Howard Hughes, Hollywood, and History. The Aviator had it all. An opportunity of a lifetime for Joe Bok quickly turns into a round the clock struggle to overcome technical challenges and shifting deadlines after a tragic fatal crash.
The team shifts from the XF-11 to the H1 Racer, but bad molds and defective parts from two negligent companies put the team's lives at stake and the project way behind schedule. Personalities begin to clash at the shop.
After pushing themselves through countless round the clock shifts, the H1 Racer is ready to go. Serious safety concerns cause Joe to decline to fly on set and a major fight happens. The team heads to El Mirage Dry Lake for the 1st flight.
California wildfires have burned most of the area around The Aviator film set and heavy smoke made things even worse. A superhuman effort will be required of Joe Bok's team to get the H1 Racer in the air before the deadline.
Joe's team is running 3 shifts at the shop and work on the super complex XF-11 is going at a frantic pace. The spruce goose is also being readied but there is physically not enough time in a day to complete the tremendous amount of work.
Joe's team is once again fighting against the clock. 40 hours with no-sleep is really wearing on several team members. Millions of dollars of equipment and thousands of hours of hard work are "on the line."
After a grueling and intense 10 day stretch, with only a few hours sleep each night, Joe's team is rushing to finish the Spruce Goose, Tempers flare as the contentious test flight in the Long Beach Harbor puts everything at risk.
After being pushed into a flight test when it clearly wasn't needed, the team returns to the shop and stay up all night to prep the Spruce Goose for it's next flights, a date with destiny and the The Aviator film cameras.
Joe receives a request for an encore performance from their XF-11. This time it will fly over the ocean at Catalina Island. Bad storms delay filming. Then technical problems, sabotage, and extended flight times take their toll on the team