14. Flight of the Century
Aired: 3/9/2003
To celebrate 100th anniversary of the first flight by Wright brothers, teams from U.S., U.K. and France built flying machines capable of stop exactly at the red line located in the middle of a dry lakebed in California's Mojave Desert - using materials and tools in 1900s. In addition to 20 hours build time, each team had 2 hours of decoration time, 2 test flights, and a modern FAA-approved engine to power the vehicles.
Teams - Members The American Eagles (USA) - Ken Kellet (Captain), Andrew King, Norm Kellett, Paul Stecewycz The British Buzzards (UK) - Darren Arkwright, Bill Brooks (Captain), Wendy Phillips and Iain Evans The French Falcons (France) - Géraud Lafage (Captain), Eric Toquoy, Dimitri Carstensen and Gerald Senger
The American Eagles built Walden IX; The British Buzzards built a hybrid based on Wright Flyer (1912 version)'s wings, French Antoinette's tail, and Bill Brooks' original fuselage; The French Falcons built Blériot XI.