James May on the Moon

[the_lone_wolf]

Anyone else watch it?

What an underadvertised gem of a program!!!

Now I don't cry often, the last time being years ago when we had our last dog put to sleep, but this had me in tears at times with the sheer awesome scale and beauty of our world when viewed from an outside window like that.

Then on top you have the very profound interviews with the original crews who went up there, and their stories now they've had to return to earth knowing they'll never get to experience it again.

I think May summed it up pretty well when he stepped off that U-2, saying something like "If everyone had one chance to see that, our entire outlook on politics, religion, education, everything, would be different".

Congratulations BBC on producing something worth watching amongst the general crap on TV...:cool:

And no, I've not been drinking[-X

[ThEGr33k]

When was it on? Ill have to use the told Iplayer me thinks. He does some damn good shows tbh. :D

[mattSV]

Great bit of television, worth every pence of license payers' money :D

How the feck did the U2 land without landing gear on the wings?

[jamesterror]

.. about to watch it on iplayer

[keithd]

fabulous programme

[fizzwheel]

Congratulations BBC on producing something worth watching amongst the general crap on TV...:cool:

Agreed, fantastic piece of TV :cool:

Matt - The U2 wings have titanium skid plates on them and when it lands its drags one wing on the ground till the ground crew prop it up with some temporary wheels that fit into the wing.

[the_lone_wolf]

How the feck did the U2 land without landing gear on the wings?

edit: what fizzwheel said:mrgreen:

greek: it just finished, 21:00-22:00 on BBC2:cool:

[the_lone_wolf]

BTW, if anyone was wondering what that stirring bit of music that the BBC have used for this and other programs like Planet Earth is, it's "Hoppipolla" by the Icelandic band Sigur Rós

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmXMA34CeoQ

[dizzyblonde]

Just watching one on BBC4, follow on program I think....interesting.

[Mr Speirs]

Yeah. I watched it. Brilliant program.

[Jamiebridges123]

Didn't watch it, but will be watching it on iPlayer when availible (now?) based on recommendation from a friend/from on here. Sounds good, looking forward to it!

[the_lone_wolf]

Just watching one on BBC4, follow on program I think....interesting.

Is that "James May at the edge of space"?

That's the kind of "making of" program, similar but not the same one I think:cool:

[dizzyblonde]

Is that "James May at the edge of space"?

That's the kind of "making of" program, similar but not the same one I think:cool:

thats the one. Captain Slow has done some very interesting programs.

[the_lone_wolf]

thats the one. Captain Slow has done some very interesting programs.

he has, i've got a lot of time for him too, perhaps because we share the same haircut...

[dizzyblonde]

he has, i've got a lot of time for him too, perhaps because we share the same haircut...


lol. I have a lot of time for his books too......mainly when in the throne room;);)

[sinbad]

Yep, good program.

Perhaps one of the better things about the existence of TopGear is that these sorts of programs get made. The James May ones are always worth watching, even Hammond has done a few good ones, whilst taking a break from day time and children's TV.

[Geoffrey]

Matt - The U2 wings have titanium skid plates on them and when it lands its drags one wing on the ground till the ground crew prop it up with some temporary wheels that fit into the wing.
+ 1

although technically the skid doesn't actually touch the ground until the aircraft has virtually stopped, even then this is a rarity. when the aircraft flies over the runway it is chased by another pilot in car speaking to the pilot via a radio, it is this pilot in the car that guides the aircraft down and advises the flying pilot when a wing is starting to dip. the majority of landings are successful with the aircarft not dipping/dragging a wing at any point, dolly wheels are re-secured at the end of the runway.

it was a TR-1 not a U-2 by the way

[sinbad]

+ 1

although technically the skid doesn't actually touch the ground until the aircraft has virtually stopped, even then this is a rarity. when the aircraft flies over the runway it is chased by another pilot in car speaking to the pilot via a radio, it is this pilot in the car that guides the aircraft down and advises the flying pilot when a wing is starting to dip. the majority of landings are successful with the aircarft not dipping/dragging a wing at any point, dolly wheels are re-secured at the end of the runway.

it was a TR-1 not a U-2 by the way

At my most pedantic I could similarly correct you and say the 2 seater would actually have been a TU-2R.

All variants of the U2 though.

[Jabba]

Great bit of television, worth every pence of license payers' money :D

Yep - couldn't agree more. Fantastic telly :thumbsup:

Like James May, I too was woken up by my parents to watch the first moon landing. Seems that all my class-mates at school were too as there were some bleary-eyed six-year olds that day. And we all wanted to be astronauts :-D

[Raf]

I saw it on iPlayer last night, very cool. There is also the James May on the edge of space which is a 30 minute program just about the preparation & the U2 flight itself, good watch too.

[El Saxo]

Watched it on iplayer last night - awe inspiring stuff when he was up the U2 plane! 8)

[Jamiebridges123]

This program was some of the best non Top Gear TV, well, for as long as I can remember.

[Spiderman]

Finally got round to watching all the moon stuff i''d recorded. It was all ace. Now who wants to lend me £20million or so, thats about enough for a short visit to the moon apparently. I promise i'll bring you back a nice pic or 2.

Anyone?

[Viney]

*checks down the back of the sofa*

[tigersaw]

missed it thanks to the cable feeding my leccy going pop under the road.
Its the kind of thing they should be pudding on bbc hd, not all this poxy tennis

[Spiderman]

*checks down the back of the sofa*

Thanks mate. A rich man like you wont even miss that amount of small change right?

And as those money worshiping profiteers say "every little helps" :)

[Nicky S]

clicky to watch (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00lfdbv/James_May_on_the_Moon/)

i have to say that this is probly one of the best things i have seen. i would love to do it or even do the gravity free bit :P well worth the watch