The Thin Blue Line - Wonders of the Solar System - BBC

Professor Brian Cox travels 18km above the surface of the Earth, beyond the Atmosphere to get a rare glimpse of the Thin Blue Line protecting us. Fantastic HD footage from Wonders of the Solar System
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[@Radio478]

March 2024, still my favorite

[@tommy35ss]

Unfortunately this specific English Electric Lightening (XS451) crashed not too long after the filming of this documentary. The ejection seat failed and killed the pilot. Godspeed to him and I hope he gets to fly through the heavens of our universe now

[@cybertalos]

omg

[@tantiwahopak101]

Damn really man?

[@ChickenNugget-dk9hp]

ZU-BEX :( RIP Dave Stock

[@yosefkarter5601]

In thinking the pilot knew to much... about the firmament..*cough*

[@urban4957]

And god speed to thunder city. It may have been Mike’s poor consistency with aircraft maintainence that cuased this fateful crash, but goddamnit the thunder city he made was the last true haven for retired british aircraft. It will always be special to me.

[@yoji0]

Does anyone else want to just lay on a hillside at night with Brian Cox and listen to him talk about life, the universe, and everything?

[@farkhead6659]

What about Brian Cox talking you threw mastibation

[@iceman9646]

no

[@yoji0]

Isn't that a bit harsh?

[@Wildmountainsafaris]

I suppose so, 1 round will be enough.

[@yoji0]

Last I checked, he's married with children, one of which has "Eagle" as his middle name (after the Apollo lander). And bus spotting ain't bad. My dad used to spot trains, and probably would still if his joints weren't bothering him so much.

[@TheAganator]

Each time I watch it I'm moved and having tears in my eyes. Thank you Brian Cox for all awesome job you do for us!

[@Radio478]

This should be on national television ❤

[@tednol]

My dad used to pilot that very aircraft. Awesome clip.

[@xhlmjt8339]

Are there any left today?

[@davidbradley9865]

@@xhlmjt8339 there are many but they aren't aloud to fly in UK airspace anymore but there are a few people in South Africa that still fly them. Going by the blokes voice that's where this is

[@phmwu7368]

English Electric Lightning two-seater aka " The Frightening ". The RAF museum in London has XS925 on display !

[@beastinblack4055]

Greatest British plane ever. After the spitfire.

[@richardharrold9736]

+Beast Inblack Don't forget the Hawker Hunter. There have been some amazing bombers too - the Lancaster is just a brute, and the Vulcan has enormous charisma (if you've ever heard that howl, you will never forget it as long as you live).

[@lordofbore]

Too many British planes to list ,even the Fairey Gannet has a certain charm

[@RoverenderAlligator]

Richard Harrold My father used to paint the Hunters of The Black Arrows aerobatic team at North Weald in the fifties.

[@malcolmmorrison4937]

I prefer the mosquito. But one mans meat is one mans poison.

[@Kaname1981]

And the TSR-2

[@IrfaanProductions]

I really need to visit Earth more.

[@Torahboy1]

It’s mostly harmless

[@DeathBringer769]

Amazing how it can go straight up like that without stalling, especially for a 50s/60s plane.

[@kevinpierce3458]

Deathbrewer cos it was designed to intercept high altitude attacks. And it’s basically a rocket with a cockpit. Oh and it was designed and built in the UK by amazingly clever people who took incredible pride in their work and with a desire to win and be the best.

[@simonhanlon7518]

@@kevinpierce3458 and the only fighter able to intercept and overtake Concorde at Mach 2. It also intercepted a U2 bomber at 66,000 ft and continued to climb to 88,000 ft!! Wiped the smile off the US pilots faces.

[@kevinpierce3458]

simon hanlon yeah that old girl was a pure savage like, she’d still ruffle a few feathers today!

[@simonhanlon7518]

@@kevinpierce3458 Absolutely! My Father worked in the ICBM industry and knew a pilot that flew the Lightning, He asked him how fast it would go, he replied....as fast as you dare to go. He said after one test flight it went so fast it melted the nav lights !

[@kevinpierce3458]

simon hanlon wow!! Can you imagine actually getting to go in one

[@SirGalahadXs]

Song Sounds like the "life and death" track from the lost soundtrack ... But this version is simply breathtaking.

