Plane Tales

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Plane Tales episodes

August 31, 2017 But Sir, Harriers Don’t Actually Hover
By for the most successful vertical take off fighter ever built. The Harrier was a technological success for Hawker Siddeley that produced a fast jet fighter that could land on a runway and in a ploughed field!

Images under Creative Commons licence by Alan Wilson and Anthony Noble.
17 min
August 25, 2017 Eating the Sun
An eclipse of the sun moves over the earth at an incredible speed and no aircraft could possibly keep up with the shadow it casts whilst carrying a whole team of expert observers… except perhaps one!

Images through Creative Commons licence, Sunil Gupta, Natarajanganesan and André Cros.
16 min
August 19, 2017 No Distant Lands
America is keeping the Second World War at arms length whilst a Pan Am Clipper is wending its way from San Francisco down to Auckland in New Zealand. What happens next is a remarkable achievement for a civilian airliner but it remains an almost unknown story.
18 min
August 11, 2017 7543
The tragic death of a friend leads to a life saving technology that has saved so many pilots. Martin Baker.

Images through Creative Commons licence, StromBer and US Gov US Navy.
19 min
August 05, 2017 The No 9 Combustor
A faulty jet engine combustor leads to a tragic disaster but much is learned from the Manchester air disaster.

Images through Creative Commons licence, UK Gov Crown copyright.
0 min
July 31, 2017 Of Degrees, Knots, Pounds and Things
In aviation we use a bewildering array of measurements, enough to confuse, baffle and discombobulate the average pilot.
20 min
July 23, 2017 Wooden Wonders and Aluminum Overcast – Part 2
The second of a two part tale which examines two bombers from the Second World War, their successes and their loss rates. This tale is the story of the de Havilland Mosquito.
The bombing of the Gestapo HQ in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Mosquito FB Mk XVIII carrying the 57mm Molins gun.

Images under Creative Commons licence, UK Gov, Crown copyright.
17 min
July 15, 2017 Wooden Wonders and Aluminum Overcast – Part 1
The first of a two part tale which examines two bombers from the Second World War, their successes and their loss rates. This tale is the story of the Boeing B17.
Boeing Y1B-17 in flight. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Images under Creative Commons licence, US Gov.

17 min
July 08, 2017 The Maverick of Malta
An unusual pilot helps to defend the island of Malta during its darkest period. A brave man who excelled at Photo Reconnaissance.

Image under Creative Commons licence, UK Gov Imperial War Museum.
18 min
July 02, 2017 Turning Oceans Into Ponds
The race across the Atlantic and those adventurous first aviators who tackled the huge body of water that separates Europe and America.

Charles Lindbergh and his aircraft, The Spirit of St Louis.

Images under Creative Commons licence, US Gov and Library of Congress.
0 min