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All Seasons

Season 1

  • S01E01 B-52 Stratofortress

    • April 26, 2019
    • PBS

    Crawl through an iconic B-52 bomber, take a trip to The Peace Garden State, and explore one of only two active B-52 bases in the United States.

  • S01E02 Denver International Airport

    • May 3, 2019
    • PBS

    It takes an army to keep operations humming at the 5th busiest airport in the United States: Denver International (DEN). See this incredible operation from the inside out.

  • S01E03 EA-6B Prowler

    • May 10, 2019
    • PBS

    From the recently-retired EA-6B Prowler to the next generation EA-18 Growler, electronic attack plays a vital role in our nation's security.

  • S01E04 Cessna 172 Skyhawk

    • May 17, 2019
    • PBS

    Go flying over Denver Colorado and visit the Skyhawk manufacturing facility in Independence, Kansas. The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the world's most widely produced aircraft.

Season 2

  • S02E01 UH-1 Iroquois

    • March 19, 2020
    • PBS

    The UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) is THE iconic aircraft of the Vietnam War. Highlights a combat-veteran Huey and two Vietnam War Huey pilots. Tag along on a training mission with the US Coast Guard to showcase the U.S. military’s latest helo.

  • S02E02 North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)

    • March 26, 2020
    • PBS

    Explore one of the military’s best-kept secrets - North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Get a private tour of the N2C2 command center, experience a Noble Eagle Conference in action, and fly along into “restricted airspace” up close and personal with Buckley AFB’s 140th Wing.

  • S02E03 The Apollo Program

    • April 2, 2020
    • PBS

    NASA’s Gene Kranz, the amazing events leading up to Apollo 11, and the fascinating future NASA has in store for space exploration.

  • S02E04 Beechcraft 18

    • April 9, 2020
    • PBS

    Dive into the history of the iconic Beechcraft 18, explore its history as the C-45 Expeditor, and venture to Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colorado to link up with the Colorado State Patrol’s (CSP) Aviation Section.

Season 3

  • S03E01 Fighting Fires from the Skies

    • September 23, 2021
    • PBS

    Fire aviation teams are critical, complex efforts, made up of pilots, technicians, and coordinators who work together with ground crews to put out and contain wildfires. As environmental conditions set the stage for unprecedented fire seasons, night vision goggle technology is employed for the first time.

  • S03E02 Aerial Firefighting Progress

    • September 30, 2021
    • PBS

    New fire conditions call for new firefighting methods and tools. Looking at Calfire, we learn how the largest municipal fleet of firefighting aircraft in the world has developed over time. The challenges in fighting wildfires are greater than ever, but with new methods of fighting the fires, so are the opportunities.

  • S03E03 The Century Series Fighters

    • October 7, 2021
    • PBS

    In the 1950s, The Century Series defined an era of aviation during the Cold War, charting a metamorphosis from one era to another. Starting with the F-100, the first production airplane to break the sound barrier in level flight, we explore how the Century Series pioneered new airplane designs. As a series, their legacy is evident in modern fighter jets.

  • S03E04 The Learjet Legacy

    • October 14, 2021
    • PBS

    For nearly sixty years the Learjet came to define a new class of luxury airplane – the business jet. Now, the last Learjet ever is being assembled at the Wichita-based production facility in “The Aviation Capital of the World”. Speaking with aviation icons past and present, we get an intimate look at a company that shaped aviation as we know it today.

Season 4

  • S04E01 Early Space Exploration

    • July 21, 2022
    • PBS

    Early Space Exploration is defined by a Space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The first Astronauts to walk on the moon train with indigenous people in Panama. Astronauts experience a psychological shift called The Overview Effect, and the ISS marks a new focus on collaboration in Space. Exploration is in our DNA, and when it comes to space, we have a lot to explore!

  • S04E02 Earth from Space

    • July 28, 2022
    • PBS

    Satellite sensing enables new discoveries about climate change, natural disasters, and civilization. Researchers are using satellites to create prediction models of watersheds. Mapping technology has become an irreplaceable part of our daily lives. With the exponential increase in satellites in recent years comes a need for more space infrastructure, and new challenges like space debris.

  • S04E03 The New Space Race

    • August 4, 2022
    • PBS

    Technological advances and private investments have enabled a new era in space exploration with private astronauts and space stations. The impacts are profound in the variety and frequency of space activity. Space for Humanity envisions a future where anyone can be an astronaut, and Astro Access took that even further when they crewed a training mission entirely for people with disabilities.

  • S04E04 The Next Frontier in Space

    • August 11, 2022
    • PBS

    NASA is preparing for their Orion missions, including the first-crewed mission to the moon in about 50 years. Plans for a lunar gateway will teach us more about working and living in Space. In the Utah desert, researchers are simulating what it would be like to be on Mars. There are still problems to solve, but when we do, it could change everything.

Season 5

  • S05E01 How Drones and eVTOL are Changing the World

    • November 2, 2023
    • PBS

    From the delivery of packages and medical supplies to the potential of Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft as a form of urban transportation, drone and eVTOL technologies are rapidly changing the future of how we move. It sounds like the future, but it's happening today!

  • S05E02 Design, Deploy, Discover: The James Webb Space Telescope

    • November 9, 2023
    • PBS

    Explore the design, deployment, and discoveries of the James Webb Space Telescope, one of the most ambitious scientific instruments ever built. Now Webb's data is rolling in, enabling new scientific discoveries about the formation of galaxies and the origins of life. Webb is changing our fundamental understanding of the universe and our place in it.

  • S05E03 The F-35 Lightning II

    • November 16, 2023
    • PBS

    From 5th generation design to its technological breakthroughs, the F-35 is a formidable machine. At Lockheed Martin's assembly line in Fort Worth TX, F-35s are meticulously built. At the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, cadets learn how the F-35 fits into a modern combat environment. And at Miramar Naval Base in San Diego, CA, get an inside look at the life of the pilots who fly the F-35.

  • S05E04 The Moon, To Stay

    • November 23, 2023
    • PBS

    A continued exploration of the Artemis missions, building on Episode 404 of Behind the Wings. Look back at Apollo to understand what we learned from going to the moon for the first time. Follow the progress of the program, from the development of new lunar architecture to the training of the astronauts who will take the next steps on the moon. Meet the diverse team working on the program.