Deadliest Tech S1E1 - English Transcript

Narrator: FIGHTER AIRCRAFT, THE MOST FEARSOME PREDATORS IN THE SKY. AERIAL ASSASSINS THAT STRIKE WITH PINPOINT PRECISION AND PUSH THE ENVELOPE OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY. YOU HAVE FIRST LOOK, FIRST SHOT, FIRST KILL. Narrator: EXPERIENCE THE NEWEST INNOVATIONS AND REVOLUTIONARY HIGH TECH THAT MAKE THESE PLANES NEARLY INVINCIBLE. WE'VE BEEN GRANTED UNIQUE ACCESS TO SOME OF AMERICA'S TOP-GUN PILOTS. Kirik: IT'S JUST AMAZING THAT SOMETHING THAT LARGE CAN BE THAT MANEUVERABLE. Narrator: AND TONIGHT, WE TAKE YOU INSIDE THEIR COCKPITS -- EVERYTHING FROM THE MUSTANG TO THE SABRE TO THE EAGLE TO THE RAPTOR NOW ON "DEADLIEST TECH: FIGHTERS. " CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS Man: NICE LAUNCH! AMERICA'S FIGHTERS ARE THE DEADLIES AND MOST-TERRIFYING AIRCRAFT EVER CREATED. [ RADIO CHATTER ] THEY DON'T JUST RULE THE SKIES. THEY OWN THEM. NEVER BEFORE HAVE WEAPONRY AND AERODYNAMICS BEEN FUSED INTO SUCH DEVASTATING KILLING MACHINES. [ RADIO CHATTER ] A FIGHTER'S MISSION IS CRITICAL TO COMBAT OPERATIONS. WHETHER ENGAGING THE ENEMY IN THE AIR OR SUPPORTING TROOPS ON THE GROUND, ITS ROLE IS ESSENTIAL. HOW IT PERFORMS CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WINNING AND LOSING. DESTRUCT. DESTRUCT. DESTRUCT. TO SEE THAT DIFFERENCE IN ACTION, LET'S ENTER THE COCKPI OF THE U. S. NAVY'S MOST FEARSOME PREDATOR, THE FA-18 HORNET. THE HORNET IS ONE OF THE FIRST WARPLANES IN AMERICA'S ARSENAL DESIGNED TO ENGAGE AERIAL THREATS AND GROUND TARGETS DURING THE SAME COMBAT MISSION. THE FA-18 IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF A SMALL, LIGHTWEIGHT FIGHTER THAT GREW INTO ONE OF THE MEANEST FIGHTERS IN THE WORLD TODAY. IT CAN TAKE ON ARMORED VEHICLES. IT CAN TAKE ON SHIPS AT SEA, PIRATES -- YOU NAME IT, AND THE FA-18 CAN GO UP AND KILL THEM. Narrator: NO COMBAT ENGAGEMENT RAMMED HOME THIS REALITY MORE THAN ONE DURING THE FIRST PERSIAN GULF WAR. TWO HORNETS FROM THE U. S. S. SARATOGA WERE ON THEIR WAY TO BOMB AN AIRFIELD IN WESTERN IRAQ. THEY WERE INTERCEPTED BY TWO IRAQI MiG 21s. THOUGH BURDENED WITH 2,000-POUND BOMBS, THE HORNETS INSTANTLY SHIFTED GEARS FOR A FIGHT. [ RADIO CHATTER ] ENGAGING THE MiGs, THE HORNET PILOTS FIRED AIR-TO-AIR HEAT-SEEKING AND RADAR-GUIDED MISSILES AND ELIMINATED THE IRAQI THREAT. THE HORNETS THEN DROPPED THEIR BOMBS PRECISELY ON TARGET. THE ENCOUNTER SHOWCASED THE FA-18's LETHAL VERSATILITY AND IS BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST TIME THAT A FIGHTER-TYPE AIRCRAF SCORED AN AIR-TO-AIR KILL WHILE CARRYING BOMBS. PILOTING THE HORNET IS A RUSH, BEGINNING WITH THE CATAPULT-ASSISTED TAKEOFF, OR CAT SHOT. YOU'RE GOING FROM ZERO TO 150 IN ABOUT 2 SECONDS, SO MOST OF THE BLOOD'S OUT OF YOUR EYES AND MOVED TO THE BACK OF YOUR BRAIN AT THAT POINT. THE FEELING IS 10 TIMES BETTER THAN YOU CAN GET OFF OF A ROLLER COASTER. IT'S AWESOME. Narrator: THERE'S ONE DETAIL ABOUT A CARRIER LAUNCH THAT MOST HORNET PILOTS PREFER TO KEEP TO THEMSELVES. Turco: TO LAUNCH THE HORNET OFF THE FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING ASPECTS OF WHAT WE DO. THE REASON IS YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL. WE LITERALLY TAKE OUR HANDS OFF OF THE CONTROLS. THE JET'S SET UP TO GET AIRBORNE BY ITSELF, AND YOU'RE A PASSENGER AT THAT POINT. AND NONE OF US LIKE TO BE A PASSENGER IN OUR AIRPLANE. Narrator: LIKE ALL MODERN FIGHTERS, THE HORNET BRANDISHES SUPERSONIC AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES TAILOR-MADE FOR BLASTING ANY ENEMY FROM THE SKY BEFORE HE KNOWS HE'S EVEN BEEN TARGETED. Turco: IF THAT THING COMES OFF THERE -- AND BEFORE IT'S PASSED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING MACH 