- Format: NTSC, Import
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Pbs Home Video
- VHS Release Date: July 28 1998
- ASIN: B00003A9RW
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Product Details |
Product Description
Video Details
Join Robert X. Cringely, computer industry gossip columnist and high-tech gadfly as he sets out to design, build and fly an airplane in 30 days, having never before accomplished this feat in less than a year-and-a-half. Along the way, Cringely seeks advice from a host of experts as well as some other rather unusual people, including preachers, the Internet and the Tappet Brothers of National Public Radio. In the end, as one observer noted, this special "is as much about airplanes as Moby Dick is about fishing."
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3 reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
PBS special deals more with craziness than with planes
Nov 20 2005
It's pretty hard to describe the feeling one gets from watching "Plane Crazy." I suppose it begins with disappointment and then segways into bewilderment before finally settling morbid curiosity. This 3-hour PBS special deals less with planes than it does with craziness.
There is little in the way of "information" in this show. Once you get over that fact, however, it can be rather entertaining. The premise is a little arbitrary, but interesting enough: host Robert Cringely attempts to design and build an airplane in 30 days. This task is eclipsed by poor planning, emotional baggage and a bizarre romantic entanglement. Not surprisingly, the attempt is an utter flop, and the host eventually calls in a team of professionals working from plans to complete the project. I'm sure there was some bickering between PBS and the producers as to whether or not they should even air the program.
As a documentary, "Plane Crazy" is a complete failure, but as a freak show it's almost entertaining in the style of reality TV - like watching a train wreck or, dare I say, a plane crash.
There is little in the way of "information" in this show. Once you get over that fact, however, it can be rather entertaining. The premise is a little arbitrary, but interesting enough: host Robert Cringely attempts to design and build an airplane in 30 days. This task is eclipsed by poor planning, emotional baggage and a bizarre romantic entanglement. Not surprisingly, the attempt is an utter flop, and the host eventually calls in a team of professionals working from plans to complete the project. I'm sure there was some bickering between PBS and the producers as to whether or not they should even air the program.
As a documentary, "Plane Crazy" is a complete failure, but as a freak show it's almost entertaining in the style of reality TV - like watching a train wreck or, dare I say, a plane crash.
A wild ride down Emotional Street
Nov 25 2008
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As said by others this show has little to do with the mechanics of building a plane yet should be watched by every Psych 101 student. Give a man an impossible task, sit back and watch what happens as the clock ticks down. In fact he says it best himself, "I'm two days in and already a week behind", and it gets worse from there. It's a fascinating show in that it lays out by example just how important it is to plan and take your time - of which he pretty much doesn't have time for due to the insane time limit. He's not just building a plane but also having it designed from nothing in that time frame - a task that takes a good designer many weeks if not months.
If it sounds like I don't like the show it's just the opposite. I thought it was an excellent display of how some things can't be rushed and what happens when someone tries to. I built a car from nothing and it took years. If I was told I had a month I wouldn't even start.
Technically he does end up with a plane at the end, though it's a kit plane built at the factory with his "help." I'm not sure if that can be considered a success or not, but it *is* very entertaining, even if most of the time you're just shaking your head.
It's a shame this is VHS only ("what's that", say the kids.)
If it sounds like I don't like the show it's just the opposite. I thought it was an excellent display of how some things can't be rushed and what happens when someone tries to. I built a car from nothing and it took years. If I was told I had a month I wouldn't even start.
Technically he does end up with a plane at the end, though it's a kit plane built at the factory with his "help." I'm not sure if that can be considered a success or not, but it *is* very entertaining, even if most of the time you're just shaking your head.
It's a shame this is VHS only ("what's that", say the kids.)
1 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A film for technology buffs
May 25 2001
Have you ever wondered, can someone really design and build a plane from the ground up in just 30 days? This film accounts this interesting problem, starring Bob Cringely. This film contains many interesting obstacles that are overcome with many interesting solutions, with the use of technology and modern-day information. Even though this tape is not for everyone, anyone interested in computers or technology might want to give this tape a look.
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