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Witness the spectacular successes and failures of aviation development through the stories of some of the bravest and best test pilots.

Told from the perspective of pilots and tacticians, this episode is a compelling look at the most perfectly orchestrated air mission in history.

The helicopter, invented by Frenchman Louis Breguet, first played a major role in war during the Vietnam conflict. There, the Americans developed the concept of "air mobility".

From the early parachute units of WWII and Korea to the modern "air mobile" forces that came into play in Vietnam, Grenada and Panama.

British and American pilots take to the dangerous decks of the first carriers - converted battleships - as they invent naval aviation in WW1.

Before the battle could be fought in the skies it had to be won on the drawing boards.

Trace the development of the modern jet fighter from the multi-national, multi-purpose, multi-service F-4 Phantom to today's highly specialized fighters

Follow the super power race to control the last frontier. From the visionaries like Robert Goddard and Wernher Von Braun to the pilots like John Glenn and Yuri Gagarin who braved the unknown.

The story of the air war over the Pacific Ocean: The early triumph of the Japanese, the use of carrier based planes, the desperate kamikaze attacks and the final strategic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The strategy behind the air war over Europe: How it developed and how the British and Americans joined forces to finally win the war of attrition in the skies.

Witness a deadly attack mission waged by three men as they combat the North Vietnamese enemy.

Witness the exciting story of pioneering experimental aircraft, their visionary designers, the pilots who risked their lives to fly daring test missions, and the sometimes unsuccessful or unexpected results.

The story of tactical air to ground combat from its inception in WWI to the Gulf War.