Aviation has always had a special relationship with cinema. Few subjects combine adventure, technology, danger, freedom, romance, military history and human courage as naturally as flying. From the pioneering pilots of the First World War to modern fighter jets, commercial airliners, test aircraft and emergency landings, aviation movies have produced some of Hollywood’s most memorable stories.
There is no single universally accepted list of the greatest aviation films. The National Air and Space Museum, for example, emphasizes the historical development of the aviation genre, while aviation organizations and specialist publications place greater emphasis on realism, aircraft, flying sequences and pilot culture.
The following selection brings together classic aviation films, military aviation movies, pilot dramas, disaster and survival films, aviation comedies, historical films and modern blockbusters.
1. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Glen Powell, Val Kilmer
Genre: Military aviation, action, drama
For many modern audiences, Top Gun: Maverick represents the spectacular revival of the aviation movie.
Tom Cruise returns as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, decades after the original Top Gun. Maverick is now an experienced test pilot who returns to the Top Gun program to train a new generation of naval aviators.
The film combines a personal story with some of the most elaborate aerial photography ever used in a mainstream aviation blockbuster. The production placed particular emphasis on filming inside and around real aircraft, including the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
The story also connects Maverick’s past with the next generation of pilots, particularly Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, the son of Maverick’s former radar-intercept officer Goose.
Why it stands out
- Extraordinary aerial photography
- Real military aircraft
- Strong connection to the original Top Gun
- Fighter-pilot culture
- Emotional character relationships
- Large-scale action sequences
- Modern sound and cinematography
The film became one of the defining aviation blockbusters of the 2020s and is frequently included near the top of contemporary aviation-movie lists.
2. The Right Stuff (1983)
Director: Philip Kaufman
Starring: Sam Shepard, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Dennis Quaid, Fred Ward
Genre: Historical drama, test pilots, early space program
The Right Stuff is one of the most important films in aviation cinema.
Based on Tom Wolfe’s book, the movie begins with American test pilots attempting to push aircraft beyond previously accepted limits. It then follows the development of the American space program and the Mercury astronauts.
Chuck Yeager and the test-pilot community are central to the film.
The movie is particularly interesting because it treats aviation not simply as an action spectacle but as a culture built around risk, competition, professionalism, courage and technological experimentation.
The National Air and Space Museum included it in its historical discussion of major American aviation films, describing it as a tribute to test pilot Chuck Yeager and the culture surrounding the early space age.
Why watch it?
If you are interested in:
- Test pilots
- Experimental aircraft
- The early U.S. space program
- Chuck Yeager
- Aviation history
- Pilot culture
- Cold War-era technology
then The Right Stuff is essential viewing.
3. Top Gun (1986)
Director: Tony Scott
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards
Genre: Military aviation, action, romance
The original Top Gun transformed fighter-pilot cinema.
Tom Cruise plays Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a talented but aggressive U.S. Navy fighter pilot selected to attend the elite Top Gun naval aviation school.
The movie combines:
- Fighter aircraft
- Carrier operations
- Air combat
- Competition
- Friendship
- Romance
- Personal tragedy
Its F-14 Tomcat sequences became iconic, and the movie had a major influence on popular perceptions of fighter pilots and naval aviation.
Aviation organizations have repeatedly highlighted Top Gun as one of the genre’s defining films.
4. Sully (2016)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney
Genre: Aviation drama, true story
Sully dramatizes the January 15, 2009 emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on New York’s Hudson River.
Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles were forced to respond after the Airbus A320 lost engine power shortly after takeoff following a bird strike.
The film concentrates not only on the emergency itself but also on the investigation afterward.
That distinction makes Sully different from many aviation disaster movies. Instead of presenting the entire story as an extended action sequence, it explores decision-making, cockpit procedures, investigation and professional responsibility.
The real Flight 1549 incident has become one of the best-known examples of successful emergency aviation decision-making.
