The Mosquito and the Eagle Owl
Canards of War
Straight Up: The Bell XF-109
The Incredible Flying Jeep
Saga of the Flying Tank 2
Saga of the Flying Tank 1
As the last of the Century series fighters, the XF-109 was far from conventional. Designed for Mach 2 flight, it was to be the world's first vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fighter. Unfortunately for Bell, it would take them out of the fighter business forever.
Like the XF-103 and 108 before it, it XF 109 never made it past the mockup stage. Overshadowed by the successful Century fighters, the XF-109 was to be the next step in high-tech fighter design. Conceived as the first VTOL Mach-2 interceptor, the XF-109 was considered by many to be a design too far. Ordered by both the Airforce and Navy, the 109 was designed as a multi-role fighter with VTOL capability. It was a tall order, and one that had never been attempted before.
tags: xf-109, xf109, century, fighter, bell, xf108, xf-108, xf103
It was the thick of WWII and the Allies needed a way to get behind enemy lines. It would take an advanced flying machine to get this job done - something the Nazis didn't have. Maybe something that hadn't even been invented.
On the ground, however, there was new support for Allied troops. The Jeep utility vehicle was conquering European terrain and soon became the soldier's new best friend. In a perfect world, the versatile Jeep could solve all the Allies' problems by also becoming airborne. Ideally it would carry troops over enemy airspace into occupied land and literally hit the ground rolling. But everyone knew a 4x4 automobile couldn't fly. Or could it?
Find out through the story of a British-employed Austrian engineer who pushed the limits of rotary flight. Experience the highs and lows of one vehicle trying to morph its properties to fit a nation's needs. And see how a regular Jeep utility vehicle was transformed into the Incredible Flying Jeep.
tags: incredible, jeep, flying jeep
While Britain and Germany have struggled to find ways of transporting their tanks through the air and into the battlefields, the Soviet Union looks to one man for direction, an American.
His innovations in moving the tank across the ground and across the sky will have a great influence on the Soviet efforts to make a tank airborne. A task that unlike the rest, they might very well achieve. All this in the thrilling conclusion of The Saga of the Flying Tank.
tags: walter christie, flying tank, baynes bat, hamilcar, antonov an-40, glider, krlya tanka
The tank, a rolling fortress with tremendous striking power, is coming into its own as Europe plunges toward a second world war. As quick and manueverable as they've become, how to successfully deploy them into the heat of battle remains a mystery.
What if you could make a tank fly? This question crosses many military minds, and engineers turn their intellects toward discovering a system of flying these land battleships into combat.
tags: walter christie, flying tank, baynes bat, hamilcar, antonov an-40, glider, krlya tanka
The summer of 1941 saw the RAF take the War to Hitler as British fighters and bombers swept into German occupied territory in North Western Europe. These operations, meant to taunt the Luftwaffe fighters into combat, would also bring two legends of the air face to face: German ace Adolf Galland and British hero Douglas Bader.
In Part III of Aerocinema's exclusive series, Adolf Galland recalls this historic meeting with the British ace. Discover Galland's theory of Bader's downing, the details of Bader's hospital room escape and how these two greats wrote their names in aviation history.
Dilip Sarkar MBE, the foremost expert on Douglas Bader, (www.dilipsarkarmbe.co.uk) and aviation historian Hugh Halliday guide us as we follow the paths Bader and Galland took to that fateful day in 1941.
Join us as we learn about the men behind the Legends: Adolf Galland: Clash of Legends.
tags: adolf galland, battle of britain, messerschmitt, hermann goring, me 109, luftwaffe
The end of 1941 saw German ace Adolph Galland promoted to General of the Fighters. In part II of Aerocinema’s exclusive series, Galland takes us inside Hitler’s inner circle and reveals the secret plans for one of WWII’s boldest operations: Operation Thunderbolt - The Channel Dash. Galland pilots us through the collapse of Germany, the infighting in the Luftwaffe high command and the follies of Hitler and the Goring. Discover what inspired Galland to continue fighting in war all but lost and the one aircraft which might have changed history.
Join us as we learn about the man behind the Legend: Adolf Galland: The Fighter General
tags: adolf galand, battle of britain, messerchmitt, hermann goring, me 109, luftwaffe
Of all Germany’s aces, few can boast of belonging in the same class as the legendary Adolf Galland. His more than 100 victories against Western opponents are a testament to his bravery and skill as a pilot.
