Episodes Reaching for the Skies

1 episodes

1.1 1. pioneers
1.2 2. adventures of flight
1.3 3. aeroplane goes war
1.4 4. victory on sea
1.5 5. bombers
1.6 6. fighters
1.7 7. giants of air
1.8 8. rivals on atlantic
1.9 9. trail blazers
1.10 10. quest speed
1.11 11. lighter air
1.12 12. vertical flight

episodes

12 episodes filmed, first transmitted in uk on bbc2 on 12/9/1988. episodes listed below, along accompanying background text vhs videos:

1. pioneers

from cover: wright brothers first controlled-powered flight in 1903 advent of space shuttle - come know key figures in aviation history - people , machines pushed limits of daring , technology find ways fly faster, higher , farther. here chronicle of raw determination , pioneer spirit carries louis bleriot across channel in 1909, and, more recently, carried dick rutan , jeana yeager around world in rutan voyager on single tank of fuel

2. adventures of flight

this account of master aviators pushed frontiers , found new ways use aircraft...of test pilots, displayed rare combination of qualities: coolness under pressure, courage, flying skill, technological knowledge, , military acrobatics. pilots pushed aircraft peak of performance...and of barnstormers , flying circus performers demonstrated daring country airfields hollywood film reels, world witness dazzling magic. notable appearances include former test-pilot bob hoover , first female boeing 747 flight commander lynn rippelmeyer.

3. aeroplane goes war

over france in world war i, man , flying machines first forged formidable fighting unit. @ start of war, adversaries muster few hundred frail aircraft between them. yet, in less 4 years, britain had commissioned independent air force, had built on 50,000 aircraft , trained 26,000 pilots observation, strafing, bombing , whatever necessary protect air space. then, when anthony fokker mounted machine gun on aeroplane, changed face of war forever.

this program unique historical document, features interviews many world war aviators both sides, these included ; george vaughn, ray brooks, carl-august von schoenebeck, wolfram eisenlohr, , various others. programme sheds valuable light on these periods of history. men s recollections valuable many of them quite old @ time, , such set of reminiscences can never recorded again.

4. victory on sea

since second world war, aircraft have played important role in naval operations...defending fleet against attack making possible pilots spot enemy beyond horizon. advantages of naval air power became indisputable advent of aircraft carrier - , expanded capability deploy tactical asset across vast stretches of ocean. having proven sinking of bismarck pacific war, suez , vietnam falklands, here military air technology @ daring, precision crucial, , interface between man , machines reaches ultimate intimacy

the greatest exponents of naval air power featured in interviews, particularly masterful captain eric brown, in time has flown virtually every naval aircraft of world war ii, , regular contributor air international @ period. introduction of carrier-borne jets extremely interesting. film culminates in review of modern carrier.

5. bombers

dresden...london...vietnam...tokyo..their names alone dramatic testimony awesome power of bomber. these aircraft came dominate military strategy during world war ii, , still played critical role in cold war. today, 1 side finds new ways bomber jobs, other side seeks ways stop it. activity on board devastation below, reaching skies looks @ bombers, pilots fly them, , struggle between nations maintain ultimate combination of weaponry , technology...a chilling reminder of ability aviation has given society annihilate itself.

the film begins boeing b-52, , effect on populace of vietnam. thereafter, heinkel 111, , bombing of guernica. marks maturity of bomber instrument of war , of terror. in similar measure, junkers ju-87 stuka reviewed, interviews of pilots. after this, next great bomber examined avro lancaster , campaign @ night on third reich. then, boeing b-17 , daylight bombing on reich.

the final bomber examined boeing b-29 superfortress, , career on japan gained name of bni-ju, fire dragon. complete film, , maturity of bomber tool of war, destruction of hiroshima , nagasaki first , far last use of nuclear weapons in international warfare.

6. fighters

few aspects of history of aviation match vitality, drama , scale of world war ii fighter planes. strategists discovered advantages of these warships of skies, armies moved across battlefield without security of air cover. episode evokes life , times of fighter pilot , aircraft, world war ii present...of individual determination , technological innovation working in synchronous perfection. korea middle east, vietnam, here testing ground skill, technology, and, above all, human courage , self-sacrifice.

the film begins eap, , far romantic musical expression of main theme, played on piano. first fighter looked @ after credits general dynamics f-16, accompanied soft-rock electric guitar solo.

the first fighter looked @ in detail north american p-51 mustang. film of preserved airworthy examples of confederate airforce used, , among group formation sole airworthy p-51h. p-51 aces discuss memories of combat on germany in conjunction bomber forces, , include brig. general robin olds, , brig. general charles yeager.

the spitfire examined in passing, , heinz lerche, test pilot of dornier 335 pfiel talks impressions.

the development of jet fighters next, , short amount of time spent examining gloster e38/39 pioneer, followed messerschmidt 262 schwalbe. thereafter korean war becomes subject. mig alley, , contest between sabre , mig-15 again reminisced aces. general olds again fund of information, humorous comments sabre strength , reliability, though praise more mature variants.

thereafter, vietnam, @ time last significant air engagement usaf had fought. general olds again gives insight weakness of missile-only f-4 phantom. randy cunningham, , other aces talk experiences sam s, , experiences gained being instrumental in development of top gun weapons school aggressor squadron of usaf pilot training.

the film ends examination of future technologies fighter aircraft, of have long been abandoned, , others modern tactical reality.

