Air Warriors (2014)

Get an inside look at the USAF's go-to fighter jet, the F-15 Eagle, and discover the secrets of its unprecedented success.

Hop aboard the AH-64 Apache, one of the most heavily fortified and well-armed helicopters ever built.

Follow the journey of the U.S. Marine's V-22 Osprey, from early failures to war and humanitarian mission triumphs.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II was made for durability and power. With seeming indestructibility, it can eliminate armored vehicles, tanks, and even buildings with remarkable accuracy, all the while protecting American troops on the ground. Over the decades, it has repeatedly proved its worth, not only on the battlefield but in the eyes of its toughest critic: the U.S. Air Force. Discover the story of the ugly duckling affectionately named "Warthog," and see how this clunky but robust fighter continually out-flies and out-guns its competitors.

Tomorrow's wars will be won and lost using electronic warfare aircraft, and the U.S. is counting on two warplanes to win them.

For decades, the Black Hawk has played a role in nearly every American conflict and is used all over the globe. But how did the UH-60 become the Army's go-to bird? This is the inside story of how the military workhorse got off the ground and became a multi-mission lifesaver. See how its pilots and engineers learned from setbacks and tragedies and expanded Black Hawk's capabilities to improve getting soldiers into and out of the heat of the battle.

Take flight on the plane that revolutionized the U.S. Air Force's transport program: the C-17.

Drones have evolved to fly higher, longer, and more covertly than any manned airplane ever has.

It looks like a lumbering giant but the CH-47 Chinook is fast, agile, and has been the Army's go-to chopper for decades.

It's fast, it's acrobatic, and it's built to get in your face before you even know it's there. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the lightest fighter in the Air Force inventory, and ushered in a new breed of dogfighter. Witness its origins during the Vietnam War, as the U.S. military raced to create a fighter that could hold its own against the Russian's MiG. Then see how it evolved over the decades, adapted in order to stay relevant, and continued to soar to become the undisputed king of the multirole fighters.

The B-52 Stratofortress is affectionately known as the B.U.F.F., or Big, Ugly, Fat Fellow. Whatever you call it, the B-52 is one imposing beast of a bomber, stretching 159 feet, capable of flying nearly 9,000 miles in a single trip, and able to carry up to 70,000 pounds of weapons at a time. Join us as we crown the Air Force's longest serving heavyweight champ, a global reach aircraft that has, for more than a half a century, led the way in every major U.S. bombing campaign, from Korea to Vietnam to Iraq and beyond.

With its long-distance range and highflying dogfighting abilities, the P-51 Mustang was designed to dominate the skies and help end World War II. And it did. Take flight on an aircraft that symbolized the power and romance of the fighter, a plane that continues to stun and amaze today. We track the history of this nimble, robust Air Warrior, from its international origins to the challenges it overcame in the battle for air superiority over Europe, captured through compelling firsthand testimony and rarely seen combat footage.

It's sleek, powerful, fast, and innovative, with the grace of a chopper and the knockout punch of a fighter jet. The Harrier is the world's most famous short takeoff/vertical landing jet and the Marines' go-to aircraft for close-air support. But despite all of its amazing capabilities, the Harrier has sparked controversy over the years and has been forced to prove itself time and time again. Discover its remarkable story, as told by the men and women who maintain, fly, and fight with this icon of aviation.

Quite simply, the KC-135 Stratotanker is the backbone of American air power. This aerial refueler has allowed America's military aircraft to reach across the globe for the past 60 years, carrying up to 200,000 pounds of fuel with a transfer rate of 1,000 gallons per minute. Join us as we celebrate an aircraft that's always on call, always ready to adapt to unexpected situations, and always carrying enough fuel to feed thirsty U.S. fighter jets and keep them flying around the clock.

Over the last half century, the U-2 Dragon Lady has become one of the most reliable aerial reconnaissance platforms in the sky today. But its history has been turbulent, marked by Cold War scandals that sent relations with the Soviet Union into a nosedive. This spy plane was so secret, it was commissioned not by the Air Force, but by the CIA. See how this plane and its pilots have been pushed to the limit in order to stay off of enemy radar and save the lives of soldiers around the world.