In the early 1990s, Galland invited a camera crew into his home to discuss his personal recollections of the war. In part I of this never before seen interview, Galland gives us an expert analysis of the Battle of Britain from inside his Me 109 cockpit. A General by the age of 29, Galland also describes his meteoric rise to the top of the Luftwaffe and his sometimes hostile relationship with Herman Goring. Join us as we learn about the man behind the Legend: Adolf Galland: Ace of the Luftwaffe
tags: adolf, galland, ace, luftwaffe, me 109, battle of britain, messerschmitt, goring
Britain's race to break the sound barrier is rocked by government interference, and a new player enters the game, The United States of America. Are the two events connected, or simply a coincidence of timing? The team behind the Miles M-52 looks into the controversial decisions that changed the fate of their groundbreaking project, and the intrigue that may have given Chuck Yeager the key to being the first man through the sound barrier.
tags: frank whittle, cold war, raf, supersonic, miles m-52m eric brown, sound barrier, chuck yeager, bell x-1, dennis bancroft
With both Germany and Britain developing the jet engine, the race is on for who will be the first to reach the speed of sound. But conventional aircraft are nearing their limits. To win this race, a whole new aircraft will need to be designed.
Determined to win the race, the British government gathers a team. Made up of a pioneering engineer, a young designer, and a brave test pilot, the efforts of these men to solve the mystery of what kind of aircraft it would take to be the first to go through the wall. Do they have what it takes to go Supersonic?
tags: frank whittle, miles m-52, supersonic, eric brown, dennis bancroft, sound barrier, chuck yeager, bell x-1
It was advertised as a plane that would change the way people experienced flight. Boeing's SST promised to take passengers around the world in record time, traveling at supersonic speeds. Authorized during the Kennedy years, the aircraft would compete against the rival Anglo-French Concorde, also being designed during this period. Government and big business would come together to produce a plane symbolizing America's dominance over the skies. Unfortunately, less than a decade later, the United States Senate voted to cut its funding, terminating the project.
What caused politicians to kill a plane that symbolized the idealism of the 1960s? For the first time ever, take an in-depth look at the factors contributing to the SST's demise. Sonic booms, heightened environmental awareness and out-of-control spending are all examined by the experts in this thought-provoking documentary. Experience a political battle that is fought not only in Washington DC, but in the editorials of the biggest newspapers and on the streets of the biggest cities. In the end, you will truly understand the verdict behind "The People vs. The SST."
tags: supersonic transport, sound barrier, sst, concorde, boeing, johnson, nixon, proxmire, scoop jackson
tags: usaf, wwii, mcgovern, george stanley mcgovern, presidential candidate, us congressman
While Britain stands alone, the United States government secretly prepares itself for battle against Nazi Germany. With isolationist sentiment running strong, President Roosevelt asks for a secret plan to be drawn up, outlining the resources and materials needed to defeat Hitler, including long-range bombers. What surfaces becomes known as the Rainbow Five report, a document that gives birth to planes like the B-35 Flying Wing and the B-36 Peacemaker. Take a look at this little known footnote in Second World War history and how it almost brought down an administration.
tags: rainbow 5, five, franklin roosevelt, b-36, usaf, war plan, isolationism, henry stimson, pearl harbor, ww2, america
As war rages across Europe, the Nazis seek to further their exploration of rocket power and create new sophisticated aircraft that will give them dominance of the skies. Building on the legacy of the Heinkel 176, a genius of aerodynamics, Alexander Lippisch, moves from designing gliders to the first rocket-powered production aircraft: The Komet, an aircraft capable of stunning speeds.
In the heart of Germany, another designer looks at the work of Wernher von Braun and sees the possibilities to create the Natter, a defensive aircraft that could only be approved by a regime desperate to stave off its inevitable end.
tags: komet, natter, bachem, alexander lippisch, luftwaffe, rocket, von braun
tags: b-29, boeing, superfortress, race
From carrying atomic bombs over the North Pole to flying over live volcanoes as Sean Connery's body double, A Man and His Autogyro celebrates the remarkable life of Ken Wallis, a unique inventor whose passion for aviation still keeps him airborne as he approaches his centenary.
tags: autogyro, ken wallis, gyrocopter, little nellie, WWII, RAF
As a child living in Greece, a breathtaking aerobatic demonstration instilled Steve Pisanos with the dream of becoming an aviator. Sailing to America in pursuit of this dream, he could not have imagined all that he would accomplish in the next 32 years.
tags: steve, pisanos, flying, greek
In 1949, the testimony of Naval Aviators at the B-36 hearings helped to prove the Navy had an important role, distinct from the USAF, in the delivery of nuclear weapons. But was the Navy ready for the mission?
