This program reviews the development of helicopters from their rather comical beginnings, to the latest beasts of today including commercially used helicopters such as Notar’s, widely used in rescue services, and military attack helicopters such as the Apache, Comanche and Tiger.
"Fastest Man on Earth" follows Craig Breedlove, three-time holder of the landspeed record, and Richard Noble, the current title holder, in the build up to the record attempts. This fascinating program features in-depth interviews with both men talking frankly about their hopes and expectations and follows them throughout the summer in training for the final countdown.
Indy cars, the fastest most dangerous racing machines on earth. GT sports cars, the fastest, most expensive road cars. These two extreme forms of racing are designed to push man and machine to the limits and beyond. These high performance monsters are built for just one purpose, to beat the opposition.
"Speed Freaks" provides an overview of all speed records, past and present. Featuring a comprehensive history of world speed boat records, the fastest planes in the sky, train records and landspeed records on both two and four wheels. This program also investigates some of the world's quirkier records, for example, in-depth coverage of one man's attempt to be the fastest rocket bike in the world! "Speak Freaks" is another action packed rollercoaster of a ride charting many years of high speed record attempts.
This program focuses on the fastest, largest, and tallest trains. We take a brief look at the steam era -- at the Mallard and the huge Big Boys of the Union Pacific railways and a more detailed look at the trains of today -- in particular the French TGV with its top speed of 320 mph. We investigate breaking systems, on-board computer systems and the latest in hi-tech tracks. We show some of the spectacular train crashes and disasters across time and take the audience on a time-lapse trip from London to Paris. Finally, we look at plans for the future with NASA's Maglifter concept -- a launch lift for tomorrow's space train.
Gripping archive footage documents tanks in action from the First World War to Desert Storm; the most advanced tanks in the world today; a glimpse of the claustrophobic world of the tank crew; US Future Combat System.
Journey towards the centre of the earth inside the deepest mine in the U.S.; the fire that broke out in the Channel Tunnel between the U.K. and France; what happens in a mine explosion.
Cars are the most popular machine on the planet; they are the machines of the 20th century. They thrill, they excite, they generate a loyalty and passion like no other machine. Car Crazy hitches a ride through the world of the automobile. We go drag racing with the world's fastest drag racers reaching speeds of over 515 kilometres per hour in just 366 metres. We drive off road with Baja Bugs, souped-up VWs that take on the worst nature has to offer and win. And we look to the future to see where the car is heading.
Experience the exciting and flamboyant world of aviation. This program focuses on unusual aircraft and man's most extreme methods of flying. We take a look at different ways of powering aircraft from a home-built plane powered with a lawn- mower engine to the cutting edge technology of NASA's solar powered planes. We take a close look into the world of VTOL - Vertical Take Off and Landing planes, specifically the infamous Harrier Jump Jet with its unique manoeuvrability and ability to take-off and land from almost anywhere.
In 1997, Andy Green broke through the sound barrier in the jet powered Thrust SSC. This incredible achievement was celebrated around the world and Britain honored Andy Green as a hero, the first man to break the sound barrier on land. Andy Green earned a place in the record books, but was he really the first? "Supersonic Landspeed" charts the history of those who risked their lives to break the landspeed record and examines how technology has evolved to make it happen.
Trucks are unquestionably the giants of the road. We cover all the uses of trucks throughout this film from the serious business of transportation almost everything we consume is at some stage transported by a truck to the thrills and spills of truck racing, witnessing the world's fastest truck racing a jet aircraft and truck stunts. We take a look at the New York fire brigade in action. Their trucks are so long that they need an extra driver at the back! We also feature the world's most expensive truck which doubles up as a TV studio. The price? A cool $6 million!
Profiles 4-wheel drive vehicles through a wide variety of terrains from the beautiful and dangerous glaciers of Iceland to the mighty and unforgiving Gobi Desert and beyond. We study their scientific development over the years and watch the amazing feats they can perform both for fun, racing, adventuring and stunts-and for far more serious purposes, the life-saving vehicles able to reach inaccessible and remote locations where no other road vehicle can go.
