Biografía de John Montgomery, un pionero de la aviación norteamericana, que en 1883 construyó el primer prototipo.

L'histoire de John J. Montgomery, aviateur intrépide, qui révolutionna le vol sur planeur.

Director William A. Wellman adds another to his long line of salutes-to-aviation films in this bio of an aviation pioneer, John Montgomery (Glenn Ford.) In 1883 he built a practical glider despite the opposition of his friends, who thought he was crazy, and of his family, who were afraid that his dreams of flying would hurt his father's political ambitions. He pursues his education at Santa Clara University where the Jesuits lend a helping and understanding hand. An earthquake destroys what appears to be a working model for an airplane, but a gold-sorting machine Montgomery invented, and then neglected, promises to provide for his financial needs to keep working on his aircraft until he gets involved in costly lawsuits defending his invention.

Giudicato dai suoi concittadini e dalla famiglia uno squilibrato, un giovane inventore riesce a costruire un aereo, grazie all'aiuto e all'incoraggiamento della moglie. Durante il primo volo di prova, preso dalle vertigini, precipita in mezzo a una prateria. Morirà con il conforto della fedele compagna.