Traces the evolution of rockets from the rudimentary efforts of the ancient Chinese to Wernher von Braun's first efforts and the ultimate success of Robert Goddard, the American physicist who launched the first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926.

In-depth look at the world's first operational ballistic missile, Hitler's "Vengeance Weapon Number 2." The V-2's scope stunned the world as did its production in prison labor camps.

As the Cold War roiled to a boil, America redirected its developing outer-space technology to a desperate race with the Soviet Union to deploy Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles.

An analysis of the awesome aircraft deployed by West and East to gain an edge in the high-stakes game of delivering total nuclear annihilation anywhere. We open with the first of many Soviet propaganda ploys. At a Moscow military air show Western guests are stunned by an overflight of massive Soviet M-4 "Bison" bombers. Though there were truly only 18 aircraft in prototype stage, the ruse of circling the same 18 planes worked. Western military raced to catch up. We review Soviet efforts to build a long-range bomber fleet and recall their successful reverse engineering of the U.S. B-29. We move to the U.S. program to develop long-range, nuclear bombers capable of extended flight for weeks or months and the quest for a perfect long-range bomber. We also look at the impressive bombing accuracy of the B-2 Stealth Bomber during the opening phases of the Iraq War.

We open with Moscow's 1952 revelation that its air defenses and fighter jets were outdated. Stalin's fury over the inability of MiG fighters to catch British reconnaissance aircraft leads to reorganization of air defenses and the MiG 21. Meanwhile, fighter defenses over the U.S. are left to Korean War vintage F-86 Sabre jets. A new jet fighter, the F-103 Thunder Warrior, is developed, but military politics intervene, and it's cancelled. Next, we turn to the defense of long-range bombers whose deep penetration of Soviet air space was crucial. We also recall the story of one of the most remarkable fighters ever devised--the Canadian Avro Arrow--and the reason for its abrupt cancellation. We close with a look at the upcoming F-22, the first totally new fighter design in 20 years.

In this series, we examine the secret aircraft of the Cold War, focusing on the technology and designers of aircraft that were light years ahead of their time. In this hour, we examine stories of the aircraft, missions, and men that played the high-stakes games between the superpowers and learn how vital air reconnaissance was, and still is. Some of the planes we'll study include the Neptune, RB-57D, U-2, RB57F, and SR-71 Blackbird. We'll also examine the cancelled D-21 (for Daughter). A smaller, unmanned version of the Blackbird, it was cancelled after five failed missions. We'll also look at Soviet and Chinese attempts to counteract U.S. spycraft.

Military planners fear the runway's vulnerability to preemptive attack. Their solution? Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft able to launch without runways. The Cold War's onset led to Western Europe's need to defend from Soviet invasion and the Luftwaffe's rebirth; we revisit their WWII engineering breakthroughs. Next we turn to U.S. efforts to build a VTOL aircraft--"Pogo" aircraft, the Ryan X-13 Vertijet, F-104, and Sikorsky S-57. Meanwhile, British designers develop the P.1127. NATO nearly adopts it as the European standard, but politics kill full deployment. Its technology ends up in the Harrier. We also examine Soviet VTOL design efforts and a look at the post-9/11 world.

Intriguing account of the German Zeppelin Bomber, the U.S.S. Los Angeles (the "flying aircraft carrier"), and other airships that captured the imagination of engineers and military brass worldwide.

Traces the evolution of rockets from the rudimentary efforts of the ancient Chinese to Wernher von Braun's first efforts and the ultimate success of Robert Goddard, the American physicist who launched the first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926.

In-depth look at the world's first operational ballistic missile, Hitler's "Vengeance Weapon Number 2." The V-2's scope stunned the world as did its production in prison labor camps.

As the Cold War roiled to a boil, America redirected its developing outer-space technology to a desperate race with the Soviet Union to deploy Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles.

An analysis of the awesome aircraft deployed by West and East to gain an edge in the high-stakes game of delivering total nuclear annihilation anywhere. We open with the first of many Soviet propaganda ploys. At a Moscow military air show Western guests are stunned by an overflight of massive Soviet M-4 "Bison" bombers. Though there were truly only 18 aircraft in prototype stage, the ruse of circling the same 18 planes worked. Western military raced to catch up. We review Soviet efforts to build a long-range bomber fleet and recall their successful reverse engineering of the U.S. B-29. We move to the U.S. program to develop long-range, nuclear bombers capable of extended flight for weeks or months and the quest for a perfect long-range bomber. We also look at the impressive bombing accuracy of the B-2 Stealth Bomber during the opening phases of the Iraq War.

We open with Moscow's 1952 revelation that its air defenses and fighter jets were outdated. Stalin's fury over the inability of MiG fighters to catch British reconnaissance aircraft leads to reorganization of air defenses and the MiG 21. Meanwhile, fighter defenses over the U.S. are left to Korean War vintage F-86 Sabre jets. A new jet fighter, the F-103 Thunder Warrior, is developed, but military politics intervene, and it's cancelled. Next, we turn to the defense of long-range bombers whose deep penetration of Soviet air space was crucial. We also recall the story of one of the most remarkable fighters ever devised--the Canadian Avro Arrow--and the reason for its abrupt cancellation. We close with a look at the upcoming F-22, the first totally new fighter design in 20 years.