7. giants of air

the film opens lockheed c-5 galaxy, giant of air.

the effect of air transport on humanitarian efforts in ethiopia s famines of 1980s examined, using lockheed c-130 hercules demonstrate lifesaving power of airlifting.

the development of airlift begins junkers ju 52, in use in military operations @ beginning of second world war. followed douglas dc-3 , role in supporting flying tigers in china, , yugoslav partisans.

during war, attempt made build successful giant transport in europe, messerschmidt - messerschmitt me 323 gigant. performance , career looked at, vulnerability b-26 bomber given example of unsuitability military operations.

in united states, howard hughes designs, builds, , flies incredible spruce goose, despite opposition owen brewster in washington, pursued hughes in relation intention rival pan american world airways in providing trans-atlantic services through airline trans world airlines. known brewster did @ behest of juan trippe (see aviator (film)). hercules flies, , remains true giant of air.

with end of war, role of dc-3, douglas dc-4, avro york , short sunderland take part in survival of berlin during berlin blockade. gail halvorsen talks involvement in operation little vittles, gave chocolate in act of international charity poor children of city during blockade. remarkable tale related dc-3 pilot managed incredible feat of flying 10-tonne avro york load berlin, far above normal 2 tonne load maximum of dc-3 !

with development of jet engine, @ long last designers have power realize dreams of aerial transport. key new generation turbojets , resulting turbofans, beginning general electric j79. lockheed c-141 starlifter , contribution vietnam war , transporting casualties home reviewed.

with advent of pratt & whitney jt9d, true giants such lockheed c-5 galaxy take air - aircraft ability accomplish entire berlin airlift in 5 flights.

the film ends detailed footage of antonov an-124 ruslan transport, similar galaxy, , larger few feet in internal length.

8. rivals on atlantic

the film opens launch of then-new boeing 747-400 airliner.

the development of jet engine represented quantum leap in aviation, , revolutionised commercial aviation. although first developed fighter aircraft, engineering triumph changed world , led development of jet airliner - 1 set pace long distance air travel next decade - boeing 707. thereafter america supplied world jet transports, creating international network of air routes upon whole world has come depend. europe responded concorde

the disaster of comet, dead-end development of bristol brabazon begin film. development of jet set reviewed, including quick humorous @ ronald reagan related alistair cooke in glory days hollywood star. go on 747, , view expressed experienced captains.

after this, move on concorde, , development program. see come film of vehement opposition ordinary people in usa prevents concorde having market share in usa, limiting trans-atlantic route. in conclusion, launch of boeing 747-400 returned to.

9. trail blazers

broadcast,

10. quest speed

this film begins sr-71 blackbird, expressed ultimate expression in quest speed.

the film, after credits, begins 1909 curtiss biplane, owned , flown dale kreitz had been boy when aircraft new.

thereafter film moves on schneider cup competition, , features unique footage of napier lion-powered supermarine s.5 blood-curdling scream on water. concluding schneider cup s.6 , s.6b

mary haizlip, sister of jimmy haizlip, talks experiences flying in so-called powder puff air races women in 1930s, , development of aviation technology during period driven quest speed. in addition, compares atmosphere of races possessing roman crowds @ circus maximus.

modern unlimited air racing @ reno, nevada shown, featuring famous racers such rare bear, havenought , critical mass hawker sea fury racers, leading north american p-51 mustang racers.

brig. gen. jimmy doolittle talks experiences flying gee bee r-1 when won thompson trophy in 1935.

during world war ii, speed increased sequentially in military aircraft, desperately brilliant developments of germany air defence justifiably deserve special mention - hanna reitsch describes volcanic power , acceleration of messerschmitt me 163 komet rocket-fighter.

brig. general yeager s flight of bell xs-1 through sound barrier in 1947 reviewed, along other x-planes, culminating in incredible north american x-15 hypersonic research aircraft.

thereafter conclusion of film details flight performance , pilots of lockheed sr-71, concluding high speed conceptions of future air-travel, particularly national aerospace plane , hotol.

11. lighter air

broadcast,

12. vertical flight

the film opens dazzling display boeing ah-64 apache gunship helicopter, accompanied dramatic classical choral music.

examining history of vertical flight, program begins helicopters, , deals pivotal breakthrough of cierva rotor-head, followed explanation modern master of autogyro, ken wallis accompanied last movement of j.s. bach s 3rd brandenburg concerto.

thereafter move forward igor sikorsky s helicopters, interview great designer @ time of development, culminating in flight of vought-sikorsky vs-300, , lifesaving sikorsky r-4, , sikorsky h-5.

thereafter focus moves 2 great periods of helicopter military lifesaving, korean war , vietnam, helicopter went war , heroes made, in bell 47, bell huey family, , boeing ch-47 chinook. calm recollections of several decorated veterans of conflict make compelling viewing, combined unseen film footage of conflict.

for 1980s, frank d. robinson demonstrates helicopter such remarkable robinson r22 represent pinnacle of point-to-point transport in small helicopter, , bell xv-15 demonstrated true pinnacle of helicopter.

of course helicopters not things go straight up, , tailsitters such ryan x-13 vertijet, , convair xfy pogo examined humorous interview test pilot, skeets coleman. european experiments reviewed, such short sc-1, , dassault balzac, finishing harrier, kestrel , harrier programs being discussed in detail bill bedford, test pilot, , sir john fozard, designer.

the film concludes demonstration of capability of harrier in then-contemporary falklands war.