Military Airplanes: Military aircraft that have made history, and that have driven technical innovation in aviation.
For several decades now, it has been aircraft above all that have decided the outcome of military conflicts. No wonder that unimaginable sums have been invested in their development. Engineers around the world assiduously improve the speed, range, versatility, and armament of military aircraft, thus decisively advancing innovation in aviation. Ultimate Vehicles showcases the best fighters, bombers, and transport aircraft.
It is the result of the largest armaments program of all time: the F-35 Lightning II. When developing it, engineers had to satisfy numerous demands at once: a stealth aircraft with high speed and excellent avionics. In addition, it had to have vertical and short takeoff capability. How well was this mammoth task executed?
It shocked the West and taught American bomber pilots during the Korean War the meaning of fear. The Mig-15 was the first Soviet fighter jet. Today there are only 12 airworthy Mig-15s left. We take off with one of them.
Three decades later, the successful aircraft manufacturer Mikoyan-Gurevich had another stroke of genius: the Mig-29. Its maneuverability is unparalleled, and today it is considered one of the best fighter jets in the world. “Ultimate Vehicles” presents the technical features responsible for this.
One day it will be the longest-serving military aircraft: the B-52 Stratofortress. It is planned to be used for about 90 years. What is behind this legendary airplane’s longevity? And how does a plane with a 56-meter wingspan take off and land?
The Airbus A400M is considered the most modern transport aircraft in the world. For a propeller aircraft of this weight, it can fly unusually fast and high – but also slow and low – thus making it incredibly versatile.
For several decades now, it has been aircraft above all that have decided the outcome of military conflicts. No wonder that unimaginable sums have been invested in their development. Engineers around the world assiduously improve the speed, range, versatility, and armament of military aircraft, thus decisively advancing innovation in aviation. Ultimate Vehicles showcases the best fighters, bombers, and transport aircraft.
It is the result of the largest armaments program of all time: the F-35 Lightning II. When developing it, engineers had to satisfy numerous demands at once: a stealth aircraft with high speed and excellent avionics. In addition, it had to have vertical and short takeoff capability. How well was this mammoth task executed?
It shocked the West and taught American bomber pilots during the Korean War the meaning of fear. The Mig-15 was the first Soviet fighter jet. Today there are only 12 airworthy Mig-15s left. We take off with one of them.
Three decades later, the successful aircraft manufacturer Mikoyan-Gurevich had another stroke of genius: the Mig-29. Its maneuverability is unparalleled, and today it is considered one of the best fighter jets in the world. “Ultimate Vehicles” presents the technical features responsible for this.
One day it will be the longest-serving military aircraft: the B-52 Stratofortress. It is planned to be used for about 90 years. What is behind this legendary airplane’s longevity? And how does a plane with a 56-meter wingspan take off and land?
The Airbus A400M is considered the most modern transport aircraft in the world. For a propeller aircraft of this weight, it can fly unusually fast and high – but also slow and low – thus making it incredibly versatile.
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FunTranscript
00:01They are the fastest, the largest and the most dangerous in the world.
00:08They conquer every terrain and they overcome borders.
00:13This is a very challenging thing to bring out a new ship like this.
00:18But it is much more than a challenge.
00:24It's absolutely a privilege to be here and do this.
00:27Their design goes beyond the scope of what is technologically possible, setting new standards.
00:34These vehicles are milestones of engineering.
00:39This is the father of air travel.
00:42On land, on water and in the air.
00:46All of them are ultimate vehicles.
00:57In this episode, a jet for around 90 million dollars. The F-35 Lightning II.
01:06A bomber with a maximum life expectancy. The B-52 is foreseen to be in service for almost 90 years.
01:12A jet to teach American bombers the meaning of fear. The legendary MiG-15.
01:20From the same manufacturer, the MiG-29 is for many still the best dogfighting jet in the world.
01:26And finally, the most modern military transport aircraft in the world. The A-400M.
01:44The technology makes it undefeatable in the battle space.
01:55It's going to change the way we fight wars.
01:59The Lockheed Martin F-35. The most expensive defense project in the world.
02:03A fighter jet that almost makes flying child's play. In part, because it lets the pilot focus entirely on flying the plane.
02:20The F-35 completed its first flight on December 15, 2006.
02:25It can reach a maximum speed of over 1,900 kilometers per hour.
02:30Cost per unit. Currently about 94 million US dollars.