5. Airplane! (1980)
Directors: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
Starring: Leslie Nielsen, Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty
Genre: Comedy, parody
Not every great aviation movie needs to take flying seriously.
Airplane! is one of the most famous aviation comedies ever made. It parodies the disaster movies that were enormously popular during the 1970s.
The plot involves a passenger aircraft facing an emergency while the characters around it descend into increasingly ridiculous situations.
Its humor includes:
- Aviation clichés
- Disaster-movie conventions
- Pilot stereotypes
- Airline announcements
- Airport culture
- Absurd visual jokes
- Deadpan comedy
AOPA and GE Aerospace have both highlighted Airplane! among important aviation films, particularly for its influence as a comedy and parody of the disaster genre.
6. The Aviator (2004)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly
Genre: Biography, aviation history, drama
The Aviator tells the story of Howard Hughes, the eccentric businessman, filmmaker, engineer and aviation pioneer.
Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Hughes during several important periods of his life.
The movie covers:
- Aircraft development
- Hollywood
- Aviation engineering
- Hughes Aircraft
- Experimental aircraft
- The H-1 Racer
- The XF-11
- The H-4 Hercules
- Business competition
- Hughes’ personal life
It is particularly valuable for viewers interested in the relationship between aviation technology, engineering and entrepreneurship.
AOPA lists The Aviator among notable aviation films and highlights DiCaprio’s portrayal of Hughes.
7. Air Force One (1997)
Director: Wolfgang Petersen
Starring: Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Glenn Close
Genre: Action, political thriller, aviation
Air Force One turns the presidential aircraft into the central setting of an action thriller.
Harrison Ford plays U.S. President James Marshall, whose aircraft is hijacked while returning from a diplomatic trip.
The movie combines:
- Aircraft interiors
- Hostage situations
- Presidential security
- Military aviation
- Fighter intercepts
- Air Force operations
- Political drama
Although it is very much an action movie rather than a realistic aviation documentary, its use of the presidential aircraft gives it a distinctive place in aviation-related cinema.
8. Flight (2012)
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly
Genre: Drama
Flight follows airline captain Whip Whitaker after a catastrophic mechanical failure causes his aircraft to enter an uncontrolled descent.
Whitaker manages an extraordinary emergency maneuver and survives the crash.
However, the investigation reveals serious questions about his behavior and condition.
The film therefore becomes less about the aircraft itself and more about:
- Pilot responsibility
- Addiction
- Professional ethics
- Investigations
- Accident causation
- Personal redemption
The inverted-flight sequence is particularly memorable and is frequently discussed in aviation circles, even though the movie takes substantial dramatic liberties.
9. United 93 (2006)
Director: Paul Greengrass
Starring: David Alan Basche, Khalid Abdalla, Opal Alladin and others
Genre: Historical drama
United 93 depicts the events surrounding United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
The film uses a restrained, documentary-like approach rather than the conventional Hollywood action style.
It focuses on:
- The aircraft cabin
- Passengers
- Flight crew
- Air traffic control
- Military and government responses
- The unfolding crisis
The film is particularly notable for its attempt to reconstruct the sequence of events without turning the story into a conventional action spectacle. Aviation movie lists frequently include it among significant films about aircraft and real-world aviation emergencies.
10. Dunkirk (2017)
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy
Genre: War, aviation, historical drama
Although Dunkirk is not exclusively an aviation movie, aircraft play a crucial role in the story.
The film depicts the 1940 evacuation of Allied soldiers from Dunkirk.
Its aerial sequences concentrate on the Royal Air Force and German aircraft, particularly the Supermarine Spitfire.
The movie is notable for portraying aerial combat as part of a larger military operation rather than as isolated dogfights.
It is regularly included in aviation-film lists because of its historical aircraft and aerial cinematography.
11. Battle of Britain (1969)
Director: Guy Hamilton
Starring: Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, Laurence Olivier, Christopher Plummer
Genre: War, aviation, historical drama
Battle of Britain is one of the great World War II aviation epics.
