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The Best Episodes of First Flights with Neil Armstrong

Every episode of First Flights with Neil Armstrong ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of First Flights with Neil Armstrong!

NASA Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong adds to his long list of space flight & aviation accomplishments as he takes the controls of a variety of flying machines. Each episode blends historic footage, interviews, and flying.

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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 1 - By the Seat of Their Pants
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    #1 - By the Seat of Their Pants

    S1:E1

    Using Lilienthal's glider research, the Wright brothers achieved controlled flight. The French reacted with renewed effort and Bleriot crossed the English Channel. Each airplane had its own personality and a pilot flew by his wits, instinct and luck.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 2 - Every Day a Better Design
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    #2 - Every Day a Better Design

    S1:E2

    Aviators separated into two groups: the airplane designer/builders and those who tried to master the art of flying. While French pilot Pegoud thrilled crowds by performing aerial loops, new airplanes pushed the bounds of speed and distance.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 3 - Flying Aces, War in the Air
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    #3 - Flying Aces, War in the Air

    S1:E3

    WW1 gave the airplane a job, soon the battlefields were full of unarmed aircraft, peering down at the trenches, then carrying news of an impending attack. With a machine gun mounted on the cowling of a Morane-Saulnier Bullet, the fighter plane was born.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 4 - Flying Entrepreneurs
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    #4 - Flying Entrepreneurs

    S1:E4

    After the war, seasoned pilots who had once dueled with an enemy over the trenches, now performed aerobatics for spectators. Aviators as barnstormers quickly became an endearing folk hero; and also businessman carrying mail and passengers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 5 - Flying the Mail
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    #5 - Flying the Mail

    S1:E5

    Airmail pioneers demonstrated that airplanes had a bright commercial future. The variety of aircraft was dazzling -- anything with wings was put to use. But conditions were harsh and pilots had to be hardy and brave to risk flying the mail.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 6 - Backyard Fliers: An Airplane in Every Garage
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    #6 - Backyard Fliers: An Airplane in Every Garage

    S1:E6

    In the 1920s when just about anyone could afford a car, interest grew in a safe, inexpensive airplane that anyone could fly. Convenience went a step further in roadable aircraft -- vehicles that could travel the highways, then convert to an airplane.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of First Flights with Neil Armstrong

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  7. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 7 - First in Speed: Air Racing
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    #7 - First in Speed: Air Racing

    S1:E7

    From the early years of flight until the late 1930s, air racing was the single most important testing ground for engineering advancements. It provided a breathtaking combination of daredevil risk taking and technological innovation..

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 8 - Bigger is Better
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    #8 - Bigger is Better

    S1:E8

    During the 1920's and 30's, designers believed that bigger is better. Airline companies were formed, requiring larger, more comfortable airplanes. With the limitations of early airfields for large planes, the flying boat became the queen of the sky.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 9 - Fighters Between the Wars
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    #9 - Fighters Between the Wars

    S1:E9

    Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan redefined the arts of aerial warfare with their revolutionary aircraft designs. As the storm clouds gathered for the Second World War, the rest of the world slowly began to rise to the challenge.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 10 - Testing Under Fire
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    #10 - Testing Under Fire

    S1:E10

    The first German WW2 air attacks destroyed most old biplane fighters. The Allies responded with new monoplane designs. Britain with the Hurricane and Spitfire. The US mobilized designers and builders and produced an incredible range of aircraft.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 11 - New Generation of Flyers
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    #11 - New Generation of Flyers

    S1:E11

    American industry entered the competition to create the world's best fighter -- one that was faster and carried more armament. A dramatic increase in horsepower produced the P-47 Thunderbolt, often claimed to be the fastest fighter of the war.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 12 - Air Battles At Sea
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    #12 - Air Battles At Sea

    S1:E12

    Light, maneuverable and capable of flying long distances, the Japanese Zero was the ideal air weapon for the island hopping Pacific war. While the Japanese built fleets of light, replaceable aircraft, the Americans opted for large, high-powered war birds.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 1 Episode 13 - Flash of Glory: Aerial Combat Enters the Jet Age
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    #13 - Flash of Glory: Aerial Combat Enters the Jet Age