02:39Phoenix, Arizona. Luke Air Force Base.
02:47The largest base for the F-35 is located here, in the American desert.
02:52The United States military has ordered a total of 2,400 aircraft for about 400 billion dollars.
02:58Thus making the jet the most expensive defense project of all time.
03:09The home of the 61st Fighter Squadron of the US Air Force.
03:13The pilots here are trained to fly one of the mightiest stealth jets in the world.
03:17One of them is Major Will Andreotta. He has been flying this technological wonder for three and a half years.
03:28Before heading for the aircraft, Major Andreotta puts on vital equipment.
03:33Especially important, pressurized trousers.
03:35This will allow the blood that basically rushes down from the head to the feet when we pull those high G's to be pushed back up.
03:45So we're able to keep consciousness while we're flying.
03:47The jet sets new technological limits and pilots are physically at their absolute limit.
03:59So we're really well trained. We do this every day. We take it very seriously.
04:05So there's really no nerves whenever we go out there.
04:07It's just kind of the excitement and the anticipation of accomplishing the mission.
04:12One thing left. The helmet.
04:15And it is considered the F-35 secret weapon.
04:18No one is allowed to examine it closely.
04:21But it is designed to make flying far easier.
04:25Before take-off, Major Andreotta gets his flight briefing from the top three of the day.
04:30Major Jason Hall.
04:32Ready.
04:34All right. Good morning, Lightning Flight.
04:36Welcome to the step brief.
04:37As far as the weather status, we've got scattered clouds at 22,000 feet.
04:41And winds are out of the southwest.
04:43You'll be stepping into aircraft 5069 today.
04:46There are no previous issues.
04:48Don't forget to bring in publications with you and sign out before we get into your jet.
04:52Any questions for me?
04:53No questions. Bring it on.
04:56Now it's time to go.
04:58The final steps in the air-conditioned office before heading out into the blazing Arizona heat.
05:04Where one of the best fighter jets awaits.
05:07But also one of the most controversial.
05:10For its horrendous development costs have exposed the project to enormous criticism.
05:15The mechanics turn the jet over to Major Andreotta.
05:19Good afternoon, sir. How are you doing today?
05:24How are you doing today?
05:25Excellent. Awesome.
05:26Are you all ready to fly?
05:27Ready.
05:28It looks good.
05:33In every situation, even in wartime, the procedure is the same.
05:38The pilot is always responsible for the final check.
05:41This is kind of my last little check just to make sure that all the T's are crossed and all the I's are dotted, you know,
05:52and make sure that I'm 100% comfortable when I get into this aircraft.
05:55But as I said, these guys, they're professionals.
05:58I have no qualms about going into this jet right now.
06:00On today's schedule, a formation flight. A formation in which several F-35s fly closely together.
06:13No simple exercise, and one that requires a special level of trust among the pilots.
06:19Really right now, it's just kind of going into the mode where training takes over.
06:23Everything we've learned, everything we've done for the last, you know, for myself,
06:26for three and a half years of flying this F-35 are really going to be put into what I do here in the next 45 minutes until we take off.
06:41After take off, the pilot is supported tremendously by technology during the flight.
06:50An innovation from Lockheed Martin, an infrared sensor system.
06:54It consists of six infrared cameras placed on the jet so as to cover the entire space around it.
07:01They recognize firing anti-aircraft positions, which can then be attacked immediately by weapons available on board.
07:08Even fighter jets arriving from any direction are detected.
07:12The pilot always knows who is friend and who is foe.
07:15A stroke of genius from the designers at Lockheed Martin.
07:26Here in Fort Worth, the jet has been in serial production since 2011.
07:31Three different versions are built, for a total of 11 countries.
07:34Charles Bullness is vice president in charge of the F-35 and has been there since the first sketches of the jet were made.
07:45One of the biggest challenges is trying to get a 40,000-pound airplane to hover and land vertically.
07:52And this is actually the easiest airplane to land.
07:55You and I could easily land it and the front wheel of the airplane would land right on the line on a runway.
08:01It's that easy.
08:03The B variant is the only modern fighter jet that can land vertically.
08:07The need for wide open spaces is thus consigned to the past.
08:12A milestone for military jets.
08:14Be proud of this day, be proud of this moment.
08:17The F-35, congratulations!
08:20The F-35 has been received with boisterous enthusiasm at all air bases.
08:25Another special feature and a groundbreaking innovation, the inside of the helmet,
08:31which functions like a virtual reality headset.
