Mighty Planes

The C-2 Greyhound is a humble, heavy-duty workhorse for the U.S. Navy, operating on frantic flight decks and delivering over 1,000 tons of cargo to aircraft carriers around the world. It’s a tough plane to fly and even tougher to ground. In this episode, we follow four student pilots training to land this beast in the middle of the ocean. It’s the biggest test of their lives. It’s taken them three years of flight school to get to this point, and if they fail, their dreams of joining the fleet may never come true.

The Luftwaffe’s A400M Atlas is able to move massive cargo, provide medical support, and bring the fight to the enemy. Enter its manufacturing facility in Seville, Spain to get an inside look at how this state-of-the-art aircraft is built for action. Whether transporting a three-ton tactical helicopter, whisking away paratroopers on a dangerous training mission in the German countryside, or delivering live cargo to Italy, the A400M is the future of military transport.

Canada’s northwest territories are rich in gold and diamonds, but running a mining operation in extreme Arctic conditions with very few roads can be tremendously challenging. Enter the Twin Otter, the rugged aircraft of choice in remote Canadian communities. Powered by two turboprop engines, the Twin Otter maneuvers like a bird and is capable of landing just about anywhere—on land, sea, and snow. Follow this mighty plane as she handles icy skies and frozen-lake runways on a series of critical missions.

The Stargazer L-1011 is a unique kind of storm chaser, able to shoot NASA weather satellites into space from 39,000 feet in the air. See how this onetime Air Canada jetliner was converted to carry a very different kind of passenger: the Pegasus XL rocket, which launches satellites designed to detect the speed and intensity of hurricanes. Follow the Stargazer on her latest mission, one plagued by bad weather, mechanical issues, and launch delays.

Formula E auto racing is redefining motorsport, but AirBridgeCargo’s 747-8F is poised to take the checkered flag. See her fly from China to Russia to England in a race against the clock to deliver a fleet of electric-powered race cars in time for the next race. Intensifying matters for the pilots and loading crew: a dangerous cargo of potentially explosive lithium-ion batteries and a typhoon threatening to hit Hong Kong before they even take off.

Russia’s mighty Ilyushin 76 is built military-tough to deliver heavy-duty cargo around the world, but her maiden voyage into the Arctic Circle proves to be a challenge. Follow her attempt to airlift a fleet of trucks and trailers to the Baffinland Iron Mines in a remote part of Nunavut, Canada. It’s a mission no other plane can pull off, and the Arctic will throw everything it has at the Ilyushin, from blinding polar storms to icy runways.