Air Warriors - Season 8

At the dawn of the jet age, the F-86 Sabre was the U.S. Air Force's ultimate lethal weapon, flying with electrifying speed and thrilling agility. In the 1950s, this fighter jet engaged in epic aerial battles with the fierce Soviet MiG over the skies of Asia, often outnumbered but never outmatched, thanks to the fearless pilots at the command. We look at the history of these gritty Air Warriors, from the baptism by fire during the Korean War to Operation Black Magic in Taiwan, which cemented the Sabre's place in aviation history.

The B-29 Superfortress changed the face of war, being the first plane with a pressurized cabin and the first that could fly more than 3,000 miles. It's the bomber that brought down the Japanese Empire and ended World War II. The B-29 Superfortress revolutionized long-range bombing, but remarkably, it almost never made it to the battlefield. Follow the dramatic story of this iconic Air Warrior's short but impactful career, from the "Battle of Kansas"--the massive rush production to get the aircraft ready for combat in the Pacific--to its historic nuclear missions over Hiroshima and Nagasaki to its last hurrah, bombing enemy airbases during the Korean War and evading the faster, more agile MiG jet.

The Hawker Hurricane is the plane that saved Britain in her most desperate hour, fighting off the enemy over the shores of Britain, the deserts of Africa, and beyond. Some regard it as the overlooked underdog of British fighter planes. Fast and versatile, the dogfighter doubled as a bomber and ground support aircraft in every theatre of the Second World War. See how this Air Warrior was rushed into service to support the powerful but outnumbered Supermarine Spitfire in fierce battles against the Nazi's mighty Luftwaffe. Then watch as the Hurricane helps the United Kingdom triumph over tyranny, thanks to its maneuverability and adaptability, the skill and grit of its ace pilots, and the power of its Rolls Royce Merlin engines.

Sleek, versatile, and lethal, the Messerschmitt BF 109 (or Me-109) was the Nazi Luftwaffe's deadliest fighter and one of World War II's most influential aircraft. This revolutionary Air Warrior was part of Hitler's early initiative to rebuild the military and establish a brand-new air force. Introduced at the Berlin Olympic Games and tested during the Spanish Civil War, the 109 went on to dominate the skies over Europe feared by Allied bombers and fighters alike. 109s fought Spitfires in the Battle of Britain and alongside Rommel in North Africa becoming a symbol of an evil empire and changing aerial combat for decades to come. 

The B-24 was America's go-to heavy bomber in the early years of World War II, able to go faster, farther, and carry a larger payload than its predecessor, the B-17. And as the most mass-produced bomber in history, it was able to attack in large numbers, overwhelming the enemy and earning its name: the Liberator. Discover how the B-24 came into existence and answered the U.S. military's desperate need for a long-range bomber serving in every branch as well as several Allied air forces and navies. Then witness some of its key missions, flying time and again into the mouth of hell to take on Axis forces.