Worth a Watch
A collection of fascinating aviation videos covering aircraft development, engineering achievements, historical events and the people who helped shape aviation.
Spitfire Mk I to Mk 24 — How Spitfires Kept Getting Better
Imperial War Museums | Approximately 15 minutes
The Spitfire is one of the most recognisable aircraft ever built, but the aircraft at the end of the war was very different from the original. This video explores how the Spitfire evolved through successive marks, with improvements in engine power, aerodynamics and performance. An interesting look at how engineers continued to improve a successful design.
The Story a Photo Tells — Wright Brothers’ First Flight
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | 3 minutes 48 seconds
We’ve all seen the famous photograph of the Wright brothers’ first powered flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903. But how much can one photograph actually tell us? This short video takes a closer look at that historic moment and the remarkable achievement it captured.
Samuel P. Langley and the Aerodrome A
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | 2 minutes 42 seconds
While the Wright brothers were experimenting with powered flight, another well-funded aviation pioneer was attempting to achieve the same goal. Samuel Langley’s Aerodrome was an ambitious design, but its unsuccessful launch attempts demonstrated just how difficult controlled powered flight really was. An interesting reminder that engineering progress often comes through failure.