The film dramatizes the 1940 air campaign between Britain and Nazi Germany.
The movie features:
- Spitfires
- Hurricanes
- Messerschmitt fighters
- Bombers
- RAF pilots
- Luftwaffe operations
- Radar
- Air-defense strategy
Its enormous scale and extensive use of period aircraft helped establish it as a landmark aviation-war film.
12. Twelve O’Clock High (1949)
Director: Henry King
Starring: Gregory Peck, Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill
Genre: World War II, aviation drama
Twelve O’Clock High focuses on the psychological and organizational pressures faced by American bomber crews during World War II.
Instead of concentrating exclusively on spectacular combat, it explores:
- Leadership
- Pilot fatigue
- Morale
- Command decisions
- Crew psychology
- Strategic bombing
- Responsibility for subordinates
It has long been respected within aviation circles. AOPA readers specifically identified it as a classic aviation movie when discussing their favorite films.
13. The Blue Max (1966)
Director: John Guillermin
Starring: George Peppard, James Mason, Ursula Andress
Genre: World War I, aviation, drama
Set during World War I, The Blue Max follows a German fighter pilot determined to earn the prestigious Pour le Mérite, commonly known as the “Blue Max.”
The movie explores the brutal competition between fighter pilots and the complicated relationship between:
- Military hierarchy
- Personal ambition
- Heroism
- Social class
- Nationalism
- Survival
The National Air and Space Museum specifically praised the film’s flying sequences, particularly considering the technological limitations of filmmaking at the time.
14. The Dawn Patrol (1938)
Director: Edmund Goulding
Starring: Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, David Niven
Genre: World War I, aviation, drama
The Dawn Patrol is an important classic of the aviation genre.
The story follows Royal Flying Corps pilots during World War I and examines the emotional consequences of sending inexperienced young men into combat.
The film belongs to the early era of aviation cinema, when flying itself was still relatively new to audiences.
The National Air and Space Museum identifies the film and its earlier 1930 version as significant developments in the aviation-film genre.
15. Wings (1927)
Director: William A. Wellman
Starring: Clara Bow, Charles “Buddy” Rogers, Richard Arlen
Genre: Silent film, war, aviation
Wings occupies a unique position in film history.
It is one of the earliest major aviation epics and won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the first Academy Awards ceremony.
The story follows two American pilots during World War I whose friendship is tested by combat and rivalry.
The film’s aerial sequences were extraordinarily ambitious for the 1920s.
The National Air and Space Museum describes Wings as the first true aviation epic and an important starting point for the aviation-film genre.
16. The Spirit of St. Louis (1957)
Director: Billy Wilder
Starring: James Stewart
Genre: Biography, aviation history
The Spirit of St. Louis tells the story of Charles Lindbergh’s historic 1927 transatlantic flight.
James Stewart portrays Lindbergh as he prepares for the enormous challenge of flying alone across the Atlantic.
The film captures the era when aviation records were international news and long-distance flight remained extremely dangerous.
It is especially interesting for anyone fascinated by:
- Early aviation
- Record flights
- Aviation pioneers
- Long-distance navigation
- 1920s aircraft
17. Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965)
Director: Ken Annakin
Starring: Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, Terry-Thomas, Robert Morley
Genre: Adventure, comedy, aviation
This wonderfully eccentric aviation comedy takes viewers back to the pioneering days of flight.
The story centers on an international air race from London to Paris.
The competitors fly a collection of unusual early aircraft, making the movie both a comedy and a celebration of aviation history.
HistoryNet has highlighted the film for its humorous approach, replicas of early flying machines and beautiful aerial settings.
18. The Great Waldo Pepper (1975)
Director: George Roy Hill
Starring: Robert Redford, Bo Svenson, Bo Brundin
Genre: Drama, adventure, aviation
Robert Redford plays Waldo Pepper, a former World War I pilot trying to establish himself as a barnstorming pilot in postwar America.
