S02 Episode 1

The Helicopter: From Dreams to Reality

In the 1920s, early autogyros made breakthroughs in rotating wing design, and by the 1930s military interest propelled helicopter development. Advances in controls and the availability of lightweight turbine engines made a practical helicopter.

22 mins · Wed, 4 Mar 1992

S02 Episode 2

Airlines: Passengers Join the Jet Age

WW2 aviation advances such as hard runways, large long-range aircraft and cabin pressurisation set the stage for growing passenger transport after the war. Soon jets slashed travel times and brought unheard of growth in mass transportation.

22 mins · Wed, 11 Mar 1992

S02 Episode 3

The Big Bombers

The Cold War drives the development of long-range bombers whose size challenges designers, engineers and the flight crews.

22 mins · Wed, 18 Mar 1992

S02 Episode 4

Jet Fighters: Wings of Lightning

The US and Russia rivalry developed jet fighters with fantastic speeds and high tech weapons. Computers were unseen co-pilot and some fighters only fired guided missiles; a new generation of highly manoeuvrable dog-fighting jets was needed.

22 mins · Wed, 25 Mar 1992

S02 Episode 5

General Aviation: Barnstormers to Businessmen

Mostly single-engine planes comprise the fastest-growing segment of aviation. General aviation is usually not state of the art, but rather clever uses of existing affordable technology.

22 mins · Wed, 1 Apr 1992

S02 Episode 6

Supersonic Bombers: The Elusive Search

In the early 1960's, the U.S; strategic Air Command wanted high-flying supersonic bombers like the B-58 Hustler and the XB-70; but now the newest bombers are sub-sonic: the low-flying, radar-evading B-1B, and the high tech B-2 Stealth bomber.

22 mins · Wed, 8 Apr 1992

S02 Episode 7

Locusts of War

The helicopter took on an offensive role for the Vietnam War; with cannons, rockets and guided missiles, they were now referred to as gunships; nowadays, the American Apache and Russian Hind are equipped with night vision and anti-tank weapons.

22 mins · Wed, 15 Apr 1992

S02 Episode 8

Supersonic Bombers: The Elusive Search

In the early 1960's, the U.S. Strategic Air Command wanted high-flying supersonic bombers like the B-58 Hustler and the XB-70. But now the newest bombers are sub-sonic: the low-flying, radar-evading B-1B, and the high tech B-2 Stealth bomber.

Wed, 8 Apr 1992

S02 Episode 9

Flying Light: Gliders and Ultralights

Ultralight airplanes evolved from hang gliding enthusiasts' attempts to glide further by adding small engines and propellers. Now reliable, tested ultralights are flown by multitudes of recreational pilots.

22 mins · Wed, 6 May 1992

S02 Episode 10

Attack Aircraft

When a fighter or bomber strikes ground forces, it is acting as an attack aircraft. Many fighters can play this role, but recent wars have shown the value of dedicated attack aircraft, designed to hit hard and survive extensive battle damage.

22 mins · Wed, 13 May 1992

S02 Episode 11

Higher than the Sky and Faster than the Eye

From the early days of flight, the military looked behind enemy lines with better and better spy planes; after the top secret U-2 was shot down over Russia, Lockheed developed the SR-71; flying at Mach 3, it out flew any missile.

22 mins · Wed, 20 May 1992

S02 Episode 12

Experiments in Flight

Chuck Yeager's X-1 flight through the sound barrier set the stage for the U.S. experimental X-program, a systematic exploration of fresh ideas in aviation. Pilots flew at the cutting edge of technology in untried, untested, and unknown aircraft.

22 mins · Wed, 3 Jun 1992

S02 Episode 13

Rocket Aircraft

In the 1920s, aircraft designers began searching for ways to incorporate the powerful propulsion of rockets into their flying machines. Efforts to harness and control rocket propulsion resulted in many failures but also some dramatic successes.

22 mins · Wed, 10 Jun 1992

Season 2

First Flights with Neil Armstrong

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