Critique du Library Journal

For the 2003 centennial of the world's first controlled airplane flight, these two programs bring to life the genius and tenacity of the Wright Brothers. The shorter Wright Brothers' Flying Machine describes how the two bicycle mechanics from Dayton broke down the problems of flight into lift, control, and propulsion. To measure lift and drag, they built the first wind tunnel, using spare parts from their shop, the accuracy of which is only slightly less than today's computer-designed tunnels. They invented wing warping for flight control, the principles of which are used to fly all modern airplanes. In this program, a team of modern builders reconstruct Wilbur and Orville's gliders and the Wright Model B airplane without the original plans-they are jealously guarded. The Model B crashes. Wright Brothers' is suitable for junior and high school audiences as an introduction to the Wright Brothers and basic aerodynamics. Kitty Hawk presents the details, struggles, and near defeats missing from Flying Machine. Everything about this documentary is first-rate, from its use of archival photos, film footage, and computer animation to reenactments with working replicas. Follow the Wrights' progress through readings from their letters and interviews with experts, with the voices of the Wright Brothers portrayed by no less than space pioneers John Glenn and Neil Armstrong. This program clearly conveys how the Wright Brothers really did invent the airplane on their own, thoroughly trouncing every scientist in the world. A bonus DVD is packed with two more hours of footage of the early flights, replicas of the 1902 plane flown by modern test pilots, the eight most important machines the Wrights invented, and more. Highly recommended for all libraries and flight enthusiasts. [It was a busy centenary year: see also The Wright Stuff, Video Reviews, LJ 3/1/04.-Ed.]-Michael Schau, Seminole Community Coll. Lib., FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.