Anime's reach for space epic
Unlike "Apollo 13" and similar astronaut dramas where the flight itself is the focus, this anime is all about the preparations surrounding the nation of Honneamise's first rocket launch that will put a man in space for the first time. In this world, this is a crackpot idea utterly disregarded by everyone as crazy and useless. So much so that even though the main character's life dream was flying fighter planes, his (bad) grades only leave him the Royal Space Force as an option.
I have to admit that I was going "Come on, launch now!" more than once but the slow-burning drama builds up to a very satisfying and apotheosic ending where everything comes together. The words "One small step for man..." are paraphrased in the movie and this is basically the idea: it brings back that feeling of the Space Program as a glorious endeavor that has so been lost in the decades since the Apollo program.
Seldom I've seen a world in a movie or anime so exquisitely crafted as this one. And I'm not just talking Miyazaki-style steampunk gadgets and Soviet-style booster rockets, but minute details such as the way people celebrate something or how they say goodbye when a ship is leaving. These details are all over the movie and are like little easter eggs that suddenly give a lot of depth to the world.
"Honneamise" presents the point of view as well that it's utterly Earthly concerns such as greed, war and social struggle that keep us away from the stars. Still, like all knowledge-for-knowledge's-sake scientists and explorers the Space Force makes do, trying to sell their soul as little as possible to the establishment machine in order to reach their goals no one else believes in. Mankind is portrayed as a centaur: part lofty purpose, part beastly aggression.

On a technical note, the anime shows its age mostly in its 80's avant-garde music and the character designs; however, it is marvelously animated (check out the explosions and rocket blasts, they are simply awesome). Its main drawback seems to be its slow-pace and for that it didn't earn 5 stars for me, for this will effectively keep away a lot of viewers. However, for those who stay, the experience is well worth it.

HD DVD and Blue Ray picutre is identical
First of all, both the Blue Ray and HD DVD presentation of this film look identical. Why people have to write flat out lies in their reviews because they prefer one format over another is beyond me.
Secondly, this is a great movie and while the HD version is an upgrade over previous versions it is far from perfect and shows it's age with grain and some flat colors.
So, while I recommend this it is with caution that it isn't quite where it needs to be yet.

Both versions are identical!
Buy whichever you own, if you have HD then buy HD, if you on Blu-ray then buy Blu-Ray, if you own both, buy whichever one you can find. Today is the 13th and Amazon still hasn't shipped this movie on HD-DVD! :(

If you want proof on the identical picture and sound go to highdefdigest.com and read the reviews of both movies, the guy saying one over the other more than likely owns neither format.

One of the few great animes I can enjoy English dubbed
Royal Space Force and the man in the middle of it all. Wings of Honneamise tells a great underlined story that many young people can relate to. It is the follow your dreams story of Shirotsku Ladat, a young man who had desires to be a pilot, but because of his "averageness" he took the next best thing: a fledgling space program underlined by his country's military. The military space program is not fully respected and with the recent failed attempt launching a pilot into space (the pilot dies in the attempt), The Royal Space Force is at a stand still and suffers termination unless they can get another pilot. In a quest to become greater than he is and to be the pilot he dreamed to be, Shirostku(or Shiro as they call him), decides to step up to the challenge. And the adventure begins from there. A great movie, with tons of comedic and thought provoking moments. And a great musical score by Ryuichi Sakamoto as well. It's extremely hard to find on DVD, So HD-DVD heads out there, I recommend you pick this one up.
I am usually very fickle about the English dub of Anime. I sometimes find the acting flat and not as emotionally intense as the original Japanese voice acting, but this movie was a pleasant change. The voice acting is quite good.

Royal space force
this is a great Animae movie of an alternative 'analogue' technology with clear links to aviation and computor developments that ceased at the end of world war 2. I found the depth of detail in the animation compelling and I was able to get involved in the characters and the plot very easily.