What's the biggest thing that can fly?

Adam Hart-Davis sends a flying loop skywards

Taking flight

Which pioneer aviator had a beak? Discover the answer to this and more with the science of flight.

Inflating hopes

In a bid to get to the edge of heaven, Bedford students and a lot of paper come together. Follow them with our balloon diary.

There is a limit to how big you can build an aircraft. Once it gets to a certain size its mass prevents it staying airborne whatever shape you make it.

But what, exactly, is that size? And what is possible?

Adam investigates the science of making big things fly by building an airship to lift his weight. It may sound easy, but Adam's determined to do it the hard way and build the entire structure out of paper!

Content last updated: 30/05/2006