08:33The helmet that we have on this aircraft, no matter where he looks,
08:37he has everything he needs not only to fly the airplane but to fight with the airplane.
08:41With a press of a button, he can look down between his feet
08:44and that camera information is displayed on the visor of his helmet
08:48so he can literally see through the floor of the airplane.
08:52One jet is composed of 300,000 individual parts.
08:561,500 supplies ensure the highest quality standards.
08:59In the American production facility, it takes only a few weeks to assemble the F-35.
09:05The cost? About 94 million US dollars.
09:10Imperfections are not tolerated.
09:13Every time, in every mission, it is ultimately the pilot's safety that is at stake.
09:17Early in my career, I started in flight controls, so we learned very early on that you need to make this jet safe every day,
09:28just to make sure that pilots could always return home to their families.
09:32I think this jet is making history.
09:34It's the best multirole fighter in the world, it will be for 50 years.
09:37How all the technologies have been integrated to make this jet just an amazing machine is something that makes me very proud every day.
09:45Back to Arizona and Luke Air Force Base.
09:49Major Andreotta is set to take off momentarily.
09:52He is one of 400 fighter pilots from around the world qualified to fly the F-35.
09:57In no time, he brings his jet to over 1,000 kilometers per hour.
10:10Years of training in a simulator make the flight a routine job.
10:23A job that sometimes includes very special moments.
10:29There are times coming on the way back home or taking off where you just have that second you can just look outside,
10:35kind of pinch yourself for you being able to do what you do.
10:4545 minutes later, Major Andreotta lands the F-35 safely again on American soil.
10:51An everyday task for him in this ultimate vehicle.
10:56And yet, each time he gets an adrenaline rush that is familiar to only a few people on Earth.
11:01All right. Thanks, man. I appreciate it. You too. Thanks.
11:04Everybody that works on this plane, flies the plane, we really have a great sense and pride.
11:07And not only flying the F-35, maintaining the F-35, but also just serving our country and doing something that's bigger than us.
11:10So, everybody that works on this plane, flies the plane, we really have a great sense and pride.
11:12And not only flying the F-35, maintaining the F-35, but also just serving our country and doing something that's bigger than us.
11:13So, every day, it's a huge honor and privilege to come to work.
11:17All in a day's work for man and machine, the Lockheed Martin F-35 is a huge honor and privilege to come to work.
11:22All in a day's work for man and machine.
11:24The Lockheed Martin F-35, a fighter jet that has set a new benchmark for military jets for many years to come.
11:30The Lockheed Martin F-35 is a huge alumni.
11:34Everyone that works on this plane, flies the plane, we really have a great sense and pride in and not only flying the F-35, maintaining the F-35,
11:38but also just serving our country and doing something that's bigger than us.
11:39So, every day, it's a huge honor and privilege to come to work.
11:42All in a day's work for man and machine, the Lockheed Martin F-35, a fighter jet that has set a new benchmark for military jets for many years to come.
11:53Also in this episode, the legendary MiG-15, which once taught the West the meaning of fear,
12:02and the American long-range bomber, the B-52.
12:12The F-35 is without a doubt the most modern jet in the world.
12:16But in close-range aerial combat, known as dogfighting,
12:20many experts believe it is overshadowed by a 40-year-old model.
12:26The MiG-29, a flying legend.
12:33Yeah, great, it's the best aircraft, so…
12:37A dreaded hunter of its day.
12:44The light fighter interceptor completed its first flight in October 1977.
12:49The MiG-29 has a top speed of Mach 2.3.
12:53So far, over 1,600 MiG-29s have been produced.
13:00Poland.
13:02Minsk Mazowiecki.
13:04Home of the 23rd Airbase.
13:06The Polish Air Force has flown the legendary Soviet jet for a good 30 years.
13:10The MiG-29's characteristic design includes wings blended to the fuselage and leading edge route extensions.
13:20A construction that facilitates high speeds as well as outstanding maneuverability at subsonic speeds.
13:26Its unique agility makes the MiG-29 nearly unbeatable in a dogfight.
13:37Today, trainer Rafale is taking his student MiG-29 on a training flight with a MiG-29, in which they will run through various aerial maneuvers.
13:53Before going up in the air, MiG-29, the trainee pilot, must first practice in a simulator.
14:08I am just at the beginning of my training, so for me, it's not that complicated, but it's a bit difficult for me now, so I will do my best.