The film explores the transition from:
World War I combat aviation → barnstorming → professional aerial entertainment
It is an excellent choice for viewers interested in the romantic era of aviation.
19. Memphis Belle (1990)
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Starring: Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, Tate Donovan, Billy Zane
Genre: World War II, aviation, drama
Memphis Belle follows an American B-17 bomber crew during World War II.
The crew is approaching the end of its required combat missions, but one final mission remains.
The film focuses heavily on:
- Crew relationships
- Fear
- Combat stress
- Bomber operations
- B-17 aircraft
- Leadership
It is an important film for anyone interested in World War II bomber aviation.
20. The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)
Director: Robert Aldrich
Starring: James Stewart, Richard Attenborough, Peter Finch
Genre: Survival, aviation, adventure
A cargo aircraft crashes in the Sahara Desert, leaving its passengers and crew stranded.
The survivors discover that their best chance of survival may be to rebuild the wreckage into a new aircraft.
The movie becomes a story about:
- Engineering
- Leadership
- Survival
- Conflict
- Innovation
- Human endurance
The National Air and Space Museum specifically identifies the 1965 original as an important aviation survival film and distinguishes it from the 2004 remake.
21. American Made (2017)
Director: Doug Liman
Starring: Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright
Genre: Biography, crime, aviation
Tom Cruise portrays Barry Seal, a pilot whose extraordinary career became connected with U.S. intelligence operations and the international drug trade.
The movie combines:
- Aviation
- Smuggling
- Intelligence operations
- Political history
- Crime
- 1970s aviation
AOPA includes American Made among notable aviation films and identifies it as being based on Seal’s story.
22. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken
Genre: Biography, crime, drama
Although Catch Me If You Can isn’t exclusively an aviation film, aviation plays an important role in its story.
Leonardo DiCaprio portrays Frank Abagnale Jr., who famously posed as a Pan Am pilot among other identities.
The movie combines:
- Commercial aviation
- Airline culture
- Identity fraud
- 1960s America
- FBI investigation
AOPA includes it among notable aviation-related movies because of its portrayal of the fake airline pilot persona.
23. Pearl Harbor (2001)
Director: Michael Bay
Starring: Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsale
Genre: War, romance, action
Pearl Harbor combines a romantic triangle with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent American military operations.
The movie contains extensive aerial combat sequences involving World War II aircraft.
Although its historical storytelling has been debated, its large-scale aviation action remains one of its defining features.
AOPA lists it among major aviation films, particularly noting its substantial combat sequence.
24. Flyboys (2006)
Director: Tony Bill
Starring: James Franco, Jean Reno, Martin Henderson
Genre: World War I, aviation, action
Flyboys follows American volunteers who join the French Lafayette Escadrille during World War I.
The movie offers aerial combat involving early fighter aircraft and explores the lives of young pilots entering a dangerous new form of warfare.
It is particularly attractive to viewers who enjoy:
- WWI aircraft
- Dogfights
- Fighter pilots
- Historical aviation
- Adventure
25. The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1954)
Director: Mark Robson
Starring: William Holden, Grace Kelly, Frederic March
Genre: Korean War, military aviation, drama
Set during the Korean War, The Bridges at Toko-Ri follows U.S. Navy pilots assigned to a dangerous bombing mission.
The film explores the responsibilities and emotional costs of combat flying.
The National Air and Space Museum identifies it as an important example of the post-World War II aviation genre.
26. Firefox (1982)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Freddie Jones, David Huffman
Genre: Cold War, aviation, espionage
Firefox combines fighter aircraft with Cold War espionage.
Eastwood plays an American pilot recruited for a dangerous mission involving an advanced Soviet fighter aircraft.
The film belongs to the era of Cold War aviation thrillers and is particularly interesting for fans of experimental aircraft and fighter technology.
