Plot Synopsis

GREAT PLANES highlights spectacular planes that were designed for the greatest of missions, including everything from strategic bombers and military jets to research aircraft and supersonic fighters. Each 60-minute episode features a different legendary aircraft, including these weapons in Season 3: the B-29 Superfortress, a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber, that was designed by Boeing and mostly flown by the United States Air Force in late-World War II and through the Korean War; the C-130 Hercules, one of the most versatile aircraft in existence, which has been used in a variety of roles -- airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refueling, maritime patrol, and aerial firefighting; AV-8 Harrier, known as the world's first vertical takeoff and landing fixed-wing aircraft, which is the first jet to have hovering capabilities and has become a key aircraft in protecting the United States during times of war; and many more aircraft, such as the A-10 Thunderbolt, Apache Helicopter, B-1 Lancer, F-5 Freedom Fighter, F-105 Thunderchief, F-111 Aardvark, and XB-70 Valkyrie. For Season 3, retired Navy fighter pilot and former SURVIVOR contestant Terry Deitz became the new host.