Take the versatile design of the storied C-130 Hercules transport model, add a lethal number of miniguns, cannons and howitzers, and you get one of the most fabled and feared assets in the USAF inventory – the AC-130 flying gunship. This plane does not drop bombs or break speed records. Flying night or day, loitering at low altitude, it fires shells you’d expect to find on a tank or a battleship. In this episode of AIR WARRIORS, we’re profiling one of the deadliest combat weapons on the planet, the indomitable AC-130.

It is the aircraft that secured victory for the Allies during World War II. It is a custom-built fighter plane, designed during wartime to go head-to-head with the Japanese A6M Zero. And it’s the weapon the U.S. Navy used to win control in the Pacific and ultimately, the war itself. Meet the F6F Hellcat—the fighter plane that turned the tide for the Allies.

The McDonnell F-4 Phantom II – otherwise known as the Bent Wing Wonder, Old Smokey, Rhino, Elephant, Double Ugly, and other nicknames not fit for print – is arguably one of the finest combat fighters of the 20th Century. It was produced in larger numbers than any other Western fighter of the time, and served with the U.S. Air Force, the Navy, and Marine Corps, and with 11 other nations around the world. In this episode of AIR WARRIORS, we profile one of the most effective combat jets in US combat: the Phantom II.

It is supposed to be the jet for the 21st century—a combination of super-cruise, supermanueverability, sensor fusion and stealth all in one package. Through a combination of delays, cost-overruns, wide dispersement of manufacturers and a changing combat landscape, it never really took off….both literally and metaphorically. While many stood by its creation for years, it finally fell victim to its own hype. This episode of AIR WARRIORS profiles the F-22 Raptor, the history of stealth fighters and where fighter jets are heading next.

The OV-10 Bronco is the Swiss Army Knife of military aviation, faster than a helicopter, more maneuverable than a jet, and able to provide optimal support for troops on the ground in the most difficult of environments. Follow the journey of this light attack aircraft, from its humble origins five decades ago in the garage of two Marines to its heroic missions in Vietnam. Then see how a disastrous role in Desert Storm nearly grounded the warbird for good until it got a shot at redemption two decades later against ISIS.

When the Soviet-built MiG-15 first screamed over the battlegrounds of the Korean War, America is horrified at what this new enemy fighter could do. Nimble, jet-powered, and capable of diving at supersonic speed, it outperforms any machine in the sky. Its sole purpose: ambush and bring down the B-29s bombers that are decimating the North Korean infrastructure. As it accomplished its mission time and again, the MiG-15 achieves the impossible – it steals air supremacy from the Americans. In the episode of AIR WARRIORS, we profile the MiG 15, the grandfather of the MiG fighter jet & the evolution of this infamous plane.

It was one of the most unique and deadly warplanes of World War II, with devastating agility and unmatched speeds of over 400 mph. But before the P-38 Lightning seized control of the air from the Japanese and the Germans, some of its pilots were forced to learn on the job. Follow its dogfighting journey, from Alaska to Africa and from Berlin to Tokyo, as the Lightning earned its name, blazing into battle and delivering a killer strike into the hearts of its enemies.

The Supermarine Spitfire is one of the greatest air-to-air fighters in history, entering into combat over the skies of Dunkirk, London, and Malta when Britain needed it most. But before earning its reputation as the defense of the free world, the Spitfire experienced its share of turbulence against the mighty Luftwaffe. Thanks to a radical idea for an elliptical-shaped wing, a Rolls Royce engine, and ace pilots, this is the story of how it ultimately prevailed and helped free the world of tyranny.

The Japanese's A6M Zero was the most feared airplane at the beginning of World War II, designed to cause death and destruction on an incredible scale. With the legendary Zero leading the charge, the Imperial Japanese Navy dominated the Pacific, from Pearl Harbor to Wake Island to the Philippines. To have a shot of winning the war, the U.S. Navy needed to somehow beat this fast, nimble, and lightweight killer. Their solution: exploit the Zero's flaws by pitting its agility against the muscle of the F4U Corsair.

