Watch First Flights

1990
3 Seasons

First Flights is an aviation documentary series produced by Kinonation that zeroes in on famous pilots and their pioneering efforts in aviation history. Within each episode, viewers get a chance to understand the zeitgeist of a given era, understand each pilot's motivations, and experience the challenges, as well as successes, associated with their groundbreaking journeys. Featuring a cast of talented actors and compelling interviews with aviation experts, First Flights is an informative and inspirational tribute to some of the aviation industry's most memorable moments.

The series dives into aviation's past and brings it to life in vivid detail. At the center of each episode is a legendary aviator and a life-defining moment in their career. Whether they are famous for being daring, innovative or simply just a trailblazer, the series focuses on how these pilots courageously achieved new heights that changed the course of history. These aviators are a testament to the human spirit, demonstrating how anything is possible with the right level of inspiration, passion, and innovation.

The tone of the series is informational and insightful, creating a vivid and enthralling picture for the viewer. The interviews with aviation experts provide historical context and understanding to the aerial battles and races that defined those days, making the episodes both interesting and informative for both aviation enthusiasts and casual viewers.

Some notable episodes within the First Flights series cover aviators such as Wiley Post, Bessie Coleman, and Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith. For instance, the episode "Wiley Post And The Lockheed Vega" presents the biography of Wiley Post, who was the first pilot to fly around the world solo. The episode focuses on his journey, which was full of danger and excitement, as well as looking at the airplanes he flew and how they incorporated revolutionary technology for their time. We also get an insight into his wider life and the struggles he faced, culminating in his tragic and untimely death.

In "Bessie Coleman And The Curtiss JN-4," we get to learn more about Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to obtain a pilot's license. Largely self-taught, Coleman remains an inspiration to aspirant pilots everywhere. This episode delves into her life and chronicles how she overcame racial and gender barriers to achieve her goals. We also see how she developed her skills and gained mastery over the Curtiss JN-4 - nicknamed the âJennyâ - one of the most famous airplanes of the early 1900s. Finally, we see how Coleman's legacy continues to inspire new generations of pilots.

Lastly, in "Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith & The Fokker F VII," we learn about the life of Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith-- perhaps the most famous aviator in Australian history. Kingsford-Smith's fame stemmed from his daring flight across the Pacific. He set several aviation records and had an admiration for innovation that was often risky in its scale. The episode explores his daring and charismatic personality and his many adventures along the way. We see how he came to fly the Fokker F.VII, which was the airplane behind his most famous journeys.

Each episode of First Flights provides a good balance of historical events and human interest secrets. The seriesâ major strength lies in its ability to make its subjects come alive and bring the excitement, wonder and thrill of aviation's pioneering days to the forefront. The exceptional cinematography is worthy of mention as it adds depth to the storytelling throughout the series. Kinonation clearly went to great lengths to bring the era to life in high definition and provides viewers with a flavor of that time, to see how both aeroplanes and pilots conquered their respective skies.

In conclusion, First Flights is a fascinating and inspiring series that can be enjoyed by all. It offers an intriguing look at some of the aviation industry's most enthralling moments, painting a picture of the times' atmosphere, and highlighting the pioneers who were at the forefront. Each episode is well-structured and informative, with fantastic cinematography and an outstanding cast of experts and passionate aviation aficionados. For any aviation enthusiast, First Flights is a must-watch series that provides insight, inspiration, and an interesting perspective on history.

First Flights is a series that is currently running and has 3 seasons (39 episodes). The series first aired on December 31, 1990.

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Seasons

3 2 1

13. Propellers: Wings With A Twist

The Wright brothers realized that a propeller was a rotating wing.In the 1930s, variable pitch and NACA research revolutionized propeller design. Today, fast turboprops with advanced propellers can be more efficient than the best jetliners.

12. Flight Control: Wing Warping To Fly-by-wire

Two years after the first manned flight, the Wrights mastered control sufficiently to fly the first circle. By WWII, the first hydraulically boosted controls were invented. Digital flight control, fly-by-wire technology, has become state of the art.

11. Flying Blind

In the early days of flying, a weighted silk stocking tied to a strut might help the pilot gauge his airspeed. Wartime forced pilots to learn the skill of blind flying. Today, orbiting satellites and autopilots enable an aircraft to fly itself.

10. Flying Wings

Searching for flight efficiency, some designers thought the ideal shape should be just a wing. Though development of flying wings has often proved illusive, Northrop's designs proved feasibility. The B-2 Stealth Bomber shows the concept holds promise.

9. Tail First Flying: The Canard

When the small tail wings which enable an airplane to go up or down are moved to the front, they are called canards. It was an almost forgotten technology as old as manned flight, but canards are making a bold reappearance on the modern aviation scene.

8. Jump To The Sky: Jet Vtol

Conventional airplanes need large runways, a limitation that concerned defense planners. As turbine engines became lighter, a new breed of aircraft became possible -- one that could take off and land vertically, yet fly with the speed of jets.

7. Water Birds: Floatplanes And Flying Boats

By the 1930s, flying boats and seaplanes were the craft of the future. Flying boats -- massive, airborne ocean liners -- opened up global routes for passengers, while floatplanes were the fastest, most innovative flying machines in existence.

6. Whirling Wings: Evolution Of The Rotorhead

From Cierva's autogyro, to the BK-117, the heart of the helicopter has been the rotorhead. Early helicopters were complex, dangerous machines, prone to failure. For the men and women who took the controls, concentration and daring were essential.

5. Workhorse Of The Sky: The Turboprop

The turboprop is a mix of two successful technologies, the jet turbine and the propeller. Highly reliable, the turboprop has been the workhorse of the skies for decades, and remains the mainstay of commercial short-haul aviation.

4. Flying Lite: Gliders & Ultralights

Ultralight airplanes evolved from hang gliding enthusiasts' attempts to glide further by adding small engines and propellers. Now reliable, tested ultralights are flown by multitudes of recreational pilots.

3. Mass Transit In The Sky

During the 1960's, the general population embraced air travel. Larger airplanes were needed, with lower noise levels. The pilot's role changed to meet the demands of the developing airlines. Jumbo and narrow body jets were developed.

2. First Around The World

The ultimate test of aircraft and pilot was to fly around the world. Competition and showmanship were always a part, but it was the mental and physical endurance of the men and women who climbed into the cockpit that made success possible.

1. First To Fly

A hundred years before the Wright brothers, the hot air balloon had already lifted man to the sky. It grew in size, and culminated in the huge pre-WW1 dirigibles that still hold the record for the largest craft ever to lift off the ground.

Description

Where to Watch First Flights

First Flights is available for streaming on the Kinonation website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch First Flights on demand at Amazon Prime, Amazon and Hoopla.