27. Flight of the Intruder (1991)
Director: John Milius
Starring: Danny Glover, Willem Dafoe, Brad Johnson
Genre: Vietnam War, military aviation
This Vietnam War aviation drama follows U.S. Navy pilots flying dangerous missions over North Vietnam.
The movie concentrates on:
- Naval aviation
- Carrier operations
- A-6 Intruder aircraft
- Combat missions
- Pilot decision-making
- Military bureaucracy
It is particularly appealing to viewers interested in Vietnam-era aircraft.
28. Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
Directors: Richard Fleischer, Kinji Fukasaku, Toshio Masuda
Genre: Historical war film, aviation
Tora! Tora! Tora! reconstructs the events leading to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Rather than concentrating on one hero, the film attempts to present events from both the American and Japanese perspectives.
Its aircraft sequences and historical reconstruction make it a major film for students of World War II aviation.
29. The Dam Busters (1955)
Director: Michael Anderson
Starring: Richard Todd, Michael Redgrave
Genre: World War II, aviation, historical drama
The Dam Busters dramatizes the development and deployment of the bouncing bomb used during the famous RAF operation against German dams in 1943.
The film combines:
- Engineering
- Scientific innovation
- Aviation
- Bomber operations
- Military planning
It is particularly valuable because it presents aviation technology as an engineering problem rather than simply a combat spectacle.
30. The Blue Max, Wings and the Evolution of Aviation Cinema
Looking across the history of the genre, aviation films have changed dramatically.
1920s–1930s: The birth of aviation cinema
Films such as:
- Wings
- The Dawn Patrol
- Hell’s Angels
- Test Pilot
reflected the fascination with the newly developed technology of powered flight.
1940s–1950s: Aviation and World War II
Films increasingly concentrated on:
- Fighter pilots
- Bomber crews
- Leadership
- Sacrifice
- Military aviation
Examples include Twelve O’Clock High, The Dam Busters and The Bridges at Toko-Ri.
1960s–1970s: Historical and adventure aviation
The genre expanded into:
- Early aviation
- Survival
- International adventure
- Historical reconstruction
Examples include The Flight of the Phoenix, The Blue Max and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines.
1980s–1990s: The blockbuster era
Movies such as:
- Top Gun
- Air Force One
- Memphis Belle
- Firefox
brought aviation into mainstream action cinema.
2000s–2010s: Technology and true stories
Films increasingly focused on real people and real events:
- The Aviator
- United 93
- Flight
- Sully
- American Made
2020s: The return of large-scale aviation spectacle
Top Gun: Maverick demonstrated that traditional aviation spectacle could still become a major theatrical event. Contemporary aviation publications have particularly emphasized its use of real aircraft and extensive aerial photography.
Aviation Movies by Category
| Category | Recommended Movies |
|---|---|
| Fighter jets | Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, Firefox |
| Commercial aviation | Sully, Flight, Airplane! |
| WWII aviation | Battle of Britain, Memphis Belle, Twelve O’Clock High |
| WWI aviation | Wings, The Blue Max, Flyboys |
| Test pilots | The Right Stuff, The Aviator |
| Aviation history | The Spirit of St. Louis, The Right Stuff |
| Aviation survival | The Flight of the Phoenix, Society of the Snow |
| Aviation comedy | Airplane!, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, Hot Shots! |
| Aviation thriller | Air Force One, United 93, Executive Decision |
| Aviation biography | The Aviator, Sully, American Made |
| Early aviation | Wings, The Spirit of St. Louis, Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines |
| Naval aviation | Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, The Bridges at Toko-Ri |
| Vietnam aviation | Flight of the Intruder |
| Space/test-flight crossover | The Right Stuff, Apollo 13 |
Honorable Mentions
A list of great aviation movies could easily become much longer. Other films worth exploring include:
Hell’s Angels (1930)
An early aviation spectacle famous for its aerial photography and World War I setting.
Test Pilot (1938)
A classic starring Clark Gable, Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy that examines the dangers and responsibilities of experimental flying. The National Air and Space Museum considers it an important part of the development of the aviation genre.
