A series of six programmes 5: A Gap in the Clouds
The future of the world's planemakers hangs precariously in the balance - Britain's among them. The airlines are slowly replacing their aircraft with newer, more efficient models, but the aeroplane they most need does not yet exist. There's a gap in the range of designs available, filled at the moment only by ' paper aeroplanes '. William Woollard reports from the United States and Europe on the race to fill that gap. With Michael Rodd , he examines the billion-dollar gamble which faces both the airlines and the planemakers. Choose now, and risk being wrong; delay too long and you're out of the race.
Andrew Neil talks to British Aerospace's chief planner, Sir Peter Fletcher , about Britain's chance - perhaps the last chance - to take part in that race, to be part of the winning team.
Film editor COLIN JONES Producer amis haws
Editor MICHAEL BLAKSTA * BBC Manchester