Jim Howell, a Civil Aeronautics Authorty official, has grounded Brand Reynolds for reckless flying. Reynolds starts a flying school but has little success until Howell has the CAA make Brad's school a center in its civilian pilots' training program. Howell does this anonymously as Brad still bears a grudge against him. Among the college students taking flying lessons are "Skip" Rogers, whose sister, Ann Rogers, opposes his flying until she meets and falls in love with Brad. Jim Howell's brother, Tommy, is also a student. Tommy confesses to Brad that he is afraid to fly, and Brad takes him up on a special training flight which ends in disaster. The engine stalls, Tommy faints and Brad opens his parachute and throws him out of the plane in order to save his life. Brad lands the plane safely in a tree. (Actually, Paul Mantz lands the airplane safely in a tree.) Brad then takes another plane to search for Tommy, and "Skip" goes along as a stowaway.