[@NanocDark99]

Dude... i was thinking if i should write it down in the comments and then i see yours. I swaer it sounds like lost!! I love this series sooo much as i love brian cox talk.

[@JohnyShepp]

I came here to see this comment. :) "Life and Death theme" in all of its variations always moves me to tears so I was like O_O when it started to play here. Altough it sounds slightly different, it's definitely a rip-off. But I love how fresh this version sounds. Does anybody know the name of this track?

[@PhilAEG]

Filmed at Thunder city - Cape Town international airport in South Africa. Looks like IP Mike Beachy was the pilot sitting in the lefthand seat of this English Electric Lightning T5 two seat side-by-side jet of which about a dozen were built. The vertical take off is amazing. After an accident in November 2009, Thunder City closed its doors and there are no longer Lightning in the air...

[@phmwu7368]

Thunder City jets, among which Hunter, Buccaneer and English Electric Lightning T5 were flown by Instructor & Test pilots Mike Beachy and Dave Stock... supported by a team of enthusiasts engineers & mechanics alike. Unfortunately ZU-BEX crashed in November 2009, begin of the end for Thunder City... RIP

[@robinstevenson1098]

Jelous. So jelous! Cox obviously appreciated it though! He doesn't bring a lot of science, but his wonder is made out of amazement that he knows so much, but so much to be learned..He gives both notions to the public. Genuine emthusiasm! What a guy!

[@oliviachatterjee7537]

brian cox...love him

[@roxanarosado8706]

I wish I could see it. Thank you Brian for this gift

[@Radio478]

The best ever aircraft ever

[@clk997]

wow! Amazing!!! Our planet is so beautiful!

[@eurofighter3516]

I went and saw Brian cox live just the other month in Brisbane QLD Australia

[@Jackh1212]

Fantastic British aircraft, one of best clips from wonders of the solar system

[@rrecyclebbin]

Watching this blue line i become emotional

[@tectorama]

RIP Dave Stock, and Mike "Beachy" Head...... There was one Lightning at Binbrook which got up to (from memory) 83,000 ft which impressed a USAF U2 pilot, and got up to Mach 2.3 to overtake a Concorde.

[@ryanlynn146]

It really is so beautiful

[@essy111]

Bonkers for risking this ride!

[@Radio478]

Thank you 😊

[@northeastlower]

LIGHTNING Best of British 🇬🇧

[@SHADOWRAWKS18]

I love it

[@kurtpavlak2547]

Ok, lets line up these flat-eathers for a ride. probably find a way to debunk their experience tho

[@m.b.82]

Yeah. Fish eye lense, curved glass etc etc. None of them have the industriousness to go on an antarctic expedition to find "the edge" yet

[@moonlandingagain3228]

Flat Earth People have Low IQ

[@eschewobfuscate]

3:34 You can watch the horizon go from concave, to convex as the plane rolls! Proving the visual distortion due to either the canopy of the plane, the curve of the camera lens, or both, but definitely proving that the earth is flat! Also, I have taken several flights across the U.S., and I have never seen the slightest hint of curvature! But you guys will probably say that the plane didn’t go high enough, right?

[@zurva8816]

@@eschewobfuscate so,did you ever find the edge of our earth ?

[@Radio478]

Highest only due to regulations, lighting was recorded at 88 Thousand feet

[@Radio478]

I worked for EE, we were the best

[@adamheron554]

I hope to do this before I die.

[@ChickenNugget-dk9hp]

No lightning take passengers anymore

[@adamheron3313]

@@ChickenNugget-dk9hp Yes they do. There are 2 seater trainers still in existence which are airworthy. They are just not allowed to be flown.

[@ChickenNugget-dk9hp]

Adam Heron Thunder city is closed and has been since the loss of ZU-BEX and pilot Dave stock in 2009

[@adamheron3313]

@@ChickenNugget-dk9hp Yes, thunder city ceased operations years ago, but you are incorrect in saying that the lightning no longer takes passengers. There are still 2 seater trainer variants of the lightning that are used for ground taxiing which accommodates pilot and passenger albeit flight is not possible.