Desperate to find an aircraft capable of delivering the bomb, and with the AJ Savage still under development, the Navy attempted to modify an existing plane in their inventory, the Lockheed P2V. As the Navy raced to ready itself for its nuclear mission, the Cold War intensified with the outbreak of the Korean Conflict. It was a chance for the Navy to prove itself again in conventional warfare and to re-establish the importance of aircraft carriers.
Join us to witness the evolution of the US Navy in Revolt of the Admirals Part II.
tags: admirals, revolt, navy. USN, carrier, Korean War, USAF, Lockheed P2V
tags: revolt, admirals, usaaf, usaf, air force, navy, usn, unification act, atomic
The Hu 136 Stubo dive bomber, heavily armoured and carrying two 250kg bombs, would have been a formidable addition to the Luftwaffe's arsenal, as Germany Blitzed its way across Europe.
The design, was the brain child of two Austrian glider pilots, Wolfgang and Ulrich Hutter. Two men whose passion for engineering and aviation was harnessed by the Luftwaffe as they looked to technology to give them an edge in WWII. As the tides of war changed, Wolfgang Hutter would be called upon again to develop a weapon to save Germany from the Allies' relentless night time attacks.
Tune in for the Hutter Brothers.
tags: hutter, stubo, hu 136, bomber, dive, luftwaffe, dornier, ulrich, wolfgang
Spanning five decades, it is the longest serving jet fighter that Britain has ever had. From Argentina to Sweden, numerous countries lined up to buy them. A plane that proved itself able to stand-up to and compete with the more faster and newer designs.
The Hawker Hurricane, it seemed almost got better with age. Relive the history behind its world renowned designers, and the goals they sought out with the development of this truly historic aircraft. It is a fascinating story that brings you in-depth knowledge about a plane that proved vital during the Cold War. Explore the history of the Everlasting Hunter.
tags: hunter, hawker, everlasting, britain, raf, jet, fighter
tags: mighty mouse, rocket, rm40
tags: aerovan, miles, remarkable, m57
War is on the horizon, and the main players in the conflict are running out of time to prepare for the inevitable.
In the United Kingdom, the search for a heavy bomber has Rolls-Royce's engineeers struggling to build a new kind of engine. At the very same time, Heinkel is putting together a heavy bomber with a similar type of engine. As the war begins, both power plants will be put to the test, but can they perform when the pressure is on? The Vulture and the Griffin.
tags: griffin, vulture, roll royce, engine, britain, united kingdom
In the minds of American military planners, the promise of intercepting Russian bombers far before they reached the American heartland was simply too appealing to ignore. And hence the long-range Mach 3 "Rapier" was born.
As one of the missing ‘century series’ fighters, the XF-108 interceptor had great promise. In the North American tradition, the F-108’s sleek lines and graceful shape evoked a sense of speed and unbridled performance, a herald of things to come and a true product of the jet age!
tags: xf-108, rapier, north american, interceptor, mach 2, supersonic, yb-70
As the last of the Century series fighters, the XF-109 was far from conventional. Designed for Mach 2 flight, it was to be the world's first vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fighter. Unfortunately for Bell, it would take them out of the fighter business forever.
Like the XF-103 and 108 before it, it XF 109 never made it past the mockup stage. Overshadowed by the successful Century fighters, the XF-109 was to be the next step in high-tech fighter design. Conceived as the first VTOL Mach-2 interceptor, the XF-109 was considered by many to be a design too far. Ordered by both the Airforce and Navy, the 109 was designed as a multi-role fighter with VTOL capability. It was a tall order, and one that had never been attempted before.
tags: xf-109, xf109, century, fighter, bell, xf108, xf-108, xf103
It was the thick of WWII and the Allies needed a way to get behind enemy lines. It would take an advanced flying machine to get this job done - something the Nazis didn't have. Maybe something that hadn't even been invented.
On the ground, however, there was new support for Allied troops. The Jeep utility vehicle was conquering European terrain and soon became the soldier's new best friend. In a perfect world, the versatile Jeep could solve all the Allies' problems by also becoming airborne. Ideally it would carry troops over enemy airspace into occupied land and literally hit the ground rolling. But everyone knew a 4x4 automobile couldn't fly. Or could it?
Find out through the story of a British-employed Austrian engineer who pushed the limits of rotary flight. Experience the highs and lows of one vehicle trying to morph its properties to fit a nation's needs. And see how a regular Jeep utility vehicle was transformed into the Incredible Flying Jeep.
tags: incredible, jeep, flying jeep
While Britain and Germany have struggled to find ways of transporting their tanks through the air and into the battlefields, the Soviet Union looks to one man for direction, an American.
