Ep 1. Human Flight

Sport Science is a popular TV series that focuses on the science behind various sports and athletic feats. Season 1 of the show kicks off with episode 1 titled "Human Flight". The premise of the episode revolves around the pursuit of human flight and the science that enables us to reach the skies.

The host of the show, John Brenkus, takes us on a journey to discover the technology and techniques that allow us to experience the thrill of human flight. The episode features interviews with experts in various fields of science, including physicists, engineers, and aerodynamicists.

Brenkus begins by taking us to the top of a building and introducing us to a group of BASE jumpers. These daredevils use parachutes to freefall from buildings, bridges, and other high structures. Brenkus explains that the key to successful BASE jumping is not just the parachute, but also the aerodynamics of the jumper's body.

We then witness an experiment with a BASE jumper wearing a suit with wings, similar to a flying squirrel. Brenkus and the experts explain how the wingsuit design allows the jumper to control their speed and direction, but also how the airfoil shape of the suit generates lift, enabling the user to fly. The experiment shows the wingsuit jumper releasing from a platform and gliding over a distance of several hundred feet.

Next, Brenkus introduces us to a company called Aerofex, which is developing a hovercraft-like vehicle called the Aero-X. The vehicle uses ducted fans to provide lift and propulsion, enabling it to fly a few feet above the ground. Brenkus gets to test out the Aero-X himself and flies it around a field, demonstrating the ease with which it can be controlled.

The episode then shifts gears to explore human-powered flight. Brenkus travels to NASA's Ames Research Center to meet with engineers working on the Human-Powered Aircraft Challenge. This challenge involves designing and building an aircraft that can be powered solely by a human pedaling a bicycle-like mechanism. The episode shows the process used to design and build these unique aircraft, and we get to witness teams testing their designs.

Brenkus also meets with John Dickenson, an Australian inventor who designed and built a human-powered flying machine called the Gossamer Condor. The Gossamer Condor flew for the first time in 1977 and was the first human-powered aircraft to complete a controlled flight. Brenkus gets to see the Gossamer Condor up close, as well as meet with Dickenson himself.

The final segment of the episode explores the science behind modern-day jetpacks. Brenkus meets with Greg Barnett, who built a jetpack that uses two turbine engines to provide lift and thrust. Barnett demonstrates the jetpack's capabilities by lifting off the ground and flying around a field. Brenkus then gets to test out the jetpack himself, with the expert guidance of Barnett.

Overall, the first episode of Sport Science season 1 provides an exciting and informative look at the science behind human flight. The episode covers a wide range of topics, from wingsuit flying to human-powered aircraft and jetpacks. Through interviews with experts and demonstrations of various technologies, viewers can gain an appreciation for the many technical hurdles that must be overcome to achieve the dream of human flight.