Great Planes Season 1, Episode 4: Convair B-36 Peacemaker

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

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.

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".

North American XB-70 Valkyrie

General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

Lockheed P-38 Lightning

Douglas DC-3/C-47 Dakota

North American F-86 Sabre

British Aerospace/McDonnell Douglas Harrier

Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter

North American F-100 Super Sabre

Lockheed Constellation

Episode 17

Grumman F-6F Hellcat

Martin B-57 Canberra

Consolidated PBY Catalina

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.

58 min

McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle

Douglas A-26 Invader

Republic F-105 Thunderchief

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.

45 min

Vought F4U Corsair