Life in the Air

With the help of some surprising creatures, discover how flying animals defy the force they all must conquer: gravity. In Africa, a caracal's 'rocket-propelled' launch enables it to catch birds in flight. An insect's ultimate ejector seat helps it to accelerate up to 700G with help from a clutch in its crotch, while a leaping snake's unique shape allows it to glide without wings.

This investigation into powered flight reveals how peregrine falcons can top 200 miles an hour and that the albatross's secret to flying lies in its nose. Heavyweight beetles break the rules to find love, a devious sparrowhawk uses agility to execute a lightning-fast raid on its prey, and half a million mother bats dominate the night sky with a dazzling display of aerial prowess.

This exploration of animals in flight reveals a creature that can create sound out of thin air during the world's fastest courtship display and identifies the world's most aggressive bird. In a South American jungle, bats and moths fight for the upper hand, while cameras reveal the secrets that keep half a million birds from colliding as they fly in the same crowded air space.