Wings of Madness

Originally broadcast on the PBS-aired NOVA series, Wings of Madness tells the story of long-forgotten aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont (1873-1932), a Brazilian-born inventor who advanced the concept of airplanes and dirigibles as personal flight machines. Living and working in Paris (he self-financed his efforts thanks to a generous inheritance), Santos-Dumont became a celebrity in the early 20th century when he flew his aircraft over the city's landmarks. But the achievements of the Wright Brothers sparked a controversy over who deserved credit for inventing the airplane (and the French and Brazilian governments still champion Santos-Dumont). During the height of his fame, Santos-Dumont hobnobbed with Europe's most important and influential dignitaries, yet his private life was marred by tragedy, including the onset of multiple sclerosis and periods of deep depression. Santos-Dumont abandoned aeronautics in 1910 following a crash and in later years was bitterly upset that aircraft were being used primarily for warfare. Based on Paul Hoffman's biography of the same name, Wings of Madness resurrects Santos-Dumont's contributions to the development of aviation while also trying to piece together the curiously elusive aspects of his personal life and the circumstances surrounding his suicide in 1932. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (P. Hall)