14:22Today's training is about air policing, which means to identify unknown aircraft and to react in a flash.
14:31In the simulator, the trainers confront Mikolai with situations that he will also have to deal with immediately once he gets up in the air.
14:45In the meantime, mechanics prepare the aircraft for the pilots.
14:49They check all the systems again.
14:52In an airplane made of six million individual parts, many things can go wrong.
15:02Thus, the MiGs come here regularly for maintenance.
15:10Martin is the head of the maintenance crew and is responsible for the squadron's total of 16 MiGs.
15:19This plane is a legend now, because in those years when this plane was appeared, it was, I think, absolutely the most powerful and most dangerous plane on over the world.
15:36His radio electronics elements, radio station, radar and armament system, they are very, very advanced and sophisticated.
15:50The MiG-29 went into serial production in 1982.
15:54In its early years, it was a dreaded unknown for the West.
15:58Only in 1988 at the Farnborough Airshow did representatives of NATO countries get a closer look at the MiG-29.
16:05They were amazed at its extraordinary aerial capabilities.
16:08Now they are 27 years old.
16:12The Polish Air Force plans use these planes during the next 13 years.
16:17For agility and speed, the MiG-29 is still tough to beat.
16:21How to deploy these features ideally for air policing is what Rafal and Mikolai will be practicing in a 45-minute training flight.
16:33It's very fun.
16:34It has some capabilities that are unique for aircrafts like aerodynamics and thrust to weight ratio.
16:41And it's sometimes very difficult, so you have to be on your foot, on your feet side.
16:49During the exterior inspection, Rafal also checks the huge air intakes.
16:54For take-off, they are automatically closed with flaps so that no dirt gets into the highly sensitive engines.
17:01Then air enters through intakes on the wings.
17:03A unique design.
17:11Rafal and Mikolai start their jets, powerful engines, and taxi slowly to the runway.
17:17In a real air policing mission, pilots must be in the air no later than 15 minutes after getting the alert.
17:27Like most Russian fighter jets, the MiG-29 has an especially robust undercarriage,
17:33so that it can also take off from provisional airstrips.
17:35Pilots need only 270 meters of runway for take-off.
17:40And in less than a minute, they can reach an altitude of 10,000 meters.
17:47This performance is possible thanks to the Klimov RD-33 engines, developed specially for the MiG-29.
17:56They are mounted underneath the fuselage in separate pods.
17:59This position ensures that enough air gets into the engines during extreme maneuvers, such as sharp curves and steep angles of attack.
18:09Only with sufficient air intake can the engines perform optimally.
18:13In relation to the aircraft's weight, the engines are so powerful that the MiG-29 can ascend vertically like a rocket,
18:29and it almost reaches the speed of sound in vertical flight.
18:32Speed and agility were always its obvious advantages.
18:47Disadvantages were the short range due to small tanks, and the small range of its infrared targeting system.
18:55But the MiG-29 was originally designed only for short range air defense.
19:03If pilots embroiled their adversary in a dogfight, they were almost invincible.
19:08After three quarters of an hour, Rafal and Mikolai return from their training flight.
19:24The plane lands at a speed of 250 kilometers an hour.
19:28Using air brakes and a brake chute, the MiG-29 only needs a runway 750 meters long.
19:33The air intakes are closed again for landing.
19:41Mikolai has just finished a grueling training session.
19:48He had, of course, practiced the maneuvers in the simulator ahead of time.
19:53But it all feels very different at an altitude of over 10,000 meters and speeds near the sound barrier.
19:59I hope I was better than in the simulator, than the simulator, yeah? But we will see.
20:12What matters is the opinion of his trainer, Rafal.
20:18We accomplished everything we briefed, so I'm happy about this.
20:22We kept some minor stuff to discuss, but most of all was fine. So I'm happy for this plane.
20:31And, of course, with his plane, the legendary MiG-29.
20:40Later in this episode, a flying fortress.
20:43The American B-52 Stratofortress bomber.
20:46Its combination of payload, range and speed has never been surpassed.
20:56The foundation for the MiG-29's extraordinary aerial features was laid by another legend.
21:02This fighter was the Soviet Union's first mass-produced jet aircraft, and it shocked the West in the Korean War.
21:15The MiG-15.
21:17Very robust, well-armed, and extremely agile and fast.
21:21The MiG-15 completed its first flight in December 1947.
21:31Its job? To attack and intercept heavy bombers as an agile fighter.
