HOW AN AEROPLANE FLIES [Main Title]

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  • Title: HOW AN AEROPLANE FLIES [Main Title]
  • Film Number: AMY 473
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: A film in six parts illustrating the theory of flight using live action film, diagrams and models.
  • Description: Part I: LIFT: Shots of an Airspeed Oxford in flight. Comparison of air with water. The concept of air flow is introduced and demonstrated using practical examples including a Venturi tube. The effect of air flow on the wing of an aircraft is illustrated. Views of airfield, very likely RAF Boscombe Down, home of the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (AAEE), with a number of Avro Lancaster aircraft visible in the background. An Oxford lands on the runway. Further practical demonstrations. Part II: DRAG: Oxford in flight. Introduction to the notion of parasite drag, caused by moving a solid object through a fluid. Comparison again of air with water. Concepts such as air vortices and skin friction are examined. Gloster Meteor EE477 in flight. Handley Page Hastings in flight. Miles Marathon G-AGPD on airfield apron at Boscombe Down. Unidentified Avro Lincoln on airfield. A de Havilland Hornet performs a series of touch-and-go landings. Part III: THRUST: A small jet, possibly a de Havilland Swallow performs in the sky. An Oxford takes off and another is seen in the air. Meteor EE467 in flight. Lancaster test bed fitted with two piston engines and two jet engines stationary on airfield. Use of diagrams and models including a Meteor aircraft and a rocket to explain the concept of thrust. Part IV: FORCES IN BALANCE: View from cockpit of Oxford in flight. Use of diagrams to explain the notion of forces in balance, necessary for an aircraft to achieve equilibrium in flight. Part V: STABILITY: The theories of longitudinal stability (pitching), lateral stability (rolling) and directional stabilitiy (yawing) are studied with the aid of diagrams and models. Part VI: CONTROL: The concepts of longitudinal control (pitching), lateral control (rolling and banking) and directional control (turning) are examined. Footage of motor racing at Brooklands racing track in Surrey is used to illustrate lateral and directional control. Short Sunderland ML789 G-AGKY in flight.
  • Access Conditions:
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1947
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Shell Film Unit (Production company) Shearman, Jim (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 8 Footage: 5246 ft; Running time: 58 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Notes: Summary: Miles M.60 Marathon G-AGPD was operated by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (AAEE). The aircraft crashed at Boscombe Down on May 28th 1948 on a routine flight with the loss of both crew members on board. Summary: Short Sunderland III ML789 G-AGKY entered service with the Royal Air Force in 1944. The aircraft was transferred to the civil register in 1945, and was operated by a number of civilian operators until the aircraft was lost off the coast of the Isle of Wight in January 1953.
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    AMY 473

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