In this series, we examine the secret aircraft of the Cold War, focusing on the technology and designers of aircraft that were light years ahead of their time. In this hour, we examine stories of the aircraft, missions, and men that played the high-stakes games between the superpowers and learn how vital air reconnaissance was, and still is. Some of the planes we'll study include the Neptune, RB-57D, U-2, RB57F, and SR-71 Blackbird. We'll also examine the cancelled D-21 (for Daughter). A smaller, unmanned version of the Blackbird, it was cancelled after five failed missions. We'll also look at Soviet and Chinese attempts to counteract U.S. spycraft.

Military planners fear the runway's vulnerability to preemptive attack. Their solution? Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft able to launch without runways. The Cold War's onset led to Western Europe's need to defend from Soviet invasion and the Luftwaffe's rebirth; we revisit their WWII engineering breakthroughs. Next we turn to U.S. efforts to build a VTOL aircraft--"Pogo" aircraft, the Ryan X-13 Vertijet, F-104, and Sikorsky S-57. Meanwhile, British designers develop the P.1127. NATO nearly adopts it as the European standard, but politics kill full deployment. Its technology ends up in the Harrier. We also examine Soviet VTOL design efforts and a look at the post-9/11 world.

Intriguing account of the German Zeppelin Bomber, the U.S.S. Los Angeles (the "flying aircraft carrier"), and other airships that captured the imagination of engineers and military brass worldwide.

Traces the evolution of rockets from the rudimentary efforts of the ancient Chinese to Wernher von Braun's first efforts and the ultimate success of Robert Goddard, the American physicist who launched the first liquid-fueled rocket in 1926.

In-depth look at the world's first operational ballistic missile, Hitler's "Vengeance Weapon Number 2." The V-2's scope stunned the world as did its production in prison labor camps.

As the Cold War roiled to a boil, America redirected its developing outer-space technology to a desperate race with the Soviet Union to deploy Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles.

An analysis of the awesome aircraft deployed by West and East to gain an edge in the high-stakes game of delivering total nuclear annihilation anywhere. We open with the first of many Soviet propaganda ploys. At a Moscow military air show Western guests are stunned by an overflight of massive Soviet M-4 "Bison" bombers. Though there were truly only 18 aircraft in prototype stage, the ruse of circling the same 18 planes worked. Western military raced to catch up. We review Soviet efforts to build a long-range bomber fleet and recall their successful reverse engineering of the U.S. B-29. We move to the U.S. program to develop long-range, nuclear bombers capable of extended flight for weeks or months and the quest for a perfect long-range bomber. We also look at the impressive bombing accuracy of the B-2 Stealth Bomber during the opening phases of the Iraq War.

We open with Moscow's 1952 revelation that its air defenses and fighter jets were outdated. Stalin's fury over the inability of MiG fighters to catch British reconnaissance aircraft leads to reorganization of air defenses and the MiG 21. Meanwhile, fighter defenses over the U.S. are left to Korean War vintage F-86 Sabre jets. A new jet fighter, the F-103 Thunder Warrior, is developed, but military politics intervene, and it's cancelled. Next, we turn to the defense of long-range bombers whose deep penetration of Soviet air space was crucial. We also recall the story of one of the most remarkable fighters ever devised--the Canadian Avro Arrow--and the reason for its abrupt cancellation. We close with a look at the upcoming F-22, the first totally new fighter design in 20 years.

In this series, we examine the secret aircraft of the Cold War, focusing on the technology and designers of aircraft that were light years ahead of their time. In this hour, we examine stories of the aircraft, missions, and men that played the high-stakes games between the superpowers and learn how vital air reconnaissance was, and still is. Some of the planes we'll study include the Neptune, RB-57D, U-2, RB57F, and SR-71 Blackbird. We'll also examine the cancelled D-21 (for Daughter). A smaller, unmanned version of the Blackbird, it was cancelled after five failed missions. We'll also look at Soviet and Chinese attempts to counteract U.S. spycraft.

Military planners fear the runway's vulnerability to preemptive attack. Their solution? Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft able to launch without runways. The Cold War's onset led to Western Europe's need to defend from Soviet invasion and the Luftwaffe's rebirth; we revisit their WWII engineering breakthroughs. Next we turn to U.S. efforts to build a VTOL aircraft--"Pogo" aircraft, the Ryan X-13 Vertijet, F-104, and Sikorsky S-57. Meanwhile, British designers develop the P.1127. NATO nearly adopts it as the European standard, but politics kill full deployment. Its technology ends up in the Harrier. We also examine Soviet VTOL design efforts and a look at the post-9/11 world.

Intriguing account of the German Zeppelin Bomber, the U.S.S. Los Angeles (the "flying aircraft carrier"), and other airships that captured the imagination of engineers and military brass worldwide.