21:37Its top speed is just under the sound barrier.
21:40In total, more than 13,000 of this airplane were produced.
21:43The Czech Republic.
21:48Haradek Kralove.
21:50A one-hour drive from Prague.
21:52Here, at a former military airfield, is one of only 12 airworthy MiG-15s in the world.
21:58A MiG-15 UTI.
21:59With a height of 3.7 meters, a wingspan of 10 meters, and a weight of 3 tons, the MiG-15 is a small and extremely agile airplane with a powerful engine.
22:19The MiG-15 was presented to the public for the first time on July 17, 1949, at a Russian air display in Tushino.
22:32One year later, in the Korean War, it shocked the Americans, who until then had enjoyed unchallenged air superiority.
22:40In countless aerial battles, Russian pilots taught their adversaries to fear them.
22:45Only one American plane, the F-86 Sabre, could take on the MiG-15.
22:58This airplane still has many fans, such as Roman Svoboda and Josef Miracki, the owners of the Czech MiG-15.
23:08For them, the old-timer is something very special.
23:15This plane is a childhood dream come true.
23:19I remember the first time I saw the plane.
23:22I was six or seven and lived only 40 kilometers from a military airfield.
23:27The planes flew over us constantly.
23:30I knew then that one day I would own this plane.
23:33The two men bought their MiG-15 from an American museum in 2013.
23:38It took more than a year after transporting the plane to rebuild it and make it airworthy.
23:45This airplane and all its parts are 62 years old, so it's complicated.
24:03Luckily, we have original blueprints and were able to recreate some parts, which was especially important for the motor.
24:17Since then, they have been presenting their MiG-15 at airshows all over Europe.
24:28And they let passengers fly with them in the legendary fighter jet.
24:31Gregory Alexatos from Berlin booked such a flight.
24:36The 20-minute experience costs the airplane enthusiast about 3,000 euros.
24:40You're flying a piece of history. Built in 55, you have to have tried it. It's going to rock.
24:55But first, the MiG-15 must be refueled. Its tank holds 900 liters. It can be doubled with drop tanks.
25:03In the meantime, Roman, the plane's other owner and pilot of the MiG-15 goes through a short briefing with his guest.
25:13Roman is a former military and test pilot and has experience with a wide variety of fighter jets.
25:19But in his view, no other plane can compete with the MiG-15.
25:24It's classic flying, really. It's very easy.
25:28The only time you actually have to pay attention would be during landing, since the nose is close to the ground.
25:41Apart from that, it's a fast plane. You can do a lot of Gs with it.
25:47I'm used to flying fast planes.
25:50And for pilots like myself, this is an easy thing to do.
25:54It's child's plane.
25:55No wonder the MiG-15 was the most widely built fighter plane with jet propulsion.
26:08Little by little, Gregory is getting nervous for his flight.
26:12You can't let fear get the better of you. Just embrace the fear and pack it away for 20 minutes.
26:18Then Roman starts the MiG-15's engine. It was originally designed by Rolls-Royce in England and was built in Russia under license.
26:29It is almost twice as powerful as most other engines from the late 1940s.
26:33The MiG-15 needs less than 700 meters for take-off. Its undercarriage is extremely sturdy. Thus, the MiG-15 could also operate from unpaved advanced airfields.
26:47Right after take-off, Roman demonstrates for his passenger what made the MiG-15 so legendary and dangerous.
27:05Thanks to its sturdy semi-monocoque construction, it can withstand up to 8 Gs of force and thus engage in extreme aerial maneuvers.
27:13In comparison, today's fighter jets can only manage one or two Gs more.
27:26Pilots in the Korean War also took advantage of these features.
27:29Even at low altitude, the MiG-15 flies close to the sound barrier, as Roman demonstrates with this maneuver, called a low pass.
27:57That the MiG-15 can fly so fast and remain controllable is due to its wing shape, which was innovative at the time of its development.
28:10In contrast to early airplanes, whose wings were at a right angle to the fuselage, the MiG-15's wings are angled backwards 35 degrees.
28:23It is only these so-called swept wings that make it possible to fly close to the sound barrier.
28:32For near the sound barrier, drag is higher.
28:36Thanks to its aerodynamic form, the swept wings offsets this drag.
28:40In addition, the MiG-15's wings are angled about 2 degrees downward.
28:47This slight tilt improves the airplane's agility.