Airport (1970)
An important film in the development of the modern airport/disaster movie.
Fearless (1993)
A psychological drama about survivors of an airplane crash and the emotional consequences afterward.
Executive Decision (1996)
An aviation-centered action thriller involving a hijacked passenger aircraft.
Hot Shots! (1991)
A comedy parodying Top Gun and other military aviation movies.
Only Old Men Are Going to Battle (1973)
A Soviet aviation film about fighter pilots during World War II and an important example of non-Western aviation cinema.
Dark Blue World (2001)
A Czech film about Czech pilots who serve with the RAF during World War II.
Society of the Snow (2023)
A survival drama based on the 1972 Andes plane crash and the struggle of the survivors. Recent aviation-film lists have highlighted it among major survival-oriented airplane movies.
What Makes a Great Aviation Movie?
The best aviation movies generally succeed because they combine several elements rather than simply showing aircraft.
1. Authentic aircraft
Seeing real aircraft—or convincing replicas—can dramatically improve an aviation film.
Examples include:
- F-14 Tomcat
- F/A-18 Super Hornet
- P-51 Mustang
- Spitfire
- Hurricane
- B-17 Flying Fortress
- A-320
- Bell X-1
2. Strong pilots and characters
The aircraft may attract the audience, but memorable characters keep viewers interested.
Maverick, Chuck Yeager, Howard Hughes and Captain Sullenberger represent very different versions of the aviation protagonist.
3. Real aviation problems
Some of the most compelling aviation stories are not about combat.
They involve:
- Engine failure
- Weather
- Navigation
- Mechanical problems
- Fuel
- Human error
- Emergency procedures
- Aircraft design
- Pilot fatigue
- Decision-making
4. Historical importance
Aviation is closely connected with major moments in modern history.
Movies about aviation have therefore covered:
- World War I
- World War II
- The Korean War
- Vietnam War
- The Cold War
- The Space Race
- Commercial aviation
- Transatlantic flight
- Modern aviation safety
The Best Aviation Movies for Aviation Enthusiasts
For someone particularly interested in aviation rather than simply action movies featuring airplanes, a useful viewing list would include:
The Right Stuff
Test pilots and early spaceflight.
Top Gun: Maverick
Modern naval fighter aviation and spectacular aerial photography.
Sully
Commercial aviation, emergency procedures and accident investigation.
The Aviator
Aircraft engineering and aviation entrepreneurship.
Twelve O’Clock High
Leadership and bomber operations.
The Blue Max
World War I fighter aviation.
Battle of Britain
Large-scale WWII aerial warfare.
The Flight of the Phoenix
Aircraft engineering and survival.
Wings
The origins of aviation cinema.
The Spirit of St. Louis
Early long-distance aviation.
Best Aviation Movies for a Casual Movie Night
If you are less interested in technical aviation and simply want entertaining films, consider:
- Top Gun: Maverick
- Top Gun
- Air Force One
- Airplane!
- Sully
- The Aviator
- Pearl Harbor
- Catch Me If You Can
- Flight
- Dunkirk
Aviation cinema is much broader than fighter jets and spectacular dogfights. Its history stretches from the silent-era Wings to modern films such as Top Gun: Maverick. Along the way, filmmakers have explored war, exploration, engineering, commercial aviation, survival, leadership, personal ambition, technological progress and the psychological demands of flight.
For aviation history, Wings, The Spirit of St. Louis, The Right Stuff and The Aviator provide particularly useful perspectives. For military aviation, Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, Battle of Britain, Twelve O’Clock High, The Blue Max and Memphis Belle represent very different periods of aerial warfare. For real-world aviation emergencies, Sully, United 93 and Flight offer dramatically different approaches.
The continuing popularity of these films demonstrates why aviation remains such a powerful subject for cinema: the airplane is not merely a setting—it can be a machine, a workplace, a weapon, a technological achievement, a source of freedom, or the place where human decisions matter most.
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