Sam Becker
Director
The Secret of Flight (1959)
Season 1
A lecture series about the basic problems of flight, explained by visual presentation of flow experiments. As the material of the lectures should be understood by every interested listener, no mathematical or other theoretical knowledge is used for explanation. Every problem is demonstrated by a true-life experiment and purely scientific language is avoided. Each of the lectures deals with a basic problem of flight. The experiments are mostly shown as flow picture but at certain points scale models and flying models are used to ensure easier understanding.
Released Jan. 1, 1959
Episode 29 min
None+
Genres: Documentary
Keywords: tmdb.educational, tmdb.historical-documentary
Production Companies: Annenberg Media, NET, Iowa State University
Network: PBS
Country: United States
Languages:
English
S1E1 - Preview
Dr. Alexander Lippisch introduces his series and the basic laws of fluid motion by means of new methods of visualizing the flow phenomenon. He also introduces the Smoke Tunnel (a type of wind tunnel) which is so designed as to make it possible to observe the entire flow field and to see clearly the action of the aircraft components. He shows how the first man-made flying vehicle, the kite, is a primitive application of the dynamic lift of the flat plate.
Jan. 1, 1959, midnight
S1E2 - The Laws of Fluid Motion
Dr. Lippisch points out the main problems of flight: lift and drag, control and stability, and propulsion. He explains the correlation between flow velocity, the local pressure, and the distance between streamlines. A picture of a light plane in flight is projected into the wind tunnel so that viewers may have a side view of such a plane and the streamlines around it. He explains velocity distribution and demonstrates how increasing speed diminishes the pressure on a surface and vice versa.
Jan. 8, 1959, midnight
S1E3 - The History of Early Flight
Dr. Lippisch's theme is the historical development of the flying machine. He begins his lecture with a short demonstration of Penaud's model. He shows how the invention of the cambered wing led to the first man-carrying aircraft, the glider. The next problem, the problem of control, was not conceived until the Wright Brothers began their pioneering glider experiments in Kitty Hawk, and Dr. Lippisch shows a scale model of their last (1902) glider and its control arrangement is demonstrated. As he shows film clips of the Wright Brothers' airplane, he explains the function of this first power aircraft.
Jan. 15, 1959, midnight
S1E4 - The Discovery of Dynamic Lift
The Wright Brothers solved three problems with their first plane: lift, control, and propulsion. The problem of lift was the one which caused the most controversial opinions between scientists and engineers. Dr. Lippisch traces the development of the cambered wing section until a streamlined cambered plate led to the development of the modern wing profile.
Jan. 22, 1959, midnight
S1E5 - Stability and Control
Even before the improved lift devices were designed, the stability and control problems had to be solved and further improvements incorporated into the original systems. Dr. Lippisch illustrates how the stability and control system of the Wright brothers' glider differs from the system on the conventional aircraft of today.
Jan. 29, 1959, midnight
S1E6 - Propulsion
After the lift, stability and control problems were solved, a propulsive system was needed to make the aircraft fly. The first propulsion device - the propeller - is still in use today. Dr. Lippisch explains the design of the propeller and demonstrates the lifting propeller - the Helicopter Rotor.
Feb. 5, 1959, midnight
S1E7 - The Problem of Drag
Discusses and demonstrates the problem of drag created by friction and turbulence. Explains the need for a high ratio of lift to drag' to produce an aircraft with good performance characteristics. Illustrates with diagrams and models in the wind tunnel, also uses high speed photography of air movement over a wing in the wind tunnel.
Feb. 12, 1959, midnight
S1E8 - The Induced Drag
Discusses induced drag which is directly connected with the principles of lift and demonstrates the vortex configuration caused by the wing tip. Illustrates with diagrams and models in the wind tunnel.
Feb. 19, 1959, midnight
S1E9 - Different Aircraft Systems
The first airplane to fly was what would be called today a Canard Type airplane; it had a horizontal stabilizer in front of the main wing. Today’s Conventional Type plane has the stabilizing surfaces are of the same size. Dr. Lippisch explains all three models. He also describes the Allwing Type plane which is made by combining wing and tail surfaces, sweeping the wing tips backward, and placing the control areas on the wing tips. He discusses the fundamental law of stability and demonstrates this on models in flight and in the Smoke Tunnel.
Feb. 26, 1959, midnight
S1E10 - Lift Theory and High Lift Devices
Explains the principles of lift. Uses the smoke tunnel to demonstrate the methods developed to produce wings with high lift capacity. Discusses stalling and how it is prevented.
March 5, 1959, midnight
S1E11 - The Story of the Vortex
Defines a vortex and explains its structure. Shows several types of vortex including the ring, tip and thermal vortex. Uses the smoke box, water tank, and motion pictures of tornadoes to illustrate how a vortex behaves.
March 12, 1959, midnight
S1E12 - Flight of Nature
"Man seems to have surpassed nature as he can fly faster and higher than the natural flying creatures. But further study of the flying habits of birds and insects is still necessary." Dr. Lippisch presents a discussion on the wing motion of birds and insects and how the texture and shape of the wings differ with the various birds and insects. Not only airborne animals apply the laws of fluid motion; the program also presents the propulsive systems of fish and shows the action of the fishtail-propeller in the Smoke Tunnel.
March 19, 1959, midnight
S1E13 - Modern Problems of Flight
Discusses new aerodynamic problems caused by high speed flight. Explains the different flow regions corresponding to the subsonic, transonic, and supersonic velocities. Demonstrates the generation of shock waves in supersonic flow. Shows filmed sequences of supersonic flow configurations. Points out and demonstrates the basic concept of the newest development in wingless aircraft, the Aerodyne.
March 26, 1959, midnight
Network: PBS
Episode Runtime: 29 min.
Season Runtime: 29 min.
Released: Jan. 1, 1959
Last Air Date: March 26, 1959, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: NR
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