

Skyward
“A touching drama of a handicapped teenager and her quest for the freedom of the skies.”
Synopsis
Billie Dupree is a flight instructor at an old Texas airport. When a young girl in a wheelchair finds the airport by watching gliders fly, she decides she wants to learn how to fly. Dupree teaches her to fly with some special controls compensating for her handicap. Koup Trenton runs an aircraft repair service and is trying desperately to get an old airplane back in the air. The three, together, put the young girl and the old plane up in the air.
Part of the Skyward Collection
Stream the entire interconnected saga and experience every installment in chronological storyline order.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Skyward 1980 NBC Movie Promo
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-01-27
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Bette Davis
Billie Dupree
Howard Hesseman
Koup Trenton
Suzy Barbieri
Julie Ward
Marion Ross
Natalie Ward
Clu Gulager
Steve Ward
Ben Marley
Scott Billings
Lisa Whelchel
Lisa Ward
Irma P. Hall
Mrs. Sinclair
Mark Wheeler
Mr. Olsen
Jessie Lee Fulton
Secretary
Bill Thurman
Pilot #1
Rance Howard
Pilot #2
Rhonda Minton
Stephanie
Gene Pietragallo
Jason
Greta Blackburn
Miss Russell
Jeff Nicholson
Theatre Usher
Kate Finlayson
Nurse
Rusty McCaskey
Boy in Class
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ron Howard
- Screenplay & Story
- Anson Williams, Nancy Sackett
- Original Score
- Lee Holdridge
- Original Title
- Skyward
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Production Studios
- Anson Productions, Major H Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ron Howard
Anson Williams, Nancy Sackett
Lee Holdridge
Robert C. Jessup, Jerry G. Callaway
Robert James Kern
John A. Kuri, Anson Williams, Ron Howard
Department Leadership Roster
Robert James Kern
Editor
Lee Holdridge
Original Music Composer
John A. Kuri
Producer
Robert C. Jessup
Director of Photography
Ron Howard
Director
Nancy Sackett
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Skyward.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Skyward.
Favorite Directors
list5
500 best 80's movies
Ron Howard Portfolio - Movies
Curated master portfolio of movies directed by Ron Howard Portfolio - Movies. Updated frequently. Last updated August 30, 2026.
Films Wanted
Stuff i'm looking for.
Bette Davis
Similar Titles to Skyward
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
More Like Skyward
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.












Frequently Asked Questions About Skyward
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Skyward about?
Billie Dupree is a flight instructor at an old Texas airport. When a young girl in a wheelchair finds the airport by watching gliders fly, she decides she wants to learn how to fly. Dupree teaches her to fly with some special controls compensating for her handicap. Koup Trenton runs an aircraft repair service and is trying desperately to get an old airplane back in the air. The three, together, put the young girl and the old plane up in the air.
Who directed Skyward?
Skyward was directed by Ron Howard.
Who stars in Skyward?
The principal cast of Skyward includes Bette Davis, Howard Hesseman, Suzy Barbieri, Marion Ross, Clu Gulager.
When was Skyward released and how long is it?
Skyward was released in 1980 with a total runtime of 1h 40m.
Who composed the musical score for Skyward?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Skyward was composed by Lee Holdridge.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Skyward?
Skyward holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).



















