Planes That Changed the World
A supersonic spy plane that can reach Mach 3 and the very edge of space. A seven-story, flying double-decker that can carry up to 853 people. And the Holy Grail of aircraft design that revolutionized air travel as we know it today. These are the amazing journeys of three planes that changed the world: the SR-71 Blackbird, the DC-3, and the Airbus A380. Each extraordinary plane has an extraordinary story to match, including big gambles, brilliant minds, maverick figures, and life-threatening challenges.
- 2015-2015
- 1 season
- The Smithsonian Network
- Documentary
A supersonic spy plane that can reach Mach 3 and the very edge of space. A seven-story, flying double-decker that can carry up to 853 people. And the Holy Grail of aircraft design that revolutionized air travel as we know it today. These are the amazing journeys of three planes that changed the world: the SR-71 Blackbird, the DC-3, and the Airbus A380. Each extraordinary plane has an extraordinary story to match, including big gambles, brilliant minds, maverick figures, and life-threatening challenges.
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Season 1 Episode Guide
Episode 1
DC-3
46 mins
Wing flaps. A circular fuselage. Swept back wings. A little bit of the historic DC-3 exists in every plane that flies today. This masterpiece of engineering went against all received aviation wisdom when it was created in the 1930s, but the gamble paid off magnificently, and created a revolution. The DC-3 helped boost an economy still reeling from the Depression, played the lead role in the D-Day invasion, and through its versatility, rugged reliability, and economy, changed air travel forever.
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