His innovations in moving the tank across the ground and across the sky will have a great influence on the Soviet efforts to make a tank airborne. A task that unlike the rest, they might very well achieve. All this in the thrilling conclusion of The Saga of the Flying Tank.
tags: walter christie, flying tank, baynes bat, hamilcar, antonov an-40, glider, krlya tanka
The tank, a rolling fortress with tremendous striking power, is coming into its own as Europe plunges toward a second world war. As quick and manueverable as they've become, how to successfully deploy them into the heat of battle remains a mystery.
What if you could make a tank fly? This question crosses many military minds, and engineers turn their intellects toward discovering a system of flying these land battleships into combat.
tags: walter christie, flying tank, baynes bat, hamilcar, antonov an-40, glider, krlya tanka
The summer of 1941 saw the RAF take the War to Hitler as British fighters and bombers swept into German occupied territory in North Western Europe. These operations, meant to taunt the Luftwaffe fighters into combat, would also bring two legends of the air face to face: German ace Adolf Galland and British hero Douglas Bader.
In Part III of Aerocinema's exclusive series, Adolf Galland recalls this historic meeting with the British ace. Discover Galland's theory of Bader's downing, the details of Bader's hospital room escape and how these two greats wrote their names in aviation history.
Dilip Sarkar MBE, the foremost expert on Douglas Bader, (www.dilipsarkarmbe.co.uk) and aviation historian Hugh Halliday guide us as we follow the paths Bader and Galland took to that fateful day in 1941.
Join us as we learn about the men behind the Legends: Adolf Galland: Clash of Legends.
tags: adolf galland, battle of britain, messerschmitt, hermann goring, me 109, luftwaffe
The end of 1941 saw German ace Adolph Galland promoted to General of the Fighters. In part II of Aerocinema’s exclusive series, Galland takes us inside Hitler’s inner circle and reveals the secret plans for one of WWII’s boldest operations: Operation Thunderbolt - The Channel Dash. Galland pilots us through the collapse of Germany, the infighting in the Luftwaffe high command and the follies of Hitler and the Goring. Discover what inspired Galland to continue fighting in war all but lost and the one aircraft which might have changed history.
Join us as we learn about the man behind the Legend: Adolf Galland: The Fighter General
tags: adolf galand, battle of britain, messerchmitt, hermann goring, me 109, luftwaffe
Of all Germany’s aces, few can boast of belonging in the same class as the legendary Adolf Galland. His more than 100 victories against Western opponents are a testament to his bravery and skill as a pilot.
In the early 1990s, Galland invited a camera crew into his home to discuss his personal recollections of the war. In part I of this never before seen interview, Galland gives us an expert analysis of the Battle of Britain from inside his Me 109 cockpit. A General by the age of 29, Galland also describes his meteoric rise to the top of the Luftwaffe and his sometimes hostile relationship with Herman Goring. Join us as we learn about the man behind the Legend: Adolf Galland: Ace of the Luftwaffe
tags: adolf, galland, ace, luftwaffe, me 109, battle of britain, messerschmitt, goring
Britain's race to break the sound barrier is rocked by government interference, and a new player enters the game, The United States of America. Are the two events connected, or simply a coincidence of timing? The team behind the Miles M-52 looks into the controversial decisions that changed the fate of their groundbreaking project, and the intrigue that may have given Chuck Yeager the key to being the first man through the sound barrier.
tags: frank whittle, cold war, raf, supersonic, miles m-52m eric brown, sound barrier, chuck yeager, bell x-1, dennis bancroft
With both Germany and Britain developing the jet engine, the race is on for who will be the first to reach the speed of sound. But conventional aircraft are nearing their limits. To win this race, a whole new aircraft will need to be designed.
Determined to win the race, the British government gathers a team. Made up of a pioneering engineer, a young designer, and a brave test pilot, the efforts of these men to solve the mystery of what kind of aircraft it would take to be the first to go through the wall. Do they have what it takes to go Supersonic?
tags: frank whittle, miles m-52, supersonic, eric brown, dennis bancroft, sound barrier, chuck yeager, bell x-1
It was advertised as a plane that would change the way people experienced flight. Boeing's SST promised to take passengers around the world in record time, traveling at supersonic speeds. Authorized during the Kennedy years, the aircraft would compete against the rival Anglo-French Concorde, also being designed during this period. Government and big business would come together to produce a plane symbolizing America's dominance over the skies. Unfortunately, less than a decade later, the United States Senate voted to cut its funding, terminating the project.
