (as I do), then this hard to find TV movie is worth checking out.
    helpful•9
    3
    • nogimmicks
    • Mar 25, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 27, 1983 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Starflight One
    • Filming locations
      • Laird International Studio - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Orgolini-Nelson Productions
      • Orion Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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