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Aerial Journeys | Looking at the British landscape from the air
About this collection
Inspired by the television series 'Britain From Above', this collection brings together highlights from over 60 years of broadcasting from the air, narrated by some distinguished personalities.
Dating 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.
Documents also reveal the drama behind some of the ambitious broadcasts and a famous poet's involvement in this aerial story.
Features
- A Letter from John Betjeman
A Letter from John Betjeman
- Go With Noakes: The Red Arrows
- Bird's Eye View: Green and Pleasant Land
Bird's Eye View
Green and Pleasant Land
What were the implications for a countryside under constant threat?
- Television Goes Flying
Television Goes Flying
The BBC makes its second attempt to broadcast live from the air.
Aerial Journeys Collection
- Programmes (20)
- Documents (7)
Children's Hour
How It's Done: Aerofilms
Aerial photographers discuss their work from the early 1900s onwards.
Newsreel
Operation Pegasus
News report on the first live television filming from the air.
Newsreel
Car Engined Plane Wins Air Race
Raymond Baxter reports on the South Coast Air Race.
Television Goes Flying
The BBC makes its second attempt to broadcast live from the air.
Bird's Eye View
The Englishman's Home
The first episode of a groundbreaking series on Britain as viewed from the air.
Bird's Eye View
Man on the Move
Aerial views of mankind's various modes of transport through the ages.
Bird's Eye View
Green and Pleasant Land
What were the implications for a countryside under constant threat of development?
Bird's Eye View
Beside the Seaside
Britain's seaside life, viewed from the air.
Tomorrow's World
Maps
'Tomorrow's World' explores the scientific feat of aerial photo mapping.
Bird's Eye View
From Bishop Rock to Muckle Flugga
An aerial journey from a lighthouse in the South West to the north of the Shetland Isles.
Bird's Eye View
Wales: the Western Stronghold
Take a journey over land and through time with this film of Wales shot entirely from the air.
Go With Noakes
The Red Arrows
John Noakes meets members of the Red Arrows.
Chronicle
Digging from the Air
Britain's ancient past is discovered from the air.
The Living Isles
After the Ice
A natural history programme on Ice Age Britain.
Q.E.D.
Round Britain Whizz
Britain's coastline as you've never seen it before.
Rally in the Sky
Coast to Coast 2: From the Dales to Flamborough Head
Six intrepid teams race their microlights across the roof of England.
Blue Peter Special
Freefall Record Breaker
Janet Ellis takes to the skies as she trains for a freefall parachute jump.
The Everest Years
Reflections of a mountaineer while climbing in the Lake District.
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