    S1:E13

    During WWII, the Messerschmitt 262, and the Gloster Meteor were introduced. With these first operational jet fighters, a new era in aerial combat had begun. As jet met jet over Korea, the MiG-15 proved Russia to be a a major power in jet development.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 2 Episode 1 - The Helicopter: From Dreams to Reality
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    #14 - The Helicopter: From Dreams to Reality

    S2:E1

    In the 1920's, early auto gyros made breakthroughs in rotating wing design, and by the 1930's military interest propelled helicopter development. Advances in controls, and the availability of lightweight turbine engines finally made a practical helicopter.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 2 Episode 2 - Air Forts Of The War
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    #15 - Air Forts Of The War

    S2:E2

    The World War II bombers were capable of delivering an arsenal of destruction. Aerial warfare became a team effort that relied on coordination, accuracy and determination with up to 10 men in an aircraft, and sometimes 1,000 airplanes in a formation.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 2 Episode 3 - First Jets
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    #16 - First Jets

    S2:E3

    When jet engines appeared, a whole new set of problems appeared with them. For pilots, the early jets were a nightmare. Trained to fly propeller aircraft, pilots found themselves in need of drastic changes in technique.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 2 Episode 4 - Airliners: Passengers Join The Jet Age
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    #17 - Airliners: Passengers Join The Jet Age

    S2:E4

    WW2 aviation advances such as hard runways, large long range aircraft and cabin pressurization set the stage for growing passenger transport after the war. Soon jets slashed travel times and brought unheard of growth in mass transportation.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 2 Episode 5 - The Big Bombers
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    #18 - The Big Bombers

    S2:E5

    Development of jet engines and the tensions of the Cold War pushed development of long-range bombers that could fly around the world. While designers grappled with structural challenges, pilots struggled with the complexity of flying gigantic machines.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 2 Episode 6 - Jet Fighters: Wings Of Lightening
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    #19 - Jet Fighters: Wings Of Lightening

    S2:E6

    The U.S. and Russia rivalry developed jet fighters with fantastic speeds and high tech weapons. Computers were unseen co-pilot and some fighters only fired guided missiles. Before long a new generation of highly maneuverable dog-fighting jets was needed.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 2 Episode 7 - General Aviation: Barnstormers To Businessmen
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    #20 - General Aviation: Barnstormers To Businessmen

    S2:E7

    Flying for sport, business, agriculture or photo survey, a fleet of mostly single-engine planes comprises the fastest growing segment of aviation. General aviation is usually not state of the art, but rather clever uses of existing affordable technology.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 2 Episode 8 - Supersonic Bombers: The Elusive Search
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    #21 - Supersonic Bombers: The Elusive Search

    S2:E8

    In the early 1960's, the U.S. Strategic Air Command wanted high-flying supersonic bombers like the B-58 Hustler and the XB-70. But now the newest bombers are sub-sonic: the low-flying, radar-evading B-1B, and the high tech B-2 Stealth bomber.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 2 Episode 9 - Locusts Of War
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    #22 - Locusts Of War

    S2:E9

    The helicopter took on an offensive role for the Vietnam War. Bristling with cannons, rockets and guided missiles, created the gunships. Now the American Apache and Russian Hind are equipped with infrared night vision and lethal anti-tank weapons.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 2 Episode 10 - Attack Aircraft
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    #23 - Attack Aircraft

    S2:E10

    When a fighter or bomber strikes ground forces, it is acting as an attack aircraft. Many fighters can play this role, but recent wars have shown the value of dedicated attack aircraft, designed to hit hard and survive extensive battle damage.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 2 Episode 11 - Faster Than The Eye And Higher Than The Sky
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    #24 - Faster Than The Eye And Higher Than The Sky

    S2:E11

    From the early days of flight, the military looked behind enemy lines with better and better spy planes. After the top secret U-2 was shot down over Russia, Lockheed developed the SR-71. Flying at Mach 3 near the edge of space, it out flew any missile.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. First Flights with Neil Armstrong Season 2 Episode 12 - Experiments In Flight
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    #25 - Experiments In Flight

    S2:E12

    Chuck Yeager's X-1 flight through the "sound barrier" set the stage for the U.S. experimental X-program, a systematic exploration of fresh ideas in aviation. Pilots flew at the cutting edge of technology in untried, untested, and unknown aircraft.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"By the Seat of Their Pants" is the best rated episode of "First Flights with Neil Armstrong". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/25/1991. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Every Day a Better Design".