Product Description

The Magic of Flight (39 min.) takes you on a technological thrill ride faster, higher, and wilder than modern science or even your imagination! Relive the historical first flight of the Wright Brothers in 1903, then soar with the world-famous Blue Angels as they defy the laws of gravity with their most breathtaking maneuvers. Narrated by Tom Selleck, The Magic of Flight highlights and salutes a variety of modern aircraft, the people who fly them, and the human potential of training and performance. Ever wonder "how did they do that?" "The Making of 'The Magic of Flight'" (42 min.) puts you behind the camera and provides further insights into the world of aviation and the techniques used to get some of the most amazing airborne footage ever captured on film. Shot using high-definition cameras, "The Making of 'The Magic of Flight'" captures the enthusiasm and excitement of the crew who made this groundbreaking film. Disc 2 includes the complete feature in Microsoft Windows Media High Definition, playable on your PC.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15255 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-06-29
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 82 minutes

Amazon.com
Fly with the U.S. Navy's elite Blue Angels demonstration squadron in the breathtaking video The Magic of Flight, which explains the basic principles of what enables airplanes (and birds) to fly, what creates lift, how planes maneuver, how planes land again. Going back to the Wright Brothers' experiments at Kitty Hawk, the documentary explores how the intrepid bicycle makers ruminated on the elements of flight for many an hour before even attempting to assemble their first aircraft. The Blue Angels put into action the discoveries made by the Wright Brothers, as they make their selections, train, and perform.

Pilots push their high-performance fighter planes through difficult but graceful maneuvers for amazed air-show audiences, demonstrating where the state of the art really lies for 21st-century flying. For all the skills of the pilots, however, the most astonishing part of the video would have to be the camera work, with cameras mounted on the planes' bellies, noses, and cockpits to give an up-close view of what the machines are really capable of. Planes fly arm's length apart during maneuvers where the slightest misstep would mean certain catastrophe. The Magic of Flight does indeed go a long way toward capturing the wonder of flying, with spectacular camera work, editing, and production. --Jerry Renshaw

Customer Reviews

Not enough flying
It's a good enough feature to interest you, but for the hardcore aviation enthusiast, you'll probably be left wanting for more. However, it is good for the new aviation enthusiast.

Great Aviation Pictures
This is a must for the aviation enthusiast. Great pictures from Blue Angels training and air show performance.
Allthough the Wright were not the first to do a powered flight (it was an other american 2 years earlier).
The video material is of the highest quality and pure fun to enjoy: the bigger the screen, the better.
A goodie is the additional DVD Rom with PC HD WMV material.

average
An older product, great voice of Tom Seleck. I like the Windows media DVD format. They did a lot of work creating the movie as showed in the "extras" but it misses the "Magic".