Hop aboard the U.S. Navy's huge floating fortress the John C. Stennis; profiling a variety of other carriers from the U.S. Marines to the British Navy; see carriers in a variety of temperatures from the equator to the Arctic.
See how today's nuclear submarines play an integral role in U.S. national defense.
We live in an accelerated age, travelling through space at 64,000 miles per hour, life moves fast, but for some, the pace is not fast enough. They hunger for speed, they go fast, they want to go faster. "Speed Freaks II" takes a look at man's obsession with investing millions of pounds and spending countless hours on developing newer and more dangerous machines for one purpose, to be the fastest person on the planet! Speed freaks will always push themselves to the limit, sometimes they will go too far, but they will always come back for more.
"Ultimate Speed Machines" looks at the most advanced extreme machines on the planet, beginning with arguably the most sophisticated of them all, the human being. Watch track champion and 200m world record holder Michael Johnson in action and take a look at a new British bike made of carbon fiber that promises to smash all speed records. This exciting program also looks at the fastest downhill skier, free faller, fastest boats, trains, cars, motorcycles and aircraft, making it a must for all speed lovers!
After many trials and tribulations, we follow the continued attempts of Craig Breedlove and Richard Noble to achieve the elusive landspeed record. We follow Richard Noble's tests and preparation in the Jordan desert and look at the new modifications to his car. This film culminates with Noble and Breedlove's head-to-head challenge at Blackrock in September 1997, each driver hungry not only for the record, but also to go supersonic!
Documentary looking at some of the most spectacular and dramatic train journeys in the world, including meetings with the engineers, drivers and passengers. The programme explores the historical background of some of the lines, and highlights the incredible engineering feats needed to build them.
The 21st Century promises to offer travellers a wide range of new flying experiences. From giant triple deck super jumbos to supersonic planes and giant airships, flying in this century will continue to be the most fascinating and fastest way to travel the globe. This program looks at the ideas that are still on the drawing boards, such as time-reducing suborbital flights, to aircraft that are ready to roll out of the hanger and fly passengers to exciting new destinations.
Adrenaline Junkies are obsessives who are hooked on danger in all shapes and forms. They rely on the performance from their speed machines to fulfill their dreams. These people can be found on land, in the sea and up in the sky. The Californian desert racers custom build their cars to go faster and faster over some of the most dangerous roads imaginable. Patrick de Gayardon and Barbara Brighetti practice extreme parachuting and sky surfing often reaching speeds of over 120 mph; and meet Shaun Baker, an extreme kayaker who takes his canoe over waterfalls. These adrenaline junkies are always just one step away from disaster, always pushing both man and machine to the limits of their endurance.
The psychology of vertigo, and people who live and work in the world's tallest buildings
A profile of some of the US Air Force's most advanced aircraft technology, including the B-2, the Harrier Jump Jet, the Apache chopper and the Comanche stealth helicopter.
An amphibious craft designed to transport military personnel and equipment, and the M1A2 Abrams tank, built to destabilise enemy forces with enhanced control systems.
Whether above or below the water the US Navy can defend against their enemies through sea power.
Bonneville Salt Flats is the spiritual home of landspeed racing. This exciting program sees Al Teague, who beat the world record for wheel-driven cars in 1991, return there to defend his title against speed legend Don Vesco and his super car in the 1999 World Speed Finals.
This fascinating program gains an insight into the lives of the title holders of "Fastest Man on Earth" who explain their obsession with speed. Meet Andy Green who jets across the sound barrier in his Tornado jet and Pat Rummerfield, a quadriplegic who smashed the world landspeed record.
For hundreds of years one of mankind's oldest and most persistent aspirations was human flight. Today the world's fastest race planes can exceed 800 km/h. This is your ultimate guide to the superplanes.