3. IT'S JUST GONE. IT JUST VANISHES. Narrator: THE HORNET'S SHORT-RAGE, AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES ARE INFRARED GUIDED, HOMING IN ON THE HEAT SIGNATURE OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT FROM AS FAR AWAY AS 20 MILES. ITS LONG-RANGE MISSILES USE RADAR GUIDANCE TO DETECT AND TRACK TARGETS UP TO 100 MILES AWAY. Dr. Grant: THAT MEANS THAT THE PILOT CAN USE SENSORS TO LOCK ON TO THE ENEMY JET AND LAUNCH THE MISSILE BEFORE HE CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE ENEMY AIRCRAFT. THAT GIVES THE FA-18 AN IMMENSE ADVANTAGE IN AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT. Hallion: IT INCREASES THE REACH, THE WEAPONS CAPABILITY OF THE FIGHTER. THE FIGHTER NOW CAN HOLD A BLOCK OF AIRSPACE HOSTAGE, IF YOU WILL, AGAINST ANY INTRUDERS THAT MAY COME IN IT. Dr. Grant: IT CAN BE GAME OVER BEFORE YOUR ENEMY HAS EVEN LAUNCHED HIS MISSILE. Narrator: AS DEVASTATING AS THE HORNET'S AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES CAN BE, ANOTHER WEAPON THE HORNET WIELDS RANKS AS EVERY PILOT'S FAVORITE. THE HORNET'S M61A2 VULCAN IS A SIX-BARREL, ROTARY CANNON THAT FIRES 20-MILLIMETER PROJECTILES. ITS RATE OF FIRE IS A BLISTERING 6,000 ROUNDS PER MINUTE, IDEAL FOR CLOSE-IN KILLING. Kirik: ALL FIGHTER PILOTS WANT TO END UP IN A GUNFIGH 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE YOU PROVE YOUR MANHOOD, AND THAT'S WHERE THE FUN IS. AND MANO-A-MANO, ONE-V-ONE -- THE PUREST SENSE OF A DOGFIGH IS TO GET IN THERE TO A GUNS KILL. AND IT CAN ESSENTIALLY SHRED ITS TARGET. YOU CAN DO NOTHING BUT TAKE COVER AND PRAY. Narrator: THE HORNET DOESN'T OWE ITS DEADLINESS SIMPLY TO THE PROWESS OF ITS WEAPONS. ITS AERODYNAMICS ALLOW IT TO OUTMANEUVER EVERY ENEMY FIGHTER. THE SECRET IS THIS SECTION OF EACH WING CALLED THE LEADING-EDGE EXTENSION OR LEX. THEY CREATE SMALL TORNADOS THAT THE TAIL FINS FLY THROUGH. THIS PREVENTS THE HORNET FROM STALLING WITH ITS NOSE UP AS SHARPLY AS 60 DEGREES EVEN AS IT'S FLYING STRAIGHT AND LEVEL, A TACTIC PERFECT FOR ATTACKING AN ENEMY FIGHTER FROM BELOW. THE LEX GIVES THE HORNET ONE MORE DOGFIGHTING EDGE. WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT GIVES IT THE ABILITY TO FLY SUPER-SLOW WITH THIS AIRPLANE AND TURN LIKE NO OTHER FOURTH-GENERATION AIRPLANE IN THAT SLOW, AIR-TO-AIR FIGHT OUT THERE, WHERE YOU'RE REALLY IN CLOSE. YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER GUY. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEATURES THAT GIVES US THAT LIF AND TURNABILITY OUT THERE TO FLY SLOW AND TURN REALLY FAST. Narrator: THE HORNET ALSO GIVES ITS PILOT A CRUCIAL ASSIS IN COMBAT WITH ITS HEADS-UP DISPLAY. IT PROJECTS VITAL FLIGHT DATA ON A TRANSPARENT SCREEN IN FRONT OF THE CANOPY, ALLOWING THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONSTANT AWARENESS OF THE BATTLE SPACE. Hallion: A HEADS-UP DISPLAY ENABLES THE PILO TO GET CRITICAL INFORMATION -- HIS AIRSPEED, HIS ALTITUDE, HIS HEADING, HIS BANK ANGLE. THIS IS ALL PRESENTED TO HIM SEAMLESSLY. HE'S LOOKING RIGHT THROUGH THIS MATERIAL. IT'S SUPERIMPOSED ON HIS VISION. AND AT THE SAME TIME, HE'S SCANNING THE SKY FOR THREATS. IT'S GIVING HIM ALL THAT INFORMATION THAT HE NEEDS TO GET THE JOB DONE. Dr. Grant: DOESN'T HAVE TO LOOK DOWN AND THEN LOOK BACK UP. IN THAT BRIEF SECOND, HE COULD LOSE HIS SIGHT OF THAT ENEMY AIRCRAFT. Narrator: AND THAT COULD PROVE FATAL. EVEN WHEN A HORNET COMPLETES ITS MISSION, THE DANGER ISN'T OVER UNTIL IT TOUCHES BACK DOWN ON THE CARRIER. SLAMMING THE 16-TON JET ON A PITCHING RUNWAY 400 FEET LONG IS RENOWNED AS AVIATION'S GREATEST CHALLENGE. Turco: MAYBE THE ONLY WAY TO EQUATE IT IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE YOUR LIFE FLASHES BEFORE YOUR EYES. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THAT. WELL, WE GET TO DO THAT EVERY TIME YOU LAND ON THE CARRIER. Narrator: OVER THE DECADES, NO HIGH-TECH PROCESS HAS REPLACED THE BASIC PROCEDURE. THE LANDING SIGNAL OFFICER COMMUNICATES DIRECTIONS TO THE PILOT. A PILOT MUST SNARE ONE OF FOUR ARRESTING WIRES ON THE FLIGHT DECK WITH THE HORNET'S TAILHOOK. THE HORNET'S HEAVY-DUTY LANDING GEAR, TAILOR-MADE FOR THE TASK, HELPS CUSHION THE IMPACT. THE KEY NECESSITIES OF A SUCCESSFUL CARRIER LANDING ARE NIMBLE PILOTING AND SHEER GUTS. Turco: THE WINDOW YOU HAVE TO LAND ON THE CARRIER IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BREAD BOX THAT YOU HAVE TO FLY YOUR HEAD THROUGH, SO LITERALLY SOMETHING ABOUT LIKE THIS. Wrigley: AFTER YOU'VE DONE THIS A COUPLE HUNDRED TIMES, IT STARTS TO GET ROUTINE -- AS ROUTINE AS CRASH-LANDING ABOARD AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER CAN REALLY BE. BUT THE LAST FEW SECONDS OF THE LANDING ARE WHERE YOU CAN TAKE AN ABSOLUTELY PERFECT PASS AND TURN IT INTO AN ABSOLUTE RUIN. [ RADIO CHATTER ] Narrator: LITTLE WONDER THAT A CARRIER'S FLIGHT DECK HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS THE MOST DANGEROUS FOUR ACRES IN WORLD. IT'S ALL IN A DAY'S WORK FOR THE DECK CREW. Loucks: IT'S CHAOS, BUT IT'S CONTROLLED CHAOS. IF YOU'RE NOT WATCHING AND PAYING ATTENTION, YOU COULD TURN AROUND AND FIND A JET RIGHT THERE IN YOUR FACE. Narrator: ON THIS DAY, HORNET PILOTS IN TRAINING ABOARD THE U. S. S. NIMITZ WILL ATTEMPT THEIR FIRST CARRIER LANDINGS. BRIEFINGS AND SIMULATORS CAN TAKE THEM ONLY SO FAR. NOW THEY HAVE TO CONQUER ANY FEARS KNOWING ONE MISTAKE COULD MEAN DISASTER. [ EXPLOSION ] AT THE BEGINNING, YOU ARE FUNCTIONING ON BRAINSTEM POWER ONLY BECAUSE THE ADRENALINE IS KICKING IN SO HARD THAT YOU ALMOST CAN'T FOCUS ON WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE ALL YOU SEE IS AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER OUT IN FRONT OF YOU. YOUR MIND IS THINKING, "WOW. THAT LOOKS REALLY SMALL. " AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE FLYING TOWARDS IT AT 140 MILES AN HOUR. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN EYEBALL OR DO BY THE SEAT OF THEIR PANTS. THEY REALLY HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE THEIR LSO, THEIR LANDING SIGNALS OFFICER, TO GIVE THEM TO RIGHT CALLS TO MOVE A LITTLE BIT LEFT, MOVE A LITTLE RIGHT, ADD POWER, PULL POWER BACK, AND FINALLY THUMP ON THAT DECK AND CATCH THE WIRE. Narrator: ALL OF THEM ARE TRAINED TO DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY COUNTERINTUITIVE WHEN THEIR WHEELS HIT THE DECK. INSTEAD OF THROTTLING BACK, AS THEY WOULD ON A GROUND-BASED RUNWAY, THEY JAM THE THROTTLE FORWARD TO FULL POWER. WE TRAIN OURSELVES TO GO FULL-THROTTLE AS SOON AS WE TOUCH DOWN SO THAT IF WE UNSUCCESSFULLY ARREST OR WE FAIL TO CATCH ONE OF THE WIRES, WE'RE STILL AT FLY-AWAY AIRSPEED. IT'S A VERY BIG DEAL IF YOU DON'T GO TO FULL POWER BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA GET A FACE FULL OF WATER AS YOU GO OFF THE ANGLE. Narrator: EVERYONE ON DECK HOPES THAT ON HIS APPROACH THE FINAL ROOKIE DOESN'T MAKE THAT CRITICAL ERROR. Wrigley: SO, HE'S COMING OUT OF THE CLOUDS NOW. HE'S IN THE GROOVE, ABOUT 3/4 OF A MILE OUT. THE ADRENALINE'S REALLY KICKING IN. YOU START TO SEE MORE AND MORE DETAIL ON THE CARRIER AS YOU GET CLOSER. YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE MOVING AROUND, JETS ON THE FLIGHT DECK, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO OVERCOME THAT EXCITEMEN 'CAUSE YOU KNOW IF YOU DON'T FOCUS, YOU'RE GONNA MISS ALL THE WIRES OUT HERE, HAVE TO TRY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL YOU CAN. Narrator: AS THE U. S. NAVY'S PREMIER BIRD OF PREY, THE