What caused politicians to kill a plane that symbolized the idealism of the 1960s? For the first time ever, take an in-depth look at the factors contributing to the SST's demise. Sonic booms, heightened environmental awareness and out-of-control spending are all examined by the experts in this thought-provoking documentary. Experience a political battle that is fought not only in Washington DC, but in the editorials of the biggest newspapers and on the streets of the biggest cities. In the end, you will truly understand the verdict behind "The People vs. The SST."
tags: supersonic transport, sound barrier, sst, concorde, boeing, johnson, nixon, proxmire, scoop jackson
tags: usaf, wwii, mcgovern, george stanley mcgovern, presidential candidate, us congressman
While Britain stands alone, the United States government secretly prepares itself for battle against Nazi Germany. With isolationist sentiment running strong, President Roosevelt asks for a secret plan to be drawn up, outlining the resources and materials needed to defeat Hitler, including long-range bombers. What surfaces becomes known as the Rainbow Five report, a document that gives birth to planes like the B-35 Flying Wing and the B-36 Peacemaker. Take a look at this little known footnote in Second World War history and how it almost brought down an administration.
tags: rainbow 5, five, franklin roosevelt, b-36, usaf, war plan, isolationism, henry stimson, pearl harbor, ww2, america
As war rages across Europe, the Nazis seek to further their exploration of rocket power and create new sophisticated aircraft that will give them dominance of the skies. Building on the legacy of the Heinkel 176, a genius of aerodynamics, Alexander Lippisch, moves from designing gliders to the first rocket-powered production aircraft: The Komet, an aircraft capable of stunning speeds.
In the heart of Germany, another designer looks at the work of Wernher von Braun and sees the possibilities to create the Natter, a defensive aircraft that could only be approved by a regime desperate to stave off its inevitable end.
tags: komet, natter, bachem, alexander lippisch, luftwaffe, rocket, von braun
tags: b-29, boeing, superfortress, race
From carrying atomic bombs over the North Pole to flying over live volcanoes as Sean Connery's body double, A Man and His Autogyro celebrates the remarkable life of Ken Wallis, a unique inventor whose passion for aviation still keeps him airborne as he approaches his centenary.
tags: autogyro, ken wallis, gyrocopter, little nellie, WWII, RAF
As a child living in Greece, a breathtaking aerobatic demonstration instilled Steve Pisanos with the dream of becoming an aviator. Sailing to America in pursuit of this dream, he could not have imagined all that he would accomplish in the next 32 years.
tags: steve, pisanos, flying, greek
In 1949, the testimony of Naval Aviators at the B-36 hearings helped to prove the Navy had an important role, distinct from the USAF, in the delivery of nuclear weapons. But was the Navy ready for the mission?
Desperate to find an aircraft capable of delivering the bomb, and with the AJ Savage still under development, the Navy attempted to modify an existing plane in their inventory, the Lockheed P2V. As the Navy raced to ready itself for its nuclear mission, the Cold War intensified with the outbreak of the Korean Conflict. It was a chance for the Navy to prove itself again in conventional warfare and to re-establish the importance of aircraft carriers.
Join us to witness the evolution of the US Navy in Revolt of the Admirals Part II.
tags: admirals, revolt, navy. USN, carrier, Korean War, USAF, Lockheed P2V
tags: revolt, admirals, usaaf, usaf, air force, navy, usn, unification act, atomic
The Hu 136 Stubo dive bomber, heavily armoured and carrying two 250kg bombs, would have been a formidable addition to the Luftwaffe's arsenal, as Germany Blitzed its way across Europe.
The design, was the brain child of two Austrian glider pilots, Wolfgang and Ulrich Hutter. Two men whose passion for engineering and aviation was harnessed by the Luftwaffe as they looked to technology to give them an edge in WWII. As the tides of war changed, Wolfgang Hutter would be called upon again to develop a weapon to save Germany from the Allies' relentless night time attacks.
Tune in for the Hutter Brothers.
tags: hutter, stubo, hu 136, bomber, dive, luftwaffe, dornier, ulrich, wolfgang
Spanning five decades, it is the longest serving jet fighter that Britain has ever had. From Argentina to Sweden, numerous countries lined up to buy them. A plane that proved itself able to stand-up to and compete with the more faster and newer designs.
The Hawker Hurricane, it seemed almost got better with age. Relive the history behind its world renowned designers, and the goals they sought out with the development of this truly historic aircraft. It is a fascinating story that brings you in-depth knowledge about a plane that proved vital during the Cold War. Explore the history of the Everlasting Hunter.
tags: hunter, hawker, everlasting, britain, raf, jet, fighter
tags: mighty mouse, rocket, rm40
tags: aerovan, miles, remarkable, m57
War is on the horizon, and the main players in the conflict are running out of time to prepare for the inevitable.
