Series

Great Planes

19883 seasons8.0Documentary

In 1903, not only did the Wright brothers ’plane soar, but a young man named William Boeing stepped out of the Yale University gates. 13 years later, using wood, canvas and wire, the first "Boeing model", the B&W, was born. Boeing has since grown into a huge company and developed countless models, including the 1957-92 passenger jet, the 707. Later, we learn about the Constellation designed by Lockheed in the early 1940s. The fuselage of the machine evokes the graceful form of a dolphin, no wonder that with its beauty it also won the title of "Queen of Heaven". The C-69 was the first model to cross non-stop America, covering the Los Angeles-Washington DC distance in record time of 7 hours and 3 minutes. Connies were used for both military and civilian purposes until the early 1960s. This and many more stories are recounted here in Great Planes.

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Episodes

1. Boeing B-29 Superfortress

2. General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark

The story of the fighter that became a bomber. The F-111 set new standards of design, but had to wrestle with adapting high technology.

3. Grumman F-14 Tomcat

Defending the U.S. Navy's Aircraft Carriers the F-14 Tomcat has become as well-known for its production deadlines as for the skill of its pilots, whose mettle was tested at the Gulf of Sidra and celebrated in the film "Top Gun".

4. Convair B-36 Peacemaker

5. North American XB-70 Valkyrie

6. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

7. Consolidated B-24 Liberator

8. Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

9. Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

10. Lockheed P-38 Lightning

11. Douglas DC-3/C-47 Dakota

12. North American F-86 Sabre

13. British Aerospace/McDonnell Douglas Harrier

14. Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter

15. North American F-100 Super Sabre

16. Lockheed Constellation

17. Episode 17

18. Grumman F-6F Hellcat

19. Martin B-57 Canberra

20. Consolidated PBY Catalina

21. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

Roughly twice the weight of other World War II fighters, the Jug's cumbersome appearance belied its speed and firepower. As frontline fighters, escorts for heavy bombers, and fighter-bombers, the sturdy planes saw action in both Europe and the Pacific.

58m

22. McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle

23. Douglas A-26 Invader

24. Republic F-105 Thunderchief

25. Douglas A-1 Skyraider

The consummate carrier jet, the A-1 was such a success that the Navy used it for three decades. Air Force engineers considered its design the pinnacle of piston-powered aviation.

45m

26. Vought F4U Corsair

Cast

Luke Swann

Narrator

Great Planes

Episodes

Cast

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