HORNET CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE SKIES WHEREVER IT'S DEPLOYED. COMING UP, A UNIQUE INSIDER'S LOOK AT THE U. S. AIR FORCE'S REVOLUTIONARY STEALTH FIGHTER SO ADVANCED IT CAN ELIMINATE ENEMY THREATS BEFORE THEY EVEN KNOW THAT THEY ARE TARGETS. Narrator: IN MODERN WARFARE, FIGHTER AIRCRAFT RULE THE SKIES. AND NO FIGHTER HAS RULED THEM MORE DECISIVELY THAN THE F-15 EAGLE. THE F-15's COMBAT RECORD OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. THE EAGLE DEFINES DOMINATION. Dr. Grant: IT'S THE CADILLAC OF AIR COMBAT, ABLE TO CLIMB HIGH, PLUNGE LOW, MANEUVER, AND PULL UP TO NINE G's IN AIR COMBAT. Hallion: WE WENT BEAK-TO-BEAK WITH THE SOVIETS, AND NOBODY HAD ANY IDEA HOW IT WOULD TURN OUT. BUT WE KNEW ONE THING -- IF WE COULD KEEP THE F-15s IN THE AIR, WE COULD CLEAN THEIR CLOCK. Narrator: ONE OF THE F-15's MOST DOMINATING COMBAT PERFORMANCES SPEARHEADED AMERICA'S VICTORY IN OPERATION DESERT STORM. IT SCORED 36 KILLS AGAINST THE IRAQI AIR FORCE IN WHAT MANY RANK AS HISTORY'S MOST DAZZLING DISPLAY OF MILITARY AIRPOWER. OFFICIALLY, IT GOT CREDITED FOR JUST 32, FOR REASONS THAT ONLY ENHANCED ITS FEARSOME REPUTATION. Farrow: FOUR OF THEM WERE NOT TECHNICALLY SHOT DOWN. THEY WERE CREDITED STILL AS AIR-TO-AIR KILLS, BUT THIS IS BECAUSE THE IRAQI PILO EITHER SAW HE WAS ABOUT TO GET TARGETED BY THE F-15 AND EJECTED PRIOR TO GETTING SHOT DOWN OR HE MANEUVERED HIS AIRCRAF AND WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT FIGHTING THE F-15 HE DIDN'T LOOK OUT IN FRONT OF HIM AND FLEW RIGHT INTO THE GROUND. Narrator: THE MOST STRIKING FEATURE OF THE F-15 IS ITS SIZE. COMPARED TO THE HORNET, IT'S HUGE -- BUT THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS ITS WING AREA OF 608 SQUARE FEET, MORE THAN 1/3 LARGER THAN THE HORNET'S. THAT'S WHY SOME REFER TO THE EAGLE AS THE "FLYING TENNIS COURT. " Farrow: THE IDEA IS THAT IT'S SO LARGE, YOU CAN HAVE A GAME OF TENNIS ACROSS THE WINGS. BUT BECAUSE IT'S SO LARGE, IT'S KIND OF INTIMIDATING. Kirik: AND YOU DON'T REALLY FEEL THAT IT'S A LARGE AIRCRAF BECAUSE IT'S SO MANEUVERABLE AND NIMBLE UNTIL YOU TURN AROUND IN THE SEAT AND YOU LOOK BEHIND YOU AND YOU SEE THIS VERY LARGE AIRCRAFT BEHIND YOU. AND IT'S JUST AMAZING THAT SOMETHING THAT LARGE CAN BE THAT MANEUVERABLE. Narrator: IN THE WORLD OF FIGHTERS, "BIG" AND "NIMBLE" DON'T USUALLY GO TOGETHER, BUT THE EAGLE'S SUPER-SIZED CONTROL SURFACES, ITS AILERONS, ELEVATORS, AND RUDDERS GIVE THE PILOT UNRIVALED MANEUVERABILITY. Farrow: THOSE BIG CONTROL SURFACES -- YOU KNOW, WHEN THE PILOT MOVES THE CONTROL STICK, THEY DIG INTO THAT AIR AND CAN MANEUVER THAT FIGHTER VERY RAPIDLY AND AGGRESSIVELY, ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THAT ENVELOPE OF CONTROLLED FLIGHT. Narrator: IN A DOGFIGHT, THE F-15's AGILITY ALLOWS ITS PILOT TO POSITION THE JET'S NOSE PRECISELY IN THE DIRECTION HE NEEDS TO SCORE A KILL. ALL FIGHTERS CAN NOSE UP OR DOWN EFFECTIVELY, BUT THE EAGLE IS A MASTER OF ROTATING ITS NOSE FROM SIDE TO SIDE TO GAIN THE TACTICAL EDGE. THE SECRET IS IN THE RUDDERS. Farrow: AS YOU START TO SLOW DOWN, THE RUDDERS BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE, AND YOU CAN EFFECTIVELY START TO MANEUVER THE AIRCRAF IN A YAWING MOTION TO ROTATE THAT NOSE AROUND AND GET THAT NOSE TO POINT IN A DIRECTION LATERALLY THAT MOST OTHER AIRCRAFT CANNOT DO. Narrator: THE F-15 OWES ITS PROWESS AS A DOGFIGHTER TO MORE THAN UNIQUE AERODYNAMICS. IT'S AN AERIAL MUSCLE CAR, POWERED BY TWO PRATT & WHITNEY F100 TURBOFAN JET ENGINES. Farrow: JUST THE PURE THRUST OF THE AIRPLANE ON TAKEOFF, IT'S INCREDIBLE. THEY'VE GOT ALMOST 25,000 POUNDS OF THRUST EACH, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE AIRCRAFT WEIGHS UNDER CERTAIN