In the United Kingdom, the search for a heavy bomber has Rolls-Royce's engineeers struggling to build a new kind of engine. At the very same time, Heinkel is putting together a heavy bomber with a similar type of engine. As the war begins, both power plants will be put to the test, but can they perform when the pressure is on? The Vulture and the Griffin.
tags: griffin, vulture, roll royce, engine, britain, united kingdom
In the minds of American military planners, the promise of intercepting Russian bombers far before they reached the American heartland was simply too appealing to ignore. And hence the long-range Mach 3 "Rapier" was born.
As one of the missing ‘century series’ fighters, the XF-108 interceptor had great promise. In the North American tradition, the F-108’s sleek lines and graceful shape evoked a sense of speed and unbridled performance, a herald of things to come and a true product of the jet age!
tags: xf-108, rapier, north american, interceptor, mach 2, supersonic, yb-70
Since the Wright Brothers first flight in 1903, the canard design proves appealing to aircraft manufacturers. Reducing drag while maintaining stability makes these planes highly sought after as war appears on the horizon. Germany, Britain, Japan and the United States all have their prototypes ready to go. The only question is: can they make it up in the air before the circumstances on the ground sends them on crash landing? Take an in-depth look at the designs and designers of this particular type of aircraft in Canards of War.
From Focke-Wulf’s Ente of the inter-war period to America’s oddly constructed XP-55 Ascender, this documentary explores the problems associated with these planes and how the ultimate goal of mass production is never realized during the Second World War. From the most brilliant minds in Germany to the Lockheed factories in the United States, what was the major drawback to the Canard design? Was it aerodynamics, politics or simply a lack of time?
tags: luftwaffe, fw 42, ente, focke-wulf, fw, f19, canard, lockheed, l-133, kyushu, shinden, j7w1, xp-55, ascender, curtiss wright
As the last of the Century series fighters, the XF-109 was far from conventional. Designed for Mach 2 flight, it was to be the world's first vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fighter. Unfortunately for Bell, it would take them out of the fighter business forever.
Like the XF-103 and 108 before it, it XF 109 never made it past the mockup stage. Overshadowed by the successful Century fighters, the XF-109 was to be the next step in high-tech fighter design. Conceived as the first VTOL Mach-2 interceptor, the XF-109 was considered by many to be a design too far. Ordered by both the Airforce and Navy, the 109 was designed as a multi-role fighter with VTOL capability. It was a tall order, and one that had never been attempted before.
tags: xf-109, xf109, century, fighter, bell, xf108, xf-108, xf103
It was the thick of WWII and the Allies needed a way to get behind enemy lines. It would take an advanced flying machine to get this job done - something the Nazis didn't have. Maybe something that hadn't even been invented.
On the ground, however, there was new support for Allied troops. The Jeep utility vehicle was conquering European terrain and soon became the soldier's new best friend. In a perfect world, the versatile Jeep could solve all the Allies' problems by also becoming airborne. Ideally it would carry troops over enemy airspace into occupied land and literally hit the ground rolling. But everyone knew a 4x4 automobile couldn't fly. Or could it?
Find out through the story of a British-employed Austrian engineer who pushed the limits of rotary flight. Experience the highs and lows of one vehicle trying to morph its properties to fit a nation's needs. And see how a regular Jeep utility vehicle was transformed into the Incredible Flying Jeep.
tags: incredible, jeep, flying jeep
While Britain and Germany have struggled to find ways of transporting their tanks through the air and into the battlefields, the Soviet Union looks to one man for direction, an American.
His innovations in moving the tank across the ground and across the sky will have a great influence on the Soviet efforts to make a tank airborne. A task that unlike the rest, they might very well achieve. All this in the thrilling conclusion of The Saga of the Flying Tank.
tags: walter christie, flying tank, baynes bat, hamilcar, antonov an-40, glider, krlya tanka
The tank, a rolling fortress with tremendous striking power, is coming into its own as Europe plunges toward a second world war. As quick and manueverable as they've become, how to successfully deploy them into the heat of battle remains a mystery.
What if you could make a tank fly? This question crosses many military minds, and engineers turn their intellects toward discovering a system of flying these land battleships into combat.
tags: walter christie, flying tank, baynes bat, hamilcar, antonov an-40, glider, krlya tanka
The summer of 1941 saw the RAF take the War to Hitler as British fighters and bombers swept into German occupied territory in North Western Europe. These operations, meant to taunt the Luftwaffe fighters into combat, would also bring two legends of the air face to face: German ace Adolf Galland and British hero Douglas Bader.
