I've no doubt that more than a few of you have been close enough to the button of a runway to experience a little of the wake turbulence from a landing aircraft. The road that runs up past Runway 11 at YQM is a great spot to enjoy the artificial breeze, and here's a movie you will want to see if you don't know what I'm talking about. 'Pushing Tin', a comedy directed by Mike Newell, debuted in 1999 and tells the story of Nick "The Zone" Falzone (John Cusack), an air traffic controller competing on various levels with fellow controller, Russell Bell (Billy Bob Thornton). The film takes place at the New York TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) that is responsible for dozens of airports located within the same New York Class B airspace, including John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport.
Pushing Tin also stars Cate Blanchett as Connie Falzone and Angelina Jolie as Mary Bell, who both get swept up in their husband's battles, Jake Weber as Barry Plotkin, Kurt Fuller as Ed Clabes, and Vicki Lewis as Tina Leary.
In spite of mixed reviews and falling short at the box office, I think it's hilarious and is an excellent primer for the effects of wake turbulence, although I wouldn't recommend trying what they do in the film.