CONFIGURATIONS. SO IT GIVES IT A BETTER THAN A 1:1 THRUST RATIO, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN CLIMB STRAIGHT UP IN FULL AFTERBURNER, WHICH GIVES IT A POWER ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER AIRCRAFT, AS WELL. Narrator: IN THIS VERTICAL CLIMB, THE EAGLE RISES TO 30,000 FEET, NEARLY 6 MILES, IN JUST 30 SECONDS. IN LEVEL FLIGHT, IT CAN REACH SPEEDS OF MORE THAN 1,600 MILES PER HOUR, BUT THE SUPERIOR FLIGHT PERFORMANCE IS JUST PART OF THE REASON THE EAGLE IS SUCH A DOMINANT FORCE IN THE SKIES. PEOPLE ALWAYS LOOK AT THE SEXY, HIGH-SPEED PASS AND THE MANEUVERING AT AN AIR SHOW AND THINK, "GEE ***. " BUT THE REAL MAGIC OF THE AIRPLANE IS THE RADAR IN THE NOSE. Narrator: THE F-15's RADAR CAN DETECT THREATS FAR BEYOND WHAT IS VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE. VIRTUALLY NO ENEMY AIRCRAFT CAN APPROACH IT UNDETECTED. Kirik: YOU CAN EXTEND YOUR VISUAL RANGE OUT TO 100-PLUS MILES. IN COMBAT, TO HAVE A RADAR LIKE THAT IN FRONT OF YOU GIVES YOU A HUGE AMOUNT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE AIRPLANE AND YOUR ABILITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. Narrator: AS THE RADAR IDENTIFIES AERIAL TARGETS, IT SENDS DATA DIRECTLY TO THE F-15's WEAPON SYSTEMS TO LOCK ONTO THEM. THEN ALL IT TAKES IS A PUSH OF A BUTTON, AND AN AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE CHALKS UP ANOTHER EAGLE KILL. WHEN YOU COMBINE THE GREAT RADAR, THE GREAT WEAPONS, THE GREAT AVIONICS, AND THE AWESOME CONTROL AND POWERFUL ENGINES, IT MAKES IT THE WORLD'S GREATEST AIR-SUPERIORITY FIGHTER. Narrator: THE F-15's CLAIM AS THE GREATEST FIGHTER MAY BE NEARING ITS END. A REVOLUTIONARY NEW FIGHTER IS PROWLING THE SKIES. THE F-22 RAPTOR IS AN EPIC LEAP FORWARD IN FIGHTER TECHNOLOGY. IT STILL AWAITS ITS FIRST TASTE OF COMBAT, BUT IT'S DESTINED TO BECOME THE FASTEST, DEADLIEST, MOST DOMINATING WARPLANE IN MILITARY HISTORY. Farrow: IMAGINE EVERYTHING THAT'S GOOD ABOUT THE F-15. NOW ADD STEALTH, AND THAT'S WHAT THE F-22 IS. Dr. Grant: I'VE NEVER SEEN A MORE SPECIAL PLANE. WHEN YOU WALK UP TO IT AND TOUCH IT, THE SLEEKNESS OF THE SKIN AND THE STEALTH COATINGS IS SIMPLY AMAZING. IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE F-22 -- IT CARRIES STEALTH TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL. Narrator: THE RAPTOR'S STEALTH DESIGN AND MATERIALS GIVE IT THE RADAR PROFILE OF AN INSECT, AND NO ENEMY GROUND-BASED TRACKING SYSTEM WILL EVER SEE IT COMING. THE HIGH TECH THAT ENABLES THE RAPTOR TO EVADE DETECTION IS INGENIOUS. RADAR LOCATES AN OBJEC BY TRANSMITTING ULTRAHIGH-FREQUENCY RADIO WAVES. BY MEASURING THE TIME TAKEN FOR THE WAVES TO BE REFLECTED BACK TO THE TRANSMITTER, THE LOCATION, SPEED, AND SIZE OF THE OBJECT CAN BE DETERMINED. THE RAPTOR HAS SPECIAL CONTOURS BUILT INTO THE AIRFRAME THAT DEFLECT THOSE SIGNALS AWAY FROM THE SOURCE. IN ADDITION, CLASSIFIED MATERIALS COATING THE AIRFRAME ABSORB THE SIGNALS RATHER THAN REFLECTING THEM. ANOTHER KEY TO THE RAPTOR'S MINISCULE RADAR SIGNATURE IS THE LACK OF WEAPONS MOUNTED TO THE AIRCRAFT'S EXTERIOR. Dr. Grant: YOU NEVER SEE A BOMB HANGING OFF THE UNDERSIDE OF A RAPTOR GOING INTO COMBA BECAUSE THOSE BOMBS ARE TUCKED INTO ITS ENORMOUS INTERNAL BOMB BAYS. Narrator: THE BOTTOM LINE -- THE RAPTOR IS EFFECTIVELY INVISIBLE, ENSURING IT CAN GET THE DROP ON ANY ENEMY. THE RAPTOR IS PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEED THAT CRUCIAL FIRST SHOT IN AIR COMBAT. THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO LETHAL AND DOMINANT. YOU HAVE FIRST LOOK, FIRST SHOT, FIRST KILL. YOU GET YOUR LOOK AT THEM, YOU GET YOUR FIRING SOLUTION ON THEM, YOU FIRE ON THEM, YOU'RE TURNING AWAY, AND YOU'RE HEADING OUT OF THE FIGH WHEN THAT AIRPLANE