[@ChickenNugget-dk9hp]

Adam Heron he said he wants a flight in one so I was saying how it won’t be possible now. I used to work on Russell Carpenters T5 at Cranfield and I’m well aware of it

[@ashwayn]

The lightening passed Mac 1 going vertical pilots said their first flight in one was a shock like being sat on 2 rockets

[@Rdodjproductions2017]

We got to  this planet..beautiful 

[@vipulsharma649]

veary nice

[@Radio478]

Fantastic i worked for EE

[@cornellkirk8946]

Brian carol the famous lightning pilot with over 3000 hours in one said he reached 87,300ft. Was doing mach 2 but was very close to stalling because of the low air speed 🤯

[@kurtpavlak2547]

Joe Rogan needs to send his buddy Edie Bravo on one of these planes. prove to him that the earth is round..

[@Radio478]

Its 2023, nothing beats the English electric lightning

[@kenmayfield3739]

I guess the footage was taken from another Lightning, after all, the only aeroplane that could keep up with it is ....another Lightning!

[@pilotlukep]

Love this programe series, thing is what i don't understand is that Concorde flew at these altitudes daily, over 2 million people saw the thin blue line...

[@RB747domme]

Luke Pearcy very few in relation to the Earth's population.

[@danieleagle668]

he was in the stratosphere same as commercial jets as the stratosphere starts at about 35,000 feet

[@Radio478]

I worked for Bae EE

[@dmoder1019]

So far, 28 people have given this the thumbs down. So far, 28 people are just wrong!

[@anthonyroberts6810]

Great example of British engineering.. Spherical earth xx

[@spittyboii]

Chills, everytime I watch this video and I only came here for the plane 🤣

[@jaridwilliams739]

i saw this going on a direct hk flight was very pretty

[@SSCFPA]

Reminds me of my last Concorde flight, 10 years ago come this November, G-BOAE's final flight to retirement in Barbados. This longer sector would reach 60,000 feet unlike the London-New York routes which got to 58,000. Given the weather conditions on the Barbados sector conditions were clearer and you really got to see the curve of the Earth and that deep, dark blue.

[@leephillips1516]

see now i didnt see the curve when i was on her.

[@frodrigues2008]

Hey flying the Eletric Lightening feels like youre in the Space Station i guess this unique engine design doesnt exists in another jet ever made.

[@HOLYLIFEIFY]

Holy spirit! Terrill T.C a.k.a Relic

[@johnburton9707]

looking at that video id say 60,000 feet is nowhere near the ceiling for that monster! lol is there a longer version of the film?

[@AlycidonDeltic]

Highest official record of a lightning aircraft was 88,000 feet, where it intercepted a USAF U2 spyplane

[@keithwaites9991]

@@AlycidonDeltic yes, I remember that incident. .apparently the lightning pilot waved at the shocked U2 pilot who understandably thought no other aircraft could possibly be up at that altitude (I have read that a Lightning could achieve 100.000 ft in a 'zoom climb' )

[@simonhanlon7518]

@@AlycidonDeltic That's right, the U2 was at 66,000 feet :-) and the Lightning showed them how it should be done.

[@phmwu7368]

And these days gliders fly up to 23000 meters altitude (Perlan project) ... higher than a U-2, but satellites rule the Strategic Reconnaissance 🤫

[@xellestar]

Indeed, or a tribute, it works very well for the show though

[@Radio478]

60 thousand is a legal requirement

[@cbomcnasty]

@mawsao yea whatever you say man

[@NuAllianceWestTV]

hahahah excellent....yet, very literal n true.

[@royhutchins3266]

One heck of an aircraft - rumour has it that one dived on a U2 over Cyprus when the U2 flew into our air-space!

[@Embers73]

Roy Hutchins a lightning got a missile lock on a U2 after a ballistic climb at 80000ft.

[@xJONROBSONx]

What's the music that starts at 2:34? Sounds a lot like Michael Giacchino, like something from Lost or something.

[@KurtMCox]

Yes I thought the same. It's a different spin on Life And Death.

[@AbsoluteZero6714]

The Lightning was designed as an interceptor, not a dogfighter.