Witness some of the most spectacular battles in the air, from World War II to Vietnam to Desert Storm. We celebrate both the remarkable aircraft involved, including the F-15 Eagle, the F-4 Phantom, the F6F Hellcat, and the P-38 Lightning, and give firsthand accounts from some of the bold fighter pilots who looked death in the face and won.

Meet America's top choppers--the Apache, Black Hawk, Chinook, and Osprey--and see what makes each so unique.

Discover the stories of gunship triumphs in Iraq and Afghanistan, told by the brave pilots who flew the missions.

The F-18 Super Hornet is the backbone of the US Navy aircraft carrier strike force, and is flown by the Royal Australian Air Force. Exceptional carrier access and cockpit footage reveal its abilities.

Discover how the F-86 Sabre went from an untested, new aircraft to the deadliest fighter of its time.

Follow the B-29's short but impactful career, from ending the war in Japan to bombing airfields during the Korean War.

See how the British underdog fighter Hawker Hurricane helped stop the tide of the Axis in Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Discover the story or the Nazi fighter that was loved by some, hated by others, but recognized by all as revolutionary.

See how the B-24 was mass-produced at a blistering pace to bring speed, range, and a huge payload to the enemy in WWII.

Inside stories of the most iconic military aircraft from WWII.

Inside stories of the most iconic military aircraft from the Cold War.

Inside stories of the most iconic military aircraft of the 21st century.

Learn how the British bomber Lancaster brought distinct power and strength against Nazi Germany and was pivotal to the Allied victory in World War II.

Dive deep into the evolution and operational history of the Cold War-era Panavia Tornado bomber, developed collaboratively by Italy, the U.K., and West Germany.

Learn the history of the F-111 bomber jet, a Vietnam-era flop that turned that turned into an essential piece of U.S. military hardware in Libya and the Gulf War.

Learn how the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter jet played a pivotal role in carrying the Allies to victory in World War II and the Pacific War.

Go inside the cockpit of the nimble Little Bird, a small but mighty attack helicopter on the front lines of many U.S. military operations, including the Vietnam War, Iraq War and many more.

Lockheed's C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft stands out for its massive size and aid provided to the American military during war, but its peacetime contributions truly set it apart.

The F-14 Tomcat fighter jet hit the big screen in 1986's "Top Gun" and flew in major military conflicts like the Gulf of Sidra incident, Cold War confrontations and the Iran-Iraq War.

The stealthy PBY Catalina, an amphibious combat aircraft designed to patrol the seas and skies, has been an asset to military operations and harrowing rescue missions for nearly a century.

In World War II, the Women Air Force Service Pilots organization transported B-17 Flying Fortresses, which went to deliver food to the German occupied Netherlands in Operation Chowhound.

The story of the de Havilland Mosquito, the wooden RAF aircraft that acted as a bomber, fighter, and reconnaissance plane during World War II.

Despite its early reputation for being unsafe, engineers evolved the F-100 Super Sabre into a supersonic powerhouse and the USAF's go-to fighter-bomber that carried out daily attack missions throughout the Vietnam War.

Military experts and veterans discuss the history of the Rockwell B-1 Lancer, first conceived as a nuclear bomber during the Cold War, and its evolving wartime roles in the 1990s and 2000s.

The inside story of Britain's flagship super jet of the Cold War era, the Hawker Hunter, and its most thrilling flights during the late 20th century.

Originally designed as a civilian passenger airliner, the C-47 becomes a durable military workhorse, delivering paratroopers behind enemy lines on D-Day, rescuing injured soldiers and more.

Aviation historians and veterans detail how the high-speed dives and pinpoint accuracy of the Ju-87 Stukas became a Nazi terror weapon and symbol of German power during World War II.

Experts discuss the history of the AH-1 Cobra, an agile attack helicopter designed for combat in the Vietnam War and later used for dangerous ground support missions in the Iraq War.