The Dassault Dream

Since the early days of manned flight, France has been a major hub and leader in world aviation. Through the pioneering spirit of names such as Blériot, Farman, Pégoud, Voisin and many others, the advancement of aircraft design and breaking of records persisted at an incredible pace. The young Frenchman Marcel Bloch became inspired when he witnessed the Wright Brothers flying in-person, and so set his course on a lifelong pursuit of aviation. He would contribute to the French designs used in the First World War, and after a brief hiatus following the conflict, would then return to the business with financial success for both commercial and military aircraft. His legacy seemed doomed however, when with the advent of the Second World War his aircraft were outclassed in combat, France was overrun with Bloch taken prisoner, and eventually being sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. His survival against such odds motivated a name change: 'Dassault', in honour of his brother's resistance pseudonym.

France would again build aircraft, and it would be Dassault leading the way with a long lineage of aggressive and high performance military jet aircraft. Policies of innovation and extrapolation ensured long term success through programs like Mystère, Mirage, Étendard and Rafale. Despite finding further success in the post-war civilian market, it was to be the name of Airbus who would go on to dominate European airline production, as well as provide solid competition to the U.S. manufacturers. Still a leader in world aviation today, the dream that bears the name of Marcel Dassault continues into the 21st Century.

Featuring interviews with Bernard Ziegler.

Narrated by Richard Todd
Music Composed and Performed by Toby Gilks
Series Written, Produced and Directed by Stanley Hitchcock

Filmed in Russia, the United States, Japan, China, Italy, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Great Britain and Sweden, Wings Over the World pulls together a series of mammoth proportions. Containing much previously unseen footage from around the world, each documentary tells the story of 20th Century flight as seen through the eyes of those who were boys at the time of the Wright brothers memorable first flight - boys who grew into the men who built world aviation.

Wings Over the World Full Playlist:
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