[@leephillips1516]

Shame as it could out maneuver anything the Russian's had.

[@leephillips1516]

@A. Yuksel I know it's not a mig 21

[@jeffiles7953]

Certified to 60 000ft although recorded at 88 000ft in 1984 whilst surprising a U2 spy plane thought to be safe. And at it again in 1985 when BA offered up Concorde during trials to all NATO fighters on a come and get me basis. F14 F15 F16 F104 starfighter, Mirage. All failed to climb and catch Concorde on full power apart from one remarkable aircraft....the English Electric Lightning...Drop the mic.

[@markpreston3406]

"a very hot ship, even for a Lightning"

[@simonhanlon7518]

Indeed, My Father knew a test pilot that told him the Lightning top speed was basically how fast you dare fly it.....he said he melted the nav lights on one once, testing it.

[@xpndblhero5170]

He missed a good opportunity to say "I'm about to get Really High".... 😂

[@rmccis1441]

I knew it i see

[@wg8202]

Sat. 11/07/2020 So sad :(

[@IBIZABIKE]

Has his mum said he can do this ?

[@ankursangwan5665]

why the jet did not burst due to internal pressure?

[@xWDPx]

Michael Giacchino - Ji Yeon

[@nasirsiraj416]

can anyone name the music, please?

[@biohazard512]

The MiG 31 holds the absolute altitude record for an airbreathing aircraft at 120,000 feet (twice as high as this video), only various rocket powered X-Planes have been higher. Why didn't Cox go in one of those? (My guess is because MiG do not guarantee pilot safety above 67,000 feet, a spacesuit is too expensive for the beeb, and Cox himself is too patriotic to not go in the lightning.)

[@tucstwo]

+biohazard512 Indeed. Even an American U2 can reach 100,000 feet. I suppose they had to use a British plane to keep it English for the BBC. Sidenote, Top Gear did go up in a U2 a few years back.

[@MaroonBugUK]

+biohazard512 Ease of access. Thunder City has tickets for flying these. This aircraft is out of production and military use, and has been for years. It's now a collectors item and you can buy one for a million dollars. A MiG-31 is still in Military use, is much newer and so more expensive. The U2 requires special permission. Also, the Lightning gets up there much quicker.

[@eatthisvr6]

the lightning is the only aircraft ever to intercept a u2, the lightning was clocked at 88,000 feet and dived on the u2 lol

[@ctykckcktyvc7558]

They were zoom climbs, not sustained flight and the lightning has 2 seats + the mig31 doesn’t fly anymore and it melted it’s engines in the process of doing that, the lightning would clear 100,000 ft in a zoom climb easily

[@simonhanlon7518]

@@ctykckcktyvc7558 Absolutely ! The Lightning intercepted a U2 plane at 65,000ft once, then carried on up to 88,000ft.

[@verner4394]

Does anyone know what the music is?

[@vincentabel]

Verner lost theme song

[@calumknight9178]

Also first jet to supercruise......

[@marcb3211]

vertical takeoff at 1:59...slipping the surly bonds of earth.

[@Radio478]

We built the best

[@treelizard99]

What speed was the plane going at?

[@adamski101]

Haul speed x2

[@yoji0]

Huh, I didn't notice that the Lightning has the pilots sitting side-by-side instead of tandem. I didn't think they did that with fighter aircraft.

[@Danbutch24]

It's the trainer version. All of the full fighter versions where single seater. :)

[@richardharrold9736]

+yoji0 The Lightning and Hunter T-birds were side-by-side like the Jet Provost trainer. Most, however, were single-seaters.

[@lordofbore]

The F-111 Is side by side so is the SU-34 :)

[@the_once-and-future_king.]

Best prop fighter: Spitfire Best jet fighter: Lightning Best prop bomber: Lancaster Best jet bomber: Vulcan

[@TheJeremyPaul]

anyone know the song that comes in at 2:34?

[@verner4394]

Wondering the same, did you find out?

[@westindietv8054]

It sound like a slightly different version of the sad song they play on the show "Lost".

[@denisamunteanu2583]

do u mean the atmosphere

[@Andy_M986]

No flat earthers remarking in this thread,amazing.

