Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• DVD Release Date: April 26, 2005
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0007WFUK6
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,940 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

MODERN MARVELS:KITTY HAWK THE TECHNOL - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but too short, September 30, 2005

By 

K. Gittins (CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Modern Marvels - Technology of Kitty Hawk (History Channel) (A&E DVD Archives) (DVD)

Nicely made, though rather brief overview of the Wright Brothers development of the first controlled powered airplane flight in 1903.

This pair of bicycle shop owners, having never gone to college, performed a feat that many thought impossible - controlled, powered flight.

Obviously they built upon the expermentation of others such as Otto Lillienthal's glider tests and airfoil calculations (which proved to be inaccurate), but the Wrights developed their own airfoil design, made their own engine, carved the contra-rotating propellers, and developed wing-warping and a movable rudder for control.

Pursuant to the patent law at the time, they were prevented from demonstrating their machine, as other people worked on their own planes, notably the Frenchman Alberto Santos-Dumont who became the first European to briefy fly (in a short, straight hop) in 1906. Even a year later after the Wrights secured a patent and demonstrated their plane in Paris, the crowd was in awe of sustained and controlled flight - a miracle not thought possible.

The DVD has some nice computer-generated models and demonstrations, some archive movies of the planes in flight, and a brief analysis of the classic still photograph of the first 12 second flight - the only photo taken that day out of 4 flights. Also included are current-day historians with anecdotal comments of the Wrights and their accomplishments.

The DVD says it is 50 minutes long, but it is in fact only 43 minutes - rather skimpy. The DVD has no features at all beyond chapters. A bit pricey, but for history/airplane buffs it is perhaps an essential documentary.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wright stuff, June 17, 2011

By 

D. Vera "readyreader" (Gulf coast CC TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Modern Marvels - Technology of Kitty Hawk (History Channel) (A&E DVD Archives) (DVD)

Well related documentary. Substantial but not too deep. Something nice to have popcorn with. Great for inspiring innovation insights. Great for middle school or high school treat. Discusses the developement of the scientific as well as the political and economic obsticals encountered by the wright brothers. Good review of the methodoligy developed by the Wrights in inventing "heavier than air" flight. Great father's day gift. Great father/son or father/daughter entertainment; if they are techies. Bicycle shop vignet and background very well interwoven.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Technology of Kitty Hawk, August 10, 2010

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Randy (Maine USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Modern Marvels - Technology of Kitty Hawk (History Channel) (A&E DVD Archives) (DVD)

This video is outstanding. Going to use it with my 5th grade class when we explore a unit on Flight. This will be followed with a session on Flight Sim. A great addition to this unit.