28:51Thus, the MiG-15's swept wings make it one of the best and most dangerous fighter jets of its time.
28:57The 20 minutes are over. Roman begins his approach.
29:03To keep the landing run as short as possible, the MiG-15's engineers give it extra large brake flaps.
29:08Gregory has survived 20 minutes of high G-force. He looks happy, but also somewhat worn out.
29:29It's a once in a lifetime experience. Everyone should try it.
29:39Of course, the MiG-15 is a classic among military aircraft.
29:44Also in this episode, the A400M. For a propeller plane of its mass, it can fly unusually fast and high, but also slow and low.
29:54That makes it extremely versatile.
29:59The MiG-15 was designed above all to intercept heavy bombers.
30:12It was a legend of the Cold War.
30:15And one day, it will be the world's oldest military aircraft in active service.
30:20The range with the B-52 is pretty much unlimited.
30:24Even now, it is considered a jack-of-all-trades.
30:31It is one of the most versatile aircraft ever designed.
30:35Despite its advanced age, it is the backbone of the US Air Force.
30:39The B-52's first flight took place on April 15, 1952.
30:48The heavy bomber has a range of over 14,000 kilometers, at a maximum gross weight of 220 tons.
30:54Bossier City, Louisiana, Barksdale Air Force Base. The largest B-52 base in the United States.
31:05Originally, the B-52 was developed as a nuclear deterrent in the Cold War.
31:12The Americans wanted to be able to use the high-flying bomber to fly atomic bombs into Russian airspace, undetected by Russian radar.
31:21Armed with conventional weapons, B-52s continue to be used today.
31:28Headquarters of the 20th Bomb Squadron.
31:30The men stationed here are trained to fly one of the most legendary bombers in history.
31:37Captain Joseph Okai and his crew are preparing for a training mission.
31:43A standard B-52 crew is composed of five people.
31:47The minimum crew is three.
31:50The equipment check is essential.
32:02So what we're doing here is, before every mission, you want to come in here and check your equipment out.
32:07Air crew flight equipment does a good job of preflighting your helmets for you, as far as making sure you have the right equipment,
32:12with the right mic and audio.
32:15You want to do all this now, so you don't have to worry about anything once you get to the jet, and you're good to go for the mission itself.
32:21Before the crew goes on board, they are briefed on current weather conditions.
32:30To see what kind of turbulence or weather we have on the AR track, to see what to expect, basically, when we get out there.
32:37Of the 75 B-52s currently fit for service, 47 are located here, at Barksdale Air Force Base.
32:44After a flight, a B-52 must be serviced for 20 hours before it can take off again.
32:56Nicholas Kupfler is responsible for the B-52's laborious maintenance.
33:00Even he is amazed by the aged bomber's capabilities.
33:07It can land in crosswinds, which is pretty crazy.
33:10Like, if you ever see it, it'll land.
33:13The nose would be, like, toward an angle, and the gear would be straight, so it can land in crosswinds.
33:19What makes this special feature possible?
33:25The undercarriage.
33:27In a crosswind landing, the pilot can angle the undercarriage up to 20 degrees to the left or right.
33:32The wheels come down straight on the runway, whereas the aircraft is at a 20-degree angle, facing into the wind.
33:44A lot of 12-hour shifts, but, you know, it's worth it in the end, just being able to see something like this that's been flying for over 60 years.
33:52The U.S. military plans to use the aircraft, last built in 1962 until 2040, making it the world's oldest combat aircraft in service.
34:07Once we start the engines, just let me know what the engines are doing, any torching, anything that's going on with them.
34:11Make sure the 747 section is locked up. Anything to tell me about the jet?
34:16All right, man. Appreciate it. Well, do I walk around?
34:19Thank you, sir.
34:21At 48.5 meters, it is quite long.
34:24With its payload of 31.5 tons, its wingspan of 56.4 meters, and its enormous range, the design was a technical masterstroke.
34:34The last check is always made by the pilot and his crew.
34:38And still, technical problems cropped up in the past during the flight.
34:42The sortie where the left-tip gear refused to come down, went around a little bit until we lost some fuel, so we got a little lighter, so we can land.
34:55And came back and landed with one gear still up. So that was, you know, my first time that happened, it was kind of like, oh, you know, still nerve-wracking, if you will.
35:03But I was with a very experienced aircraft pilot, and he was fine to go.
35:07With eight turbines and fuel tanks, the wings are so heavy that outrigger wheels are necessary to support them.
