TV season

Season 5

2017-05-14

The fifth season focuses on the U-2 Dragon Lady, a secret Cold War spy plane with a troublesome crash record; the AV-8B Harrier, the vertical takeoff 'jump-jet' which changed the face of military air combat; and the KC-135 Stratotanker, the gigantic air tanker which travels the world refuelling jets in mid air, at speeds of over 550mph.

Episodes

Episode 1

Harrier

2017-05-14 • 45 min

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.

Episode 2

KC-135 Stratotanker

2017-05-21 • 45 min

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.

Episode 3

U-2 Dragon Lady

2017-05-28 • 45 min

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.