Season 1
10 episodes · Dec 4, 2006
Season Videos
0/10 watched
Swipe a row to mark watched · long-press to mark up to there
- S1E1
Fighter Planes
Dec 4, 2006Chris traces the history of aerial combat, taking a ride in a World War Two Spitfire and meeting crack Dutch F16 fighter pilots along the way.
- S1E2
Hot Rods
Dec 5, 2006Chris explores the world of hot rod racing, in which ordinary cars are customised into high-speed vehicles, originally inspired by a need for cheap yet quick transport. He looks at how the machines developed over the years, with simple engineering allowing for huge increases in velocity.
- S1E3
Record-Breaking Trains
Dec 6, 2006Chris continues to study the evolution of fast machines, including the elegant steam engine City of Truro. He investigates modern transport icons, such as the Intercity 125 and the French TGV, before taking a ride on the floating Maglev train, capable of going up to 311 mph.
- S1E4
4x4
Dec 7, 2006Chris explores how four-wheel-drive technology has revolutionised the pursuit of speed, beginning with the world's first 4x4, the Spyker 60 HP - entered into the Birmingham Hill race in 1906. He also takes a look at the classic Jeep, designed by Karl Probst in just five days, and the Audi Quattro.
- S1E5
Powerboats
Dec 8, 2006Chris explores the history of speedboats, starting with the Jazz, a powerboat that used a unique "stepped hull" to decrease water resistance. He also investigates the first three-point hydroplane, the Bluebird K4, and racing catamarans, discovering these vessels are capable of great velocity even over choppy waters.
- S1E6
Sports Cars
Dec 9, 2006Chris traces the evolution of sports cars, from the Bugatti Type 23 of the early 20th century, though such 1950s models as the Mercedes Gullwing to the latter-day Bugatti Veyron which is capable of reaching a top speed of 254 mph.
- S1E7
Armoured Vehicles
Dec 10, 2006Chris explores the world of armoured vehicles, tracing their evolution from the early models of World War One to the contemporary bomb-proof presidential limousine capable of speeds in excess of 200kph. He also examines a variety of World War Two armoured personnel carriers designed to carry out raids into enemy territory.
- S1E8
Motorcycles
Dec 11, 2006Chris visits the Isle of Man, which has been hosting the Manx TT for more than a century, to learn more about the evolution of the motorcycle. He also gets the chance to take a spin on some of the machines which have competed in the race, from the 1914 Rudge Multi to the 1997 MV Augusta F4.
- S1E9
Warships
Dec 12, 2006Chris examines a range of fighting ships, from 17th-century galleons and ships of the line to modern vessels packed with firepower and high-tech gadgetry. He reveals how enormous sails were used to harness the power of the wind and the necessity for stealth technology in contemporary warships.
- S1E10
Attack Helicopters
Dec 13, 2006Chris rounds out the series by charting the development of attack helicopters from the experimental autogyro of the 1920s, to heavily-armed military models of the 1970s and 80s, including the fearsome Soviet Hind, the record-breaking Lynx, and the stealthy Apache AH-64.