First Flights with Neil Armstrong (1991)

Episode Overview

Two years following their initial manned flight, the Wright brothers achieved a significant milestone by successfully flying in a circle, a feat that largely went unrecognized at the time. By the onset of World War II, innovative hydraulically assisted controls emerged, allowing pilots to operate planes exceeding 100,000 pounds without needing a co-pilot's strength. As digital signals began to effectively guide spacecraft, it wasn't long before fly-by-wire technology was adapted for aircraft, marking another leap forward in aviation.