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The Boeing Company develops their most technically advanced aircraft: the 777. From corporate conference rooms to factory floors, its extensive testing and first commercial flight, more than 10,000 people were involved in the creation of the new plane, assembled with parts from…
Pioneering computer design methods used for the 777 are observed as a group designs and tests the passenger doors.
Late design changes seem to threaten the delivery of major components from the rudder in Australia, to doors, wing components and fuselage sections in Japan. But the four million components that make up the 777 are beginning to come together as the wings and the fuselage are connected to make a recognizable plane.
Pratt and Whitney race to meet testing and production deadlines for the 777's engines. Dramatic test footage of bird strikes and "blade out" tests in which the engine is deliberately destroyed mark progress toward the engine's certification for public use. But a backfire tests the companies' relationship. The high speed taxi test is the last one needed for the 777 to leave the ground.
A year of flight tests ensure the 777 is capable of surviving more extreme conditions than it is ever likely to meet. The tests begin slowly, with minor problems such as panels falling off and undercarriage doors vibrating, and culminate in "The Big One" -- showing the plane at its heaviest weight can use maximum braking without the resulting 3,000 degree heat setting it afire.
Six months prior to delivery to United Airlines, a whole 777 is tested to destruction to measure the force its wings can withstand from turbulence or emergency maneuvers. It flies a mock airline schedule to prove its reliability. A United pilot "test drives" the 777, and United transfers payment of more than 100 million dollars, concluding with the 777's inaugural commercial flight.
Self - Narrator (voice)
AFP: American Fighter Pilot is a reality series broadcast briefly on CBS in 2002. It followed three Air Force officers as they trained to become pilots of F-15 fighter jets at Tyndall Air Force Base outside of Panama City, Florida. The series included footage of their experiences in the air, as well as interactions with their families and instructors. Directors Tony Scott and Ridley Scott were co-executive producers. Unsuccessful in the ratings, the series was cancelled after two episodes.
A century ago, the world experienced a revolution in mobility. Cities like Berlin grew rapidly, with the Graf Zeppelin soaring over the city in 1928, sparking excitement for airship travel. These majestic airships made ocean crossings faster and more luxurious, and even enabled polar expeditions. At the same time, automobiles and motorcycles became staples for many, although streets became congested. Women like Amelia Earhart and Elly Beinhorn broke barriers in aviation, inspiring new possibilities for both genders in the field of technology. While air travel grew in popularity, trains remained the main long-distance transport. The era also saw an explosion of new mobility options, with faster, cheaper ways to travel across the globe, making the world seem smaller and more connected. However, this golden age of mobility would be cut short by the outbreak of World War II.
Dallas Campbell and Dr Hannah Fry investigate what it takes to get a million people and their luggage off the ground and up in the air. From building the world's biggest passenger plane to navigating through the busiest airport on the planet, to the perils of getting airborne in the coldest city on earth - Dallas and Hannah go to extremes to get under the skin of the remarkable story of departure. You will never look at flying in the same way again.