FIREBALLS. Narrator: THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A FAIR FIGHT, AND IT ISN'T. MAJOR JAMES FARROW CAN TELL YOU JUST HOW FUTILE IT IS TO SQUARE OFF AGAINST THE RAPTOR. IN THE AIR FORCE'S RED FLAG WAR GAMES, HE'S PLAYED THE ROLE OF AGGRESSOR, PILOTING THE F-15 IN A MATCHUP AGAINST THE F-22. Farrow: WE KNOW THEY'RE OUT THERE. SOMETIMES WE CAN SEE THEM IN THE CONTRAILS. BUT OTHERWISE, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. IN FACT, SOMETIMES WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WE'RE BEING TARGETED, AND WE'RE CALLED DEAD OVER THE RADIO WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING THERE'S AN F-22 THERE. Narrator: EVEN IF AN ENEMY AIRCRAF GETS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE F-22 FOR A DOGFIGHT, THE RAPTOR HAS ONE MORE INNOVATIVE TRICK UP ITS SLEEVE. PIVOTING, VECTORED-THRUST ENGINES ALLOW IT TO DO AERIAL MOVES NO FOE CAN MATCH. Hallion: BASICALLY, YOU TAKE THE FLOW OF THE AIR THROUGH THE ENGINE, AND INSTEAD OF JUST EXPELLING IT OUT THE BACK, YOU ROTATE THE NOZZLE IN THE BACK SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY PITCH THAT THRUST VECTOR UP OR DOWN. SO, YOU CAN ACTUALLY FLIP THAT AIRPLANE, SO TO SPEAK, VERY, VERY QUICKLY IN ANY SORT OF DIRECTION. VECTORED THRUST GIVES THE RAPTOR A CRITICAL ADVANTAGE THAT NO OTHER FIGHTER IN THE WORLD HAS. IT ENABLES THE RAPTOR TO GET INTO ALL SORTS OF UNUSUAL POSITIONS, AND THAT'S CRUCIAL IN AIR COMBAT. Narrator: THE RAPTOR'S TWO MIGHTY PRATT & WHITNEY ENGINES GIVE IT YET ANOTHER CRUCIAL EDGE. EACH PUMPS OUT 35,000 POUNDS OF THRUST, MORE THAN THAT OF ANY OTHER FIGHTER. THIS GIVES THE RAPTOR A UNIQUE FLIGHT CAPABILITY CALLED SUPERCRUISE. IT CAN FLY SUPERSONICALLY WITHOUT USING ITS AFTERBURNER, A SYSTEM THAT INJECTS FUEL DIRECTLY INTO THE JET'S EXHAUST STREAM, WHERE IT IGNITES AND BOOSTS THRUST. AFTERBURN IS A WONDERFUL THING. A LOT OF FIGHTERS USE IT, BUT IT REQUIRES A BIG, HOT BLAST FROM THE ENGINE, AND IT USES A LOT OF FUEL. THE SUPERCRUISE ENGINE DOES TWO THINGS FOR THE RAPTOR. IT MAKES IT MORE FUEL EFFICIENT, MEANING IT CAN GO FASTER FOR LONGER, AND IT ALSO ENABLES IT TO USE MACH SPEED DURING A DOGFIGH WITHOUT INCREASING ITS INFRARED SIGNATURE. Narrator: A HIGHER INFRARED SIGNATURE MIGHT UNDERMINE THE RAPTOR'S STEALTH, ALLOWING ENEMY FIGHTERS AND GROUND STATIONS TO DETECT IT. BY FLYING FASTER WITHOUT THAT RISK, THE RAPTOR BECOMES VIRTUALLY INVINCIBLE. IT CAN ENTER AND EXIT HOSTILE AIRSPACE IN RECORD TIME AND CARRY MORE MUNITIONS SINCE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO USE AS MUCH FUEL. Hallion: SUPERCRUISE CHANGES EVERYTHING. SUPERCRUISE IS SOMETHING THE OTHER GUY WANTS BUT ONLY YOU HAVE. Narrator: SUPERCRUISE, EXCEPTIONAL AGILITY, AND STEALTHY DESIGN COMBINE TO MAKE THE F-22 THE MOST DANGEROUS FIGHTER IN THE SKY. IT'S SIMPLY THE MOST SPECIAL FIGHTER EVER DESIGNED. IT IS A SECRETIVE, FANTASTIC KILLING MACHINE. IT IS THE MOST LETHAL FIGHTER IN THE WORLD TODAY, AND IT WILL REMAIN THAT WAY FOR YEARS TO COME. Narrator: NEXT, THE LEGENDARY FIGHTER THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF WORLD WAR II. YOU MAY HAVE NEVER BEEN AWARE THAT THE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE WAS HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT. Narrator: FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ARE ONE OF THE INDISPENSABLE ASSETS ANY ARMED FORCE NEEDS TO PREVAIL. THE P-51 MUSTANG MADE ITS DEBUT IN WORLD WAR II. IT WAS A FLYING PREDATOR SO ADVANCED FOR ITS TIME THAT IT REWROTE THE RULES OF AERIAL ENGAGEMEN AND PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE ALLIED VICTORY. THE P-51 IS THE HOLY GRAIL OF WORLD WAR II FIGHTERS. Hallion: THE P-51 GAVE ITS PILOTS GREAT CONFIDENCE. YOU PUT THAT PILOT IN THE P-51, AND HE WAS JUST A KILLING MACHINE. Narrator: THE MUSTANG DID ITS KILLING WITH SIX . 50-CALIBER BROWNING MACHINE GUNS, THREE MOUNTED ON EACH WING. Strickland: 400 ROUNDS INBOARD, 270 OUTBOARD. THEY SHOT 600 ROUNDS PER MINUTE. ALL SIX GUNS SHOT SIMULTANEOUSLY. SO, YOU HAD TO BE SPARING IN YOUR USE OF YOUR WEAPONS. WHEN THOSE ROUNDS MADE CONTACT, THEY WOULD PRETTY WELL SHRED THE WINGS OFF OF A PLANE WHEN GETTING GOOD CONTACT. Narrator: WE ASKED ORDNANCE EXPERT BOB WELLESLEY TO DEMONSTRATE THE MUSTANG'S DEVASTATING FIREPOWER. HE'S LINED UP THREE M3 MACHINE GUNS TO MIMIC THE GUN ARRAY OF ONE WING OF A P-51. IN ORDER TO SIMULATE SHOOTING AT A GERMAN AIRCRAFT, WE'LL BE SHOOTING AT THIS HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK. IT HAS A SHEET-METAL BODY AND A HEAVY-DUTY STEEL FRAME AND A CAST-IRON ENGINE BLOCK. THIS VEHICLE WILL BE LOOKING LIKE SWISS CHEESE. EVERYBODY GOT THEIR SAFETIES OFF? [ GUNS *** ] SAFETIES OFF. Narrator: THE JAW-RATTLING FIREPOWER WAS JUST PART OF WHAT MADE THE P-51 SUCH A FEARSOME FIGHTER. THE REAL SECRET OF ITS LETHALITY WAS ITS AERODYNAMICS. IT DOMINATED THE SKIES BY FLYING FASTER, FARTHER, AND MORE NIMBLY THAN ANY ENEMY. A KEY FEATURE MAKING THIS POSSIBLE WAS ITS RADICALLY-SHAPED WINGS. Hallion: ITS WING WAS SO UNIQUE THAT A CAPTURED P-51 WAS ACTUALLY TUNNEL-TESTED BY THE LUFTWAFFE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE SECRETS OF THE AIRPLANE. AND WHAT THE SECRET WAS, REALLY, IS THAT THE WING WAS A VERY LOW-DRAG, SYMMETRICAL AIR FOIL. IN THEORY, YOU COULD ACTUALLY GET WHAT WE CALL LAMINAR FLOW -- COMPLETELY SMOOTH, NON-TURBULENT FLOW -- AROUND THAT AIRFOIL. Strickland: MOST OF THE OTHER AIRCRAF HAD THE FAT PORTION OF THE WING ON THE FRONT. IF YOU'LL NOTICE, THE MUSTANG MOVED THE FAT PORTION TO THE MIDDLE. WHAT THAT DID WAS CREATE LESS DRAG, MORE AIRFLOW OVER THE WING, WHICH CONVERTED TO MORE AIRSPEED. AIRSPEED -- THAT'S WHAT MADE THE MUSTANG THE BAD DUDE. Narrator: DURING COMBAT, THE MUSTANG COULD TEAR THROUGH THE SKIES AT UP TO 500 MILES PER HOUR. NO OTHER PISTON-ENGINE FIGHTER COULD KEEP PACE. THE THICK WING COULD ALSO HOLD SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FUEL THAN A CONVENTIONAL WING, HELPING TO GIVE THE P-51 UNPRECEDENTED RANGE. AND BY CARRYING THAT TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FUEL AND AUGMENTING IT WITH TWO JETTISONABLE FUEL TANKS, ONE UNDER EACH WING, YOU HAD ALL THE FUEL IN THE WORLD TO REACH BERLIN AND BACK. Narrator: BEFORE THE P-51, NO FIGHTER HAD THE RANGE TO ESCORT ALLIED BOMBERS TO GERMANY. UNDEFENDED, THE BOMBERS WERE OFTEN DECIMATED BY THE LUFTWAFFE. WHEN THE MUSTANG ENTERED THE WAR IN 1943, IT HAD THE RANGE NECESSARY TO ACCOMPANY THEM TO THEIR TARGETS. ENGAGING THE NAZI FIGHTERS, THE P-51s ACHIEVED A KILL RATIO OF 8:1. THIS FREED THE ALLIED BOMBERS TO MEET THEIR MISSION OBJECTIVES AND DELIVERY A DEATHBLOW TO THE GERMAN WAR INDUSTRY. THE MUSTANG HAD ANOTHER AERONAUTIC INNOVATION THAT BOOSTED ITS RANGE EVEN FURTHER -- VARIABLE-PITCH PROPELLERS THAT SHIFTED THEIR ANGLE DEPENDING ON THE PLANE'S SPEED. PREVIOUS FIGHTERS HAD FIXED PROPELLERS THAT CREATED MUCH MORE DRAG. THE FASTER THE MUSTANG FLEW, THE MORE ITS PROPS DECREASED THEIR ANGLE OF ATTACK TO THE ONCOMING AIRFLOW, MAKING IT MORE STREAMLINED AND FASTER. Hallion: WHAT THAT ENABLED THE P-51 TO DO WAS TAKE OFF QUICKLY OFF THE GROUND, CLIMB TO HIGH ALTITUDE QUICKLY, AND BOTH THOSE TWO ACTIONS SAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FUEL. Narrator: LATER VERSIONS OF THE P-51 CAME EQUIPPED WITH ANOTHER REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN FEATURE -- THE BUBBLE CANOPY. IT GAVE THE PILOT A CRUCIAL TACTICAL EDGE HIS ENEMIES LACKED -- 360-DEGREE