In Part III of Aerocinema's exclusive series, Adolf Galland recalls this historic meeting with the British ace. Discover Galland's theory of Bader's downing, the details of Bader's hospital room escape and how these two greats wrote their names in aviation history.
Dilip Sarkar MBE, the foremost expert on Douglas Bader, (www.dilipsarkarmbe.co.uk) and aviation historian Hugh Halliday guide us as we follow the paths Bader and Galland took to that fateful day in 1941.
Join us as we learn about the men behind the Legends: Adolf Galland: Clash of Legends.
tags: adolf galland, battle of britain, messerschmitt, hermann goring, me 109, luftwaffe
The end of 1941 saw German ace Adolph Galland promoted to General of the Fighters. In part II of Aerocinema’s exclusive series, Galland takes us inside Hitler’s inner circle and reveals the secret plans for one of WWII’s boldest operations: Operation Thunderbolt - The Channel Dash. Galland pilots us through the collapse of Germany, the infighting in the Luftwaffe high command and the follies of Hitler and the Goring. Discover what inspired Galland to continue fighting in war all but lost and the one aircraft which might have changed history.
Join us as we learn about the man behind the Legend: Adolf Galland: The Fighter General
tags: adolf galand, battle of britain, messerchmitt, hermann goring, me 109, luftwaffe
Of all Germany’s aces, few can boast of belonging in the same class as the legendary Adolf Galland. His more than 100 victories against Western opponents are a testament to his bravery and skill as a pilot.
In the early 1990s, Galland invited a camera crew into his home to discuss his personal recollections of the war. In part I of this never before seen interview, Galland gives us an expert analysis of the Battle of Britain from inside his Me 109 cockpit. A General by the age of 29, Galland also describes his meteoric rise to the top of the Luftwaffe and his sometimes hostile relationship with Herman Goring. Join us as we learn about the man behind the Legend: Adolf Galland: Ace of the Luftwaffe
tags: adolf, galland, ace, luftwaffe, me 109, battle of britain, messerschmitt, goring
Britain's race to break the sound barrier is rocked by government interference, and a new player enters the game, The United States of America. Are the two events connected, or simply a coincidence of timing? The team behind the Miles M-52 looks into the controversial decisions that changed the fate of their groundbreaking project, and the intrigue that may have given Chuck Yeager the key to being the first man through the sound barrier.
tags: frank whittle, cold war, raf, supersonic, miles m-52m eric brown, sound barrier, chuck yeager, bell x-1, dennis bancroft
With both Germany and Britain developing the jet engine, the race is on for who will be the first to reach the speed of sound. But conventional aircraft are nearing their limits. To win this race, a whole new aircraft will need to be designed.
Determined to win the race, the British government gathers a team. Made up of a pioneering engineer, a young designer, and a brave test pilot, the efforts of these men to solve the mystery of what kind of aircraft it would take to be the first to go through the wall. Do they have what it takes to go Supersonic?
tags: frank whittle, miles m-52, supersonic, eric brown, dennis bancroft, sound barrier, chuck yeager, bell x-1
It was advertised as a plane that would change the way people experienced flight. Boeing's SST promised to take passengers around the world in record time, traveling at supersonic speeds. Authorized during the Kennedy years, the aircraft would compete against the rival Anglo-French Concorde, also being designed during this period. Government and big business would come together to produce a plane symbolizing America's dominance over the skies. Unfortunately, less than a decade later, the United States Senate voted to cut its funding, terminating the project.
What caused politicians to kill a plane that symbolized the idealism of the 1960s? For the first time ever, take an in-depth look at the factors contributing to the SST's demise. Sonic booms, heightened environmental awareness and out-of-control spending are all examined by the experts in this thought-provoking documentary. Experience a political battle that is fought not only in Washington DC, but in the editorials of the biggest newspapers and on the streets of the biggest cities. In the end, you will truly understand the verdict behind "The People vs. The SST."
tags: supersonic transport, sound barrier, sst, concorde, boeing, johnson, nixon, proxmire, scoop jackson
tags: usaf, wwii, mcgovern, george stanley mcgovern, presidential candidate, us congressman
While Britain stands alone, the United States government secretly prepares itself for battle against Nazi Germany. With isolationist sentiment running strong, President Roosevelt asks for a secret plan to be drawn up, outlining the resources and materials needed to defeat Hitler, including long-range bombers. What surfaces becomes known as the Rainbow Five report, a document that gives birth to planes like the B-35 Flying Wing and the B-36 Peacemaker. Take a look at this little known footnote in Second World War history and how it almost brought down an administration.
tags: rainbow 5, five, franklin roosevelt, b-36, usaf, war plan, isolationism, henry stimson, pearl harbor, ww2, america
As war rages across Europe, the Nazis seek to further their exploration of rocket power and create new sophisticated aircraft that will give them dominance of the skies. Building on the legacy of the Heinkel 176, a genius of aerodynamics, Alexander Lippisch, moves from designing gliders to the first rocket-powered production aircraft: The Komet, an aircraft capable of stunning speeds.
