All Episodes of Diamonds in the Sky
Browse all episodes of Diamonds in the Sky
It all began on 25 August 1919. Four passengers left Hounslow Heath for Paris - the world's first regular, daily, international air service. Today 600 million people travel by air every year. How has this
Season 1
N/A/100 votesChanging the World
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 11/1/1979
In Papua New Guinea, almost overnight, air travel transformed a stone-age country into a 20th-century state. It brought remote hill tribesmen into the age of the computer, the flush lavatory, the English language and the tourist credit card. Now the sons of headhunters travel by air as a matter of course, both as passengers and crew. They share the same advantages, irritations and doubts as the rest of us.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
- N/A/100 votes
Running an Airline
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 11/8/1979
A candid behind-the-scenes picture of a modern airline during a remarkable year. In 1978 like most airlines in the USA, United Airlines tempted customers with cut-price fares with names like 'Supersaver', 'Chickenfeed' and 'Peanuts' - and seduced air travellers into the skies as never before. While passengers experienced unprecedented delays, frustrations and overall chaos, the airlines counted up the cash - and executives are optimistic for the future.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
- N/A/100 votes
Opening the Routes
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/15/1979
Air travel today makes better sense when thrown into relief by what came before. In 1919, airline pilots followed railway lines expecting to make regular forced landings. But as wood and fabric bi-planes gave way to comfortable and reliable Empire flying-boats, service levels on the ground and in the air became more and more exclusive. Among all that we've gained, what have we lost?
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
- N/A/100 votes
Conquering the Atlantic
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/22/1979
The air conquest of the North Atlantic pit the aeroplane against the elements and against the airships - and of both against the ocean liners - in a race to the first commercial air service over the most prestigious route linking the New World with the Old.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
- N/A/100 votes
Travelling for Fun
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/29/1979
7 out of 10 travellers are on holiday, all flocking to the same 'unspoilt' beaches, beauty spots, and places of interest. What is the social impact of millions of package air tourists descending on countries, large and small, developed and underdeveloped?
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
- N/A/100 votes
Dealing Down the Line
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 12/6/1979
The British Airways team operating in the Middle East is accustomed to dealing with fuel crises, food shortages, technical problems and even wars. But the sonic boom of Concorde shatters the serenity of an oil sheikh's palace - and the repercussions are anything but routine.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
- N/A/100 votes
Flying into the Future
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 12/13/1979
Where has civil aviation brought us in the last 60 years, and where might it take us all in the future? Whatever technical challenges aviation engineers may be resolving, the whole future of air travel - as a social force - still holds many unanswered questions.
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown