Mighty Planes

Aired 2012-02-26

In the series premiere, Mighty Planes joins the crew of the worlds only flying eye hospital for their most challenging mission to date. Orbis travels tirelessly around the globe, offering patients in developing countries precious sight-saving treatments. On the outside, it's a regular DC-10. On the inside, it has been stripped and re-designed to house a state-of-the-art ophthalmic hospital complete with an operating room, a laser treatment facility and a high-tech classroom from which student doctors in host countries can watch surgeries live on 54 video screens.

Aired 2012-02-26

In 2011, northern Mexico experienced its worst fire season in more than a century. Luckily, Martin Mars, the world's biggest seaplane was there to battle the blaze! Martin Mars has a partner in firefighting - the Sikorsky S76 - which uses HD and infrared cameras, along with state-of-the-art laser technology, to guide the Canadian owned and operated aircraft to a guaranteed bulls-eye with every drop. MIGHTY PLANES joins the four-person aerial crew when they answer the call for help as Mexico's northern states endure countless wildfires that threaten to destroy vast expanses of wilderness.

Aired 2012-03-04

The Airbus A380 is the world's first full double-deck passenger aircraft, a ground-breaking design in aviation history; we document the construction and delivery of a new aircraft, and Lufthansa's first commercial flight from Frankfurt to San Francisco.

Aired 2012-03-11

The LC-130 Hercules Skibirds, which ferry supplies, fuel and crew to remote science camps in Greenland and Antarctica, are examined.

Aired 2012-03-18

Mighty Planes boards the C5-M Super Galaxy for a mission into a war zone, from the initial briefing to crossing the Atlantic, and through the perilous descent into Bagram, Afghanistan.

Aired 2012-03-25

The Antonov 124 is the world's largest serially manufactured cargo plane; built to move Soviet military vehicles and equipment, now they're in constant demand moving everything from locomotives to whales anywhere in the world.