Documentary

Great Planes

8.0(1)

First Aired:January 1, 1988

Seasons:3 seasons

Episodes:52

Status:Ended

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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Cast

Luke Swann

Narrator

Seasons

E1Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Jan 1, 1988

E2General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark

Jan 1, 1988

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.

E3Grumman F-14 Tomcat

Jan 1, 1988

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".

E4Convair B-36 Peacemaker

Jan 1, 1988

E5North American XB-70 Valkyrie

Jan 1, 1988

E6General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

Jan 1, 1988

E7Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Jan 1, 1988

E8Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Jan 1, 1988

E9Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Jan 1, 1988

E10Lockheed P-38 Lightning

Jan 1, 1988

E11Douglas DC-3/C-47 Dakota

Jan 1, 1988

E12North American F-86 Sabre

Jan 1, 1988

E13British Aerospace/McDonnell Douglas Harrier

Jan 1, 1988

E14Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter

Mar 31, 1988

E15North American F-100 Super Sabre

Apr 1, 1988

E16Lockheed Constellation

Apr 2, 1988

E17Episode 17

Apr 3, 1988

E18Grumman F-6F Hellcat

Apr 4, 1988

E19Martin B-57 Canberra

Apr 5, 1988

E20Consolidated PBY Catalina

Apr 6, 1988

E21Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

58m

Apr 7, 1988

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.

E22McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle

Apr 8, 1988

E23Douglas A-26 Invader

Apr 9, 1988

E24Republic F-105 Thunderchief

Apr 10, 1988

E25Douglas A-1 Skyraider

45m

Apr 11, 1988

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.

E26Vought F4U Corsair

Apr 12, 1988

E1McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle

Jan 1, 1989

E2McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

60m

Jan 1, 1989

The McDonnell-Douglas F-4 entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1960, and was later adopted by the Air Force and the armed forces of 10 other countries.

E3Grumman F4F Wildcat/F6F Hellcat

Jan 1, 1989

E4Martin B-57 Canberra

55m

Jan 1, 1989

Designed in the 1940s, modified during the 1950s, in service in the 1960s, and state of the art in the 1970s, the B-57 evolved to fill the gap between fighter planes and bombers. This high-speed model also served with the airforces of Taiwan and Pakistan and, in both cases as with those in U.S service, saw combat with distinction.

E5Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

Jan 1, 1989

E6Republic F-105 Thunderchief

Jan 1, 1989

E7Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

59m

Jan 1, 1989

So small and tubular that some called it the Flying Missile, the F-104 had wings so thin that the leading edge had to be protected by a cover when it was on the ground.

E8McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

Jan 1, 1989

E9North American B-25 Mitchell

Jan 1, 1989

E10North American P-51 Mustang

Jan 1, 1989

E11Martin B-26 Marauder

Jan 1, 1989

E12Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Jan 1, 1989

E13Boeing 747

Jan 1, 1989