35:13Once everyone comes together, you know the jet's ready to go, and you guys can take off.
35:22So we did all the mission planning, we got everything done, and, you know, after a long day of briefings and all kinds of stuff, now we get to go up there and actually make the mission happen.
35:31So this is the best part. All right, guys, let's do it.
35:52Each one of the eight jet engines has 13 and a half tons of thrust.
35:56This enormous power is necessary for the bomber's huge wingspan and its maximum weight of 220 tons.
36:07Its size and its supposedly ugly appearance have given the B-52 the nickname Buff.
36:13Big ugly fat fellow.
36:26The construction of a bomber with this range and payload was an engineering milestone.
36:49Historian Sean Bohannon is an expert in the history of the bomber.
36:54At the end of the Second World War, the United States realized that it might not have a forward base available in the next war for its strategic bomber force.
37:04So that became an imperative. An aircraft that was able to operate from the continental United States and strike any target in the world.
37:10With its payload of 31 and a half tons, the B-52 is able to transport the largest array of weapons in the entire U.S. arsenal.
37:23With this B-52D strata fortress here, this is a prime example of how reliable and sound this aircraft was.
37:33This particular model flew 145 combat missions in Southeast Asia.
37:38Most of these were anywhere from 12 to 16 hour long missions.
37:41During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the B-52 bomber flew an average of about 70 missions a day.
37:52During the Vietnam War, a total of 126,000 missions.
37:57Such long-range missions are only possible with several air refuelings.
38:06The tank can take up to about 142 tons of kerosene.
38:13It is also the only aircraft in the U.S. Air Force that can carry both internal and external weapons.
38:18Continual upgrades ensure the strata fortress's versatility.
38:26The B-52 uses three different braking systems.
38:30In addition to air brakes and brake flaps on the wings, it uses a brake parachute that helps to hold its enormous weight.
38:38Unique among aircraft of this size.
38:48After every flight, the crew reflects on how future missions could be improved.
39:05It's great, you know?
39:07After all that going up there and flying it, always being in the jets, always a good day, you know?
39:11Sorry about the loud noise.
39:13But yeah, coming back down, we have a lot of things to talk about in debrief.
39:15It was a great sortie, but we have some stuff we can improve on, so we'll go back and talk about it in the squadron
39:20and make sure we can improve ourselves for the next time we fly.
39:23The B-52, despite its advanced age, it still induces awe.
39:31The last ultimate vehicle is another heavyweight of troop deployment.
39:34It is the most modern military transport aircraft in the world.
39:46The Airbus A400M.
39:48Designed for use as a tactical and strategic transporter, it has extraordinary features for an aircraft of its size.
39:55The Airbus A400M's maiden flight was on the 11th of December 2009.
40:05It can fly almost 9,000 kilometers at a stretch and has a maximum load capacity of 37 tons.
40:12Wundsdorf Airbase near Hannover.
40:20The German A400M aircraft are stationed here as part of Air Transport Wing 62.
40:29One of the planes is now returning from Emari Airbase in Estonia.
40:32In only one week, several hundred tons of material and equipment must be flown from the NATO base there back to Germany.
40:43The A400M, which was commissioned as a joint European project in 2000, has been used by the Bundeswehr since the end of 2014.
40:52It provides nearly twice as much space as its predecessor in the Luftwaffe, the Transall.
41:02The A400M's four turboprop engines are among the biggest in the world.
41:10Their eight-bladed propellers have a diameter of over five meters.
41:15As soon as the aircraft stops moving, work begins for Sergeant Major Andreas, the loadmaster.
41:21He is responsible for the cargo hold as well as for loading and unloading.
41:26Here we see the supports, which keep the aircraft from tipping during loading.
41:32Then we'll unload the container.
41:35We've got to stay on time.
41:39The crew has to complete a total of three missions today from Emari.
41:43In less than an hour, the A400M is supposed to be back in the air.
41:47The containers are secured on the ground with a newly developed locking system.
41:55In only one minute, the crew has unlocked the cargo.
42:00Then they can roll the five-ton container onto the transport vehicle.
42:05The locking system saves a lot of time.
42:18It goes much faster.
42:20We're talking about 15 or 20 minutes that can easily be saved during loading or unloading.
42:25As soon as the 340 cubic meter cargo hold is empty, preparations begin for the return flight to Estonia.
42:40In the cockpit, Captain Henning, the pilot, checks the data for the pending flight.