In the heart of Germany, another designer looks at the work of Wernher von Braun and sees the possibilities to create the Natter, a defensive aircraft that could only be approved by a regime desperate to stave off its inevitable end.
tags: komet, natter, bachem, alexander lippisch, luftwaffe, rocket, von braun
tags: b-29, boeing, superfortress, race
From carrying atomic bombs over the North Pole to flying over live volcanoes as Sean Connery's body double, A Man and His Autogyro celebrates the remarkable life of Ken Wallis, a unique inventor whose passion for aviation still keeps him airborne as he approaches his centenary.
tags: autogyro, ken wallis, gyrocopter, little nellie, WWII, RAF
As a child living in Greece, a breathtaking aerobatic demonstration instilled Steve Pisanos with the dream of becoming an aviator. Sailing to America in pursuit of this dream, he could not have imagined all that he would accomplish in the next 32 years.
tags: steve, pisanos, flying, greek
In 1949, the testimony of Naval Aviators at the B-36 hearings helped to prove the Navy had an important role, distinct from the USAF, in the delivery of nuclear weapons. But was the Navy ready for the mission?
Desperate to find an aircraft capable of delivering the bomb, and with the AJ Savage still under development, the Navy attempted to modify an existing plane in their inventory, the Lockheed P2V. As the Navy raced to ready itself for its nuclear mission, the Cold War intensified with the outbreak of the Korean Conflict. It was a chance for the Navy to prove itself again in conventional warfare and to re-establish the importance of aircraft carriers.
Join us to witness the evolution of the US Navy in Revolt of the Admirals Part II.
tags: admirals, revolt, navy. USN, carrier, Korean War, USAF, Lockheed P2V
tags: revolt, admirals, usaaf, usaf, air force, navy, usn, unification act, atomic
The Hu 136 Stubo dive bomber, heavily armoured and carrying two 250kg bombs, would have been a formidable addition to the Luftwaffe's arsenal, as Germany Blitzed its way across Europe.
The design, was the brain child of two Austrian glider pilots, Wolfgang and Ulrich Hutter. Two men whose passion for engineering and aviation was harnessed by the Luftwaffe as they looked to technology to give them an edge in WWII. As the tides of war changed, Wolfgang Hutter would be called upon again to develop a weapon to save Germany from the Allies' relentless night time attacks.
Tune in for the Hutter Brothers.
tags: hutter, stubo, hu 136, bomber, dive, luftwaffe, dornier, ulrich, wolfgang
Spanning five decades, it is the longest serving jet fighter that Britain has ever had. From Argentina to Sweden, numerous countries lined up to buy them. A plane that proved itself able to stand-up to and compete with the more faster and newer designs.
The Hawker Hurricane, it seemed almost got better with age. Relive the history behind its world renowned designers, and the goals they sought out with the development of this truly historic aircraft. It is a fascinating story that brings you in-depth knowledge about a plane that proved vital during the Cold War. Explore the history of the Everlasting Hunter.
tags: hunter, hawker, everlasting, britain, raf, jet, fighter
tags: mighty mouse, rocket, rm40
tags: aerovan, miles, remarkable, m57
War is on the horizon, and the main players in the conflict are running out of time to prepare for the inevitable.
In the United Kingdom, the search for a heavy bomber has Rolls-Royce's engineeers struggling to build a new kind of engine. At the very same time, Heinkel is putting together a heavy bomber with a similar type of engine. As the war begins, both power plants will be put to the test, but can they perform when the pressure is on? The Vulture and the Griffin.
tags: griffin, vulture, roll royce, engine, britain, united kingdom
In the minds of American military planners, the promise of intercepting Russian bombers far before they reached the American heartland was simply too appealing to ignore. And hence the long-range Mach 3 "Rapier" was born.
As one of the missing ‘century series’ fighters, the XF-108 interceptor had great promise. In the North American tradition, the F-108’s sleek lines and graceful shape evoked a sense of speed and unbridled performance, a herald of things to come and a true product of the jet age!
tags: xf-108, rapier, north american, interceptor, mach 2, supersonic, yb-70
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