On October, 19, 1901, the people of Paris turned out by the thousands to watch a dashing, impeccably-dressed Brazilian-born inventor, Alberto Santos-Dumont, conquer the skies. His fragile, gas-powered balloon made an astounding half-hour flight over the city and around the Eiffel Tower. For a brief moment, Santos-Dumont was the toast of Paris and acclaimed around the world. Then, eclipsed by the growing fame of the Wright Brothers, Santos-Dumont began slipping into illness and depression. Featuring re-creations and replicas of Santos-Dumont's pioneering balloons and airplanes, the program reveals the daring flights and dramatic life of this neglected genius.