PBS Specials

Plane Crazy, Part 3: On a Wing and a Prayer (1998x7)

Air date: Oct 28, 1998

An ill-fated attempt to build an airplane in 30 days. Cringely appears renewed. After taking a chainsaw to 46 days of agony and aggravation, he embarks on plane number two. Cringely vows to build his plane and goes home to his native Ohio. There, in Portsmouth, he enlists the help of a family firm of plane-builders and evangelists who don't think he's nuts. In the end, despite the advice and scorn of experts, engine trouble and even floods, Cringely finally completes his plane and flies it, too. His pride restored, he reflects on the lessons learned from such an epic: turn a hobby into work and it just may drive you crazy.