[@HOLYLIFEIFY]

Tebel? Terrill T.C

[@essy111]

That plane crashed a month after Biran mentions in his book

[@jaymac7203]

Can we send all the flat earthers up there to shut them up? Lol

[@seamusbe8554]

It's similar, but it's not the same

[@909Junkies]

damn thats indeed beautiful !!! and we are about to destroy our planet:-( shame on us

[@infestus5657]

Hallo Gsm, 2022 grüßt.

[@leephillips1516]

Why are they using a fish eye lense ?

[@enzoferrari8005]

Coz water don't bend. Either do gyroscopes.

[@HardKore5250]

Lee Phillips What is that?

[@scottrgood]

Lee Phillips First thing I looked for, and first thing I saw once he was up there. It’s cause they’re DECEIVERS. Watch as he flips upside down and the earth is curved the opposite way it should be, then the curve reverses back to normal as the plane comes right side up again. Who knew earth was made of jello. 3:30.

[@dukedepommefrites8779]

Desperate for the money shot. Not good.

[@Markus117d]

@@scottrgood That's due to the curvature of the planes canopy, Aparently..

[@NanocDark99]

Lost anyone?

[@Radio478]

Raf brian carroll, hit 87.300 k ft

[@versyy4523]

just me thats watching this for a science lesson?

[@chrisgheko5823]

Which kidney would I have had to donate for a go?

[@hulkflattt7854]

3:30 HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa HaHaHaHa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@AsboJunior]

may did this before you mate

[@jeffvines1393]

Myth Busters before May mate ... you're point?

[@erichaynes7502]

If you want to fly in a military fighter jet DO NOT go to one of these fly by night airfields like Brian did here..this exact aircraft crashed in an airshow about a month after this was filmed. Keep in mind this Electric Lightning was built in the early 60's so it was around 50 years old when it crashed..think about this for a second about how dangerous a 50 year old military jet with thousands of hours of use and abuse. Turns out the maintenance on this jet was also really bad. The pilot actually ejected into the canopy, which was so old and corroded it didn't eject like it was supposed to. Finally, keep in mind military jets usually last for about 20-30 years tops due to all the stresses, corrosion, structural fatigue, expense of maintenance. They're dangerous enough when they're new, bright, and shiny but us average citizens shouldn't pay to fly on an old, worn out piece of metal that's full of highly explosive jet fuel. Brain got very lucky, he took a huge risk and got away with it, unlike the pilot who's life was ruined by flying something that should have been retired decades earlier. Sorry for the rant, this was such a horrible tragedy it really bothers me because it easily could have been prevented.

[@phmwu7368]

On the other hand, the pilot died doing what he liked best... flying high performance jet aircraft 🙃 R.I.P. Dave Stock !

[@Bearbones_]

Who else is watching this for shcool??

[@Radio478]

880000 ft

[@KIRRRRU19]

hahahah :)

[@markog1999]

that thing could catch U2 aircraft

[@Embers73]

Not sure in the video, but the plane is capable of Mach 2. It's maximum climb rate is 20,000ft/min. They were originally designed to intercept Soviet high altitude bombers in the Cold War. Not bad for a 1950's plane that was only intended as a temporary measure until something better was thought of.

[@adamheron3313]

Not bad for a 1950s aircraft? Not bad for all time. It still holds some of the most outstanding height to climb records of all time. The lightning was and will forever be way ahead of it's time! It set a new standard.

[@blisso9608]

wow im the 160th comment and the 137k viewer lol

[@joelnada3483]

THIS IS THE WONDER OF GOD...

[@joeduff8761]

That electric lighting jet is no match for the American windy tornado fighter

[@LBillionz]

3:09 Horizon is flat no curve at all

[@beastinblack4055]

WHEN BRITAIN USED TO BE GREAT!

[@kevinpierce3458]

Beast Inblack it still is man, talk yourself down but not me. It’s only because we bred ponces like you with your defeatist attitude that we have a problem. I’m sure your grandad would be sick to hear talk like that when he fought for you to ha e that benefit.

[@Brahmaakshya]

we are destroying so beautiful home of all living creatures.we are so wise and yet so dumb.......

[@johntrooper1153]

state trooper/state police protecting people lives from criminal