Aerial Journeys | Looking at the British landscape from the air
CHANNEL | Radio 4
FIRST BROADCAST | 13 January 1988
DURATION | 44 minutes 47 seconds
FIRSTBROADCAST
1988
From the humble beginnings of rock climbing near London to scaling Mount Everest, Chris Bonington recalls the significant expeditions and places in his life while climbing Goat Crag near his home. Despite it all, he concludes that wherever he goes in the world, there's nowhere more beautiful than his beloved Lake District.
Goat Crag was formed during the Caledonian period (approximately 500 million years ago). Some geology of the area may even predate this time. The Lake District contains the largest English lake, Windermere, and the highest English mountain, Scafell Pike, and became a national park in 1951.
Aerial photographers discuss their work from the early 1900s onwards.
News report on the first live television filming from the air.
Raymond Baxter reports on the South Coast Air Race.
The BBC makes its second attempt to broadcast live from the air.
The first episode of a groundbreaking series on Britain as viewed from the air.
Aerial views of mankind's various modes of transport through the ages.
What were the implications for a countryside under constant threat of development?
Britain's seaside life, viewed from the air.
'Tomorrow's World' explores the scientific feat of aerial photo mapping.
An aerial journey from a lighthouse in the South West to the north of the Shetland Isles.
Take a journey over land and through time with this film of Wales shot entirely from the air.
John Noakes meets members of the Red Arrows.
Britain's ancient past is discovered from the air.
A natural history programme on Ice Age Britain.
Britain's coastline as you've never seen it before.
Six intrepid teams race their microlights across the roof of England.
Janet Ellis takes to the skies as she trains for a freefall parachute jump.

Reflections of a mountaineer while climbing in the Lake District.
A 'Radio Times' draft and article about the BBC's first live broadcast from an aeroplane.
The Head of Television Programmes criticises 'Operation Pegasus'.
Cecil McGivern finds further fault with 'Operation Pegasus'.
Helicopter filming causes problems for John Betjeman and chaos ensues at Longleat.
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