Loading descriptions...
NOVA reveals the daring flights and dramatic life
of Brazilian-born inventor Alberto Santos-Dumont.
On October 19, 1901, the people of Paris turned out by the
thousands to watch a dashing, impeccably dressed Brazilian-born
inventor, Alberto Santos-Dumont, conquer the skies. His fragile,
gas-powered balloon made an astounding half-hour flight over the
city and around the Eiffel Tower, and later, he piloted Europe's
first-ever airplane flight. For a brief moment of glory,
Santos-Dumont was the toast of Paris and acclaimed around the
world. Then, eclipsed by the growing fame of the Wright Brothers,
Santos-Dumont began slipping into illness and depression. During
World War I, the airplane, which he believed to be his own
invention, became a lethal weapon, eventually driving him to
despair and suicide. Featuring captivating re-creations and
replicas of Santos' pioneering balloons and airplanes, NOVA reveals
the daring flights and dramatic life of a neglected genius.
