Jets - when Britain ruled the skies.

dogmatix

Did anyone see “Jets! When Britain ruled the skies” last night on BBC4? Very entertaining, detailed and interesting programme covering such aircraft as the Brabazon, Brittania, Viscount, Comet/Comet 4C and the VC10. And brief views of such oddities as the Short Sperrin and Avro jet tudor. Almost a short TV version of the book “Empire of the skies” (which I recommend also). Well worth seeing if it is repeated. Best hour I’ve spent watching the googlebox since January.

Tenger

Must have a watch of that show, had heard about it before.

Highly recommend the book you mention however. "Empire of the Clouds" by James Hamilton-Paterson. Details the decline of the British aviation industry from the end of WWII up until the 1970's.
https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Clouds-Britains-Aircraft-Ruled-ebook/dp/B0045I7FYM/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1489061470&sr=1-2&keywords=empire+of+the+clouds+when+britain%27s+aircraft+ruled+the+world

coylemj

It's repeated fairly frequently, I must have seen it twice or three times, very entertaining and informative.

BTW OP, I don't think you're aware that you were looking at the second of a two-part series. According to the BBC TV website the first episode was shown the Wednesday before, March 1st ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01m85vv/broadcasts/2017/03

RadioRetro

As coylemj said, that was part 2 you saw, which concentrates on civil aircraft. Part 1 is about the military side of things.

Pat Dunne

It is always enjoyable to watch these TV programmes and similar, no matter how often they are repeated

Arthur Daley

God bless BBC4

dogmatix

Blast - I don't have a TV subscription since I cancelled Netflix recently, and Netflix never had BBC4 on it. I only saw it, as I happened to be babysitting at my sisters house that day.

I'll have to wait until it is released on DVD at the BBC shop.