Preparing for Take Off

Episode image for Preparing for Take Off

Episode 1 of 3

Duration: 1 hour

Travel in time from the heady glamour of Britain's first terminal at Croydon to the signs and squiggles that direct pilots, as well as passengers, in today's airports. This series reveals how rivalry, skulduggery and sheer passion for flight gave birth to our airports, turning muddy airfields into the 24-hour mini-cities we know today. In the process, they've transformed Britain - giving us the freedom to travel anywhere we want and inspiring fear about our borders.

Rare archive, access to airports' hidden corners and contributors ranging from philosopher and author Alain de Botton to the man charged with scaring birds off Manchester's runways, reveal all.

More episodes

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  • Programme Clip: Birdman

    Programme Clip: Birdman

    Watch an extract from the programme about how airports have attempted to ensure that birds and planes don’t mix.

    Watch here

Credits

Narrator
Philip Glenister
Producer
Gaby Hornsby
Executive Producer
Clare Sillery

Broadcasts

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