VISIBILITY. Dr. Grant: MOST OF THE TIME, YOU'RE GETTING SHOT FROM BEHIND. AND BEFORE THE BUBBLE-TOP CANOPY, WHAT WAS BEHIND YOU WAS A BIG PIECE OF METAL, A SEAT, RIBBING -- ALL THESE THINGS BLOCKED YOUR VIEW OF YOUR ENEMY. Hallion: MOST KILLS ARE AGAINST PILOTS WHO DON'T EVEN REALIZE THEY'RE UNDER ATTACK OR THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THEIR ATTACKER UNTIL TOO LATE. THE P-51 BUBBLE CANOPY THAT YOU HAD GAVE THE PILO COMPLETE INFORMATION DOMINANCE OVER HIS OPPONENT. Narrator: COMBINED, THE P-51's RADICAL, AERONAUTIC INNOVATIONS MADE IT A DOGFIGHTER FEW ENEMY PLANES COULD OUTRUN OR OUTFLY. STANDARD LUFTWAFFE TECHNIQUE WHEN BOUNCED WAS TO ROLL INVERTED AND PULL INTO A POWER DIVE AND TRY TO GET AWAY. BUT THE P-51 WAS SUCH A CLEAN AIRPLANE THAT THE 51's PILOTS COULD ROLL AND PULL AND HOLD WITH THAT AIRPLANE AND HOSE IT. THEREFORE, THE LUFTWAFFE PILOTS WHO SURVIVED LEARNED VERY, VERY QUICKLY DON'T TRY THAT TECHNIQUE ON A P-51. Narrator: AS THE MUSTANG PUSHED THE ENVELOPE FOR PROPELLER-DRIVEN FIGHTERS, A RADICAL NEW TECHNOLOGY WAS READY TO REVOLUTIONIZE FIGHTER DESIGN -- THE JET ENGINE. FLYING AT BLAZING NEW SPEEDS, THE JET ENGINE REWROTE AERIAL COMBAT'S TACTICAL PLAYBOOK. THE FIGHTER LEADING THE WAY IN THE NEW ERA -- THE F-86 SABRE. ONE OF ITS MOST IMPORTANT AERODYNAMIC FEATURES WAS THE SWEPT WING. IT USED TO BE THAT WINGS WENT STRAIGHT OUT FROM THE FUSELAGE, BUT SIMPLY BY SWEEPING THEM BACK, IT GREATLY IMPROVED THE AERODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRPLANE. THE SWEPT WING FOOLS THE AIR. BASICALLY, AS YOU FLY FASTER AND FASTER, THE AIR AROUND THE WING STARTS TO BUNCH UP, AND YOU DEVELOP A SHOCK WAVE AS YOU APPROACH THE SPEED OF SOUND. AND THAT PRODUCES DRAG AND TURBULENCE THAT SLOWS THE AIRPLANE DOWN. THE SWEPT WING DELAYS THE ONSE OF THAT SHOCK WAVE FORMATION AND DRAG RISE AND FOOLS THE AIR SO THAT IT THINKS IT'S MOVING SLOWER THAN IT REALLY IS. Narrator: THE SWEPT WING ENABLED THE F-86 TO FLY AT NEARLY 700 MILES PER HOUR, A CRUCIAL EDGE IN SPEED AGAINST THE SOVIET MiG 15 IT BATTLED IN KOREA. BUT A SWEPT WING HAS ONE KEY PROBLEM. AT LOWER SPEEDS -- DURING TAKEOFF AND LANDING -- IT MAKES A PLANE HARD TO CONTROL. THE ANSWER WAS THE MOVABLE SLATS ON THE WING'S LEADING EDGE. Wood: AND THESE SLATS WILL ROLL IN AND OU JUST BASED ON AERODYNAMIC LOADS. AND WHEN THE AIRPLANE IS FLYING AT HIGH SPEED, THEY TRAVEL UP THE RAILS AND THEY STAY IN THIS POSITION, WHICH ALLOWS FOR A VERY STREAMLINED WING AND HIGH SPEED. NOW, AS THE AIRPLANE SLOWS DOWN, THE SLATS WILL SLOWLY MOVE OUT. AND THIS ALL HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY. THE PILOT DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING. IT CHANGES THE SHAPE OF THE WING AND ALLOWS THE AIRPLANE TO BE CONTROLLABLE AT LOWER AIRSPEEDS. Narrator: ANOTHER PIONEERING FEATURE ON THE SABRE DESIGNED TO ASSIST IN TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS WERE THESE MOVABLE PANELS CALLED SPEED BRAKES. BUT ONE SECRET PILOTS LEARNED WAS THAT THEY COULD ALSO BE USED TO TURN THE TABLES ON A PURSUING ENEMY IN A DOGFIGHT. THESE ARE NORMALLY CLOSED UP INTO THE FUSELAGE, BUT WHEN THE PILOT DECIDED HE NEEDED TO SLOW DOWN, THEY WOULD COME OUT FROM THE FUSELAGE, CREATE TREMENDOUS DRAG, AND ALLOW THE AIRPLANE TO SLOW VERY QUICKLY. Dr. Grant: THERE ARE TIMES IN A DOGFIGH WHEN YOU WANT YOUR OPPONENT TO SIMPLY FLY PAST YOU. USE THE SPEED BRAKE, AND YOU CAN GAIN THAT ADVANTAGE AND LET THEM OVERSHOOT YOU. AND THEN YOU'RE ON HIS TAIL. Narrator: WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THE SABRE COULD UNLEASH A HELLISH BURST OF FIREPOWER TO DOWN ITS PREY. WE HAVE SIX . 50-CALIBER GUNS. THERE'S THREE ON THIS SIDE -- HERE, HERE, AND HERE -- AND THREE ON THE OTHER SIDