Planes That Changed History

Tuesday 10pm

Show Trailer

Season 1
00:30

Next transmissions on tv

  1. Tuesday 15 September 10pm

    Beluga

  2. Wednesday 16 September 3pm

    Beluga

  3. Thursday 17 September 10am

    Beluga

Synopsis

Explore 125 years of aviation by uncovering how iconic aircraft have radically reshaped our world and revealing the ingenious engineering behind its success. Audiences will see the likes of the Concorde, the Boeing 747 jumbo jet and the Supermarine Spitfire as never before. Their stories will be brought to life on-screen through interviews with historians, pilots and aviation experts, rarely seen archive footage, and schematic 3D models.

Clips

Episodes

Season 1
  • Vulcan

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    The British Avro Vulcan pushed the boundaries of long-distance flying, completing one of the longest bombing raids in history during the 1982 Falklands War.

  • DC-3

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    The Douglas DC-3 was an aviation revolution, transforming the world of air travel by flying faster, farther and more safely than any other passenger plane. Later, it was reinvented to help the Allies secure victory in World War II.

  • Spitfire

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    During the Battle of Britain, the fate of a nation rested on the legendary Supermarine Spitfire as it stood between Nazi Germany and the invasion of southern England. Explore the incredible engineering and aerial tactics that made this plane so iconic.

  • 747

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    Boeing dared to design the largest passenger aircraft of its time, and creating the 747 was no small task. The story of the “queen of the skies” is one of groundbreaking innovation, high risks, and even higher stakes.

  • Concorde

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    The groundbreaking story of Concorde, a flying marvel that has become synonymous with speed. After beating out the USA and the Soviet Union in a high-stakes international race to achieve supersonic air travel, Concorde left its mark on history.

  • Nighthawk

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    In 1981, the F-117 Nighthawk became the world’s first stealth aircraft. Explore how its futuristic design made this unconventional aircraft all but invisible to radar. A decade after its inception, the Nighthawk was put to the test in the Gulf War to help thwart the military might of Saddam Hussein.

  • Beluga

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    The Airbus BelugaXL is a gravity-defying giant. Its incredible engineering allows it to fly oversized cargo across Europe and remains one of the biggest aircraft in commercial service.

    Next Showing
    Tuesday 15 September 10pm
    On National Geographic
    Next Showing
    Wednesday 16 September 3pm
    On National Geographic
  • Chinook

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    Discover the Chinook, the heavy-lift helicopter that rewrote the rules of aviation. Born in 1950s America, the Chinook entered service in Vietnam. Its bent airframe and tandem rotors gave it a huge lift capability, transforming U.S. military strategy.

    Next Showing
    Sunday 20 September 9pm
    On National Geographic
    Next Showing
    Tuesday 22 September 10pm
    On National Geographic