The Air Circus (1928)

Buddy Blake and Speed Doolittle set out for the Pacific School of Aviation with all the confidence of youth. Along the way they meet Sue Manning, a pretty aviatrix whose brother is a flight instructor. Once at the school, the boys lose their conceit and set about learning to fly. On his first solo flight, however, Buddy is suddenly gripped with fear and almost kills himself and his instructor. Buddy despairs of becoming an aviator, and his mother comes to comfort him. When Sue and Speed take off in an airplane with defective landing gear, Buddy overcomes his fear and pilots another airplane to warn his friends.