42:46He and his colleague Kai are among the first pilots who are trained for the A400M.
42:50This is one of the most modern cockpits in the world and the most modern among military cockpits.
42:58Based on the A380 cockpit, it has multiple display.
43:03We can display all the data necessary to fulfill our mission.
43:06A great plane, perfect for the military.
43:09Furthermore, all the systems are multiply redundant, thus ensuring the greatest possible safety.
43:15Now the preparations for take-off are finished.
43:20Fully loaded and refuelled, the A400M weighs 141 tons.
43:26That it only needs 1,000 meters for take-off despite this weight is extremely important for tactical missions in the field.
43:34On such missions, only very short, makeshift runways are generally available.
43:39The flight to Emari lasts two and a half hours.
43:44For the loadmaster, time for a breather.
43:46The A400M's cargo hold is a pressurized cabin, like in a passenger airplane.
43:51The cruising altitude of 11,000 meters is reached in a few minutes.
43:56Flying with a turboprop at 33,000 feet is just phenomenal.
44:00And a speed of Mach 0.68, that's about 400 knots ground speed we're doing.
44:07That makes it possible to fly this route several times today.
44:11The A400M can reach a maximum altitude of 12,300 meters, higher than any other propeller plane.
44:20This is made possible by the four extremely powerful turboprop engines.
44:24They were designed specifically for the A400M.
44:29The special thing, the propellers turn in opposite directions.
44:33This concentrates the airstream at the middle of the wing, ensuring greater lift and better lateral stability.
44:43What this does for flight performance is demonstrated rather impressively by this Airbus pilot at an airshow.
44:49Still, it takes quite a lot of practice to perform aerobatic maneuvers with an 80-ton transport aircraft, such as this so-called inside loop.
45:09Wunsdorf Airbase has simulators to train pilots and cargo crew.
45:14One is the so-called cargo trainer.
45:16It is a one-to-one reproduction of the A400M's fuselage.
45:21In addition to Bundeswehr soldiers, those of other nations' militaries train here as well.
45:27Today's program includes an exercise in which the cargo hold is converted for passenger transport.
45:33The goal, to retrofit the aircraft for the maximum number of 116 seats within one hour.
45:38Heiko Westermann is an aeronautical engineer and oversees the A400M's introduction into the Bundeswehr.
45:48The A400M's delivery has been delayed, but for training purposes we can use simulators.
46:01For example, this cargo hold trainer where we are now.
46:03The maiden flight itself took place almost a year later than planned.
46:13The delivery of a total of 174 aircrafts to the eight purchasing nations has been delayed by more than three years.
46:20Problems with the aircraft's parts crop up time and again, such as the newly developed engines and the self-protection measures.
46:28The A400M has already proven itself for air transport, especially with regard to range and payload.
46:41Its tactical features still present a challenge to the manufacturer.
46:45Once these challenges are overcome, the airplane will be unique for its flexibility.
46:52For the A400M can be deployed everywhere in the world.
47:03Snow and ice affect the aircraft as little as heat and dusty gravel runways.
47:10The A400M can be refuelled in mid-air.
47:14And it can also be used as a tanker to refuel other airplanes.
47:17Furthermore, it can fly so slow and low that paratroopers and loads can be dropped.
47:29And for tactical deployment in war zones, the A400M has decoy flares and various electronic self-protection measures on board.
47:39Meanwhile, the Bundeswehr aircraft has almost reached its destination.
47:44The NATO base in Estonia.
47:47Captain Henning, the pilot, prepares the approach.
47:52We have calculated the landing run.
47:55The runway is three kilometers long.
47:57We need about 1,000 meters to land.
48:02In an emergency, a landing run of only 625 meters would suffice for the A400M.
48:08For eight months, the Bundeswehr has secured the airspace over the Baltic states from Amari.
48:21Now other nations will take over the job.
48:23Before loading, Sergeant Major Andreas, the loadmaster, checks whether the container is evenly packed and nothing can slide around during the flight.
48:40The colleagues on site have done good work though.
48:43And after 20 minutes, the two containers are loaded and secured.
48:46Loading went great.
48:48We'll stow the rest properly, wait for the passengers and then it's time to go.
48:57We'll close up here in a minute and then we're ready for takeoff.
49:00Fully loaded, the A400M sets off for the return flight to Germany.
49:09And in about five hours, the most modern transport aircraft in the world will land for the third time today, here in Amari.