Two years following their initial manned flight, the Wright brothers achieved a significant milestone by successfully flying in a circle, a feat that largely went unrecognized at the time. By the onset of World War II, innovative hydraulically assisted controls emerged, allowing pilots to operate planes exceeding 100,000 pounds without needing a co-pilot's strength. As digital signals began to effectively guide spacecraft, it wasn't long before fly-by-wire technology was adapted for aircraft, marking another leap forward in aviation.
Show
First Flights with Neil Armstrong
Episode
S03E08
Air Date
Nov 03, 1993
Season 3 Episodes
S03E01
Whirling Wings - Evolution of the Rotorhead
S03E02
Water Birds - Floatplanes and Flying Boats
S03E03
Jump to the Sky - Jet VTOL
S03E04
Tail First Flying - the Canard
S03E05
First Around The World
S03E06
Flying Blind
S03E07
Flying Wings
S03E08
Flight Control - Wing Warping to Fly-by-Wire
S03E09
Flash Of Glory - Aerial Combat Enters The Jet Age
S03E10
Flying the Mail
S03E11
Backyard Fliers - An Airplane In Every Garage
S03E12
First In Speed: Air Racing
S03E13
Propellers - Wings With A Twist