Memories of a World War II Hero: Captain Brown's Story

Tells the story of probably the world's greatest pilot through an extensive and in-depth interview: Capt Eric "Winkle" Brown CBE, DSC, AFC. From his flight with WW1 German fighter ace Ernst Udet in 1936 through to commanding a squadron of Buccaneers at the height of the Cold War, we hear how "Winkle" Brown experienced the rise and fall of Nazism; how he flew the most dangerous, uncontrollable aircraft, how he cheated death countless times.

2014-01-01 | en

Black Wings

For early aviators, conquering the forces of gravity was a daunting challenge. But black aviators had an additional challenge - conquering the forces of racism. Meet the men and women who took to the skies throughout the 20th century, proving to a segregated nation that skin color doesn't determine skill level. From biplanes to commercial jets, and from barnstormers to war fighters, meet the path-breaking pilots who opened the skies for all -- and contributed in countless ways to the development of aviation.

2012-01-14 | en

Walter Mittelholzer - Eine Schweizer Pioniergeschichte

2015-02-27 | de

Comet: A Great British Air Disaster

The De Havilland Comet was the world's first passenger jet airliner. But less than two years into service, two aircraft blew up in mid-air, killing all aboard. PM Winston Churchill ordered an assemblage of experts to discover what went wrong - in the process, inventing many of the air crash investigation techniques still used today.

2013-02-24 | en

World's Biggest Airliner: Building the Airbus A380

The compelling story of the multi-billion-pound gamble to build the world's biggest airliner, the Airbus A380. Provides insight into the unique challenges of building an airliner on such a large scale, and includes footage of its grand unveiling and its maiden voyage.

2005-06-18 | en

Expedition Amelia

Explorer Robert Ballard sets out to solve the mystery of Amelia Earhart's disappearance as he and a team of experts travel to the remote Pacific atoll named Nikumaroro in search of her final resting place.

2019-10-20 | en

The Longest Month

Four hard-hitting stores, from the deadliest period in U.S. Army Aviation, since Vietnam. Actual footage from the events, and interviews from the Soldiers, who were there - bring these intense and touching stories of courage and sacrifice to life.

2022-02-27 | en

Silver Spitfire: The Longest Flight

A British expeditionary team attempt a dangerous, world-first circumnavigation of the Earth in an 80-year-old vintage World War II fighter to inspire a new generation through the freedom of flight.

2022-03-20 | en

Undaunted: The Forgotten Giants of the Allegheny Observatory

This film tells the surprising story of how the Allegheny Observatory has been a world leader in the study of the stars since the 1860s. Self-educated, and often facing unrelenting hardships, the people associated with the Allegheny Observatory defied the odds to make enormous contributions to the founding of astrophysics and early aviation.

2012-04-18 | en

Charles Lindbergh in Colour

An exceptional documentary which presents, for the first time colorized archives, on Charles Lindbergh's life, the hero of the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean on May 21, 1927.

2007-12-05 | fr

Fighting the Red Baron

Two modern Red Arrows pilots take on the challenges faced by World War I pilots by performing photo reconnaissance, artillery ranging, and bombing missions in period aircraft - culminating in a classic dogfight.

2010-06-04 | en

F-15 Eagle

Have you ever dreamed of flying in the world's hottest fighter aircraft? Welcome to Eagle country! You're now holding Zulu alert cocked and ready in Central Europe scrambling after intruders trying to penetrate your airspace. Is this another drill, or the beginning of Round Three!! You are slammed into the ejection seat by gut-wrenching G forces as you push your Eagle to the limit while going head to head with F-14s, F-16s and F-18s in air to air combat during Red Flag and William Tell. Brief with pilots as they discuss tactics, missions, weapons and work with Eagle-Keepers as they maintain the ultimate air superiority fighter. Experience the thrill of mid-air refuelling while Eagles deploy their fire power around the clock and around the world. The new F-15E Dual Role Fighter takes you under the weather day or night at the speed of heat with the magic Lantirn. The F-15 Eagle stands out as America's finest flown by their finest.

1987-06-01 | en

The Conquest of the Air

This early docudrama uses dramatic reenactment, working models of early flying machines, and archival footage to trace man's attempts to fly from ancient times through the 1930s.

1931-12-01 | en

Research Project X-15

The X-15 was the last in a line of manned rocket-powered research airplanes built during the 1950s to explore ever-faster and higher flight regimes. Nineteen years before Space Shuttle, the X-15 showed it was possible to fly into, and out of, space. Launched from the wing of a modified B-52 bomber, the ship rocketed higher and faster than any manned aircraft of the time. There had never been anything like the X-15; it had a million-horsepower engine and could fly twice as fast as a rifle bullet. In the joint X-15 hypersonic research program that NASA conducted with the Air Force, the Navy, and North American Aviation the aircraft flew over a period of nearly 10 years and set unofficial speed and altitude records, in a program to investigate all aspects of piloted hypersonic flight. Information gained from the highly successful X-15 program contributed to the development of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo piloted spaceflight programs as well as the Space Shuttle program.

1962-01-01 | en

747: The Jumbo Revolution

At any given moment hundreds of people are soaring above us in a 747. From the moment the very first jumbo jet took off in 1969, it has been the aircraft against which all others are judged. But its 45-year journey has been anything but smooth. This is the definitive story of the Boeing 747, from its milestones and triumphs to its turning points and disasters. Witness its history through rare archival footage and tales from pilots, engineers, designers, and passengers who were there when it all began.

2014-02-27 | en

Vulcan Bomber: Return to the Skies

During the Falklands War, a team of Vulcan Bombers staged the longest bombing raid ever attempted. We tell the amazing story of the machines that undertook the near impossible mission of bombing Port Stanley. The programme features archive footage spanning the Vulcan's entire dramatic history, including newsreels, amateur video and film shot by the pilots themselves. We also make use of an enormous array of archival sources, including the plane's original design specification, and orders for construction from the War Office.

2007-06-15 | en

The Balloonist

Meet Brian Boland—the beloved, eccentric hot air balloonist and artist from the rural Upper Valley of Vermont.

2023-10-19 | en

Panair of Brazil

Panair do Brasil revives the story of the most important commercial aviation company in Brazil, between 1930 and 1965, with its commercial daring in establishing routes to the four corners of a continental country, taking the adventure of air transport to never-before imagined places, as well as the first international routes. Four decades after it closed its doors, it still retains a marked presence in the country's collective imagination for its pioneering spirit and stories of heroic deeds and for the bewilderment which was aroused by the facts surrounding its closure during the military regime.

2007-09-27 | en

24 Hour Alert

This short film looks at the purpose and methods of the U.S. Air Force, and the difficulties of getting along with civilian neighbors. The story involves members of an Air Force base proving their worth to the mayor of a nearby town who would like to see them gone due to noise pollution.

1955-12-22 | en

Blake

An eccentric history buff lives in a cabin in the woods but spends most of his time flying his biplane.

1969-01-01 | en