Aerial Journeys

Inspired by the television series Britain From Above, this collection brings together highlights from decades of broadcasting from the air, narrated by some distinguished personalities.

Starting from 1949, it includes the test footage of the first live aerial broadcast and samples of the first major television series filmed entirely from the air. Included are also other ways the BBC has taken to the skies over the years, from hot-air balloon to RAF jet.

Children's Hour - How It's Done: Aerofilms
audio
News - Air Ambulance
video
Newsreel - Operation Pegasus, 1950
video
Car Engined Plane Wins Air Race, 1951
video
Television Goes Flying
video
Bird's Eye View - The Englishman's Home
video
Bird's Eye View - Man on the Move
video
Bird's Eye View - Green and Pleasant Land
video
Bird's Eye View - Beside the Seaside
video
Tomorrow's World - Maps
video
Bird's Eye View - From Bishop Rock to Muckle Flugga
video
Bird's Eye View - Wales: the Western Stronghold
video
Go With Noakes - The Red Arrows
video
Chronicle - Digging from the Air, 1979
video
Hot Air!
audio
The Living Isles - After the Ice
video
Q.E.D. Round Britain Whizz
video
Rally in the Sky - Coast to Coast 2: From the Dales to Flamborough Head
video
Blue Peter Special - Freefall Record Breaker
video
The Everest Years
audio
Tuesday Documentary - Jumbo
video
Perpetual Motion - Concorde
video
Supersonic journey, 1976
video
Bristol Brabazon's London landing, 1950
video