DC Wings - Strange Planes Series 1 (1990) Part 4 Giants

Strange Planes have odd shapes, interesting tales. From the highly successful series “Wings” on The Discovery Channel comes the six-volume series “Strange Planes.” For aviation buffs, this collection is an insightful look at the history of aircraft, sometimes amusing, sometimes bizarre and at times astonishing, yet always interesting. The efforts of aircraft designers, whether resulting in failure and folly or remarkable achievement, are chronicled into one-hour episodes. The flights of fancy portrayed in the STRANGE PLANES collection represent both the triumphs and the follies of pioneers taking aviation to–and sometimes beyond–the edge of technical feasibility and human imagination. There are a few of the many strange and bizarre forms that aircraft design has taken on the road to the future. Some of these designs were revolutionary in their day but now are not so weird as they seemed. “Strange Planes” portray the fanciful or eccentric plus the blind alleys of aviation. There is a fascinating story behind every one of these radical designs, and each is an entertaining salute to man's ingenuity, and determination to reach for the sky. The “Strange Planes” series was produced in Australia and aired as part of The Discovery Channel's most highly rated series, “Wings,” during its initial airing.

Directed by Luke Swann; Executive Producer Phil Osborn; Network Projects Ltd Production

4.18683.jpg200&nolink Part 4 Giants

From dirigibles like the Hindenberg and Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose, touching all the major milestones along the way, up to the C5 Galaxy, Fat Albert, and the U.S.S.R.'s giant AN 124. From dirigibles to the huge jets of today, this episode traces the story of aviation's most mammoth aircraft. From the full-bellied dirigibles to passenger jets, large-sized planes have come a long way. The Hindenburg–the largest aircraft ever flown–the Flying Boat, the disastrous Barling Bomber, the Boeing StratoCruiser and Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose all have a place in the history of huge planes. Air-inflated craft were popular for a time, even serving in World War I. But, cumbersome construction and navigational limits made them difficult to use. Still, armies needed a way to transport large crews and supplies over enemy-infested waters. Along came the Spruce Goose. Weighing over 400,000 pounds, the enormous plane was an engineering miracle that fulfilled transportation needs. Built for civil and and military uses these amazing planes stun the imagination with their vast size. With names such as 'Fat Albert' and 'Pregnant Guppies' these giants of the skies rank with the world's strangest aircraft. Included are B36, B52, and B1 bombers plus AN 124, the giant from Russia.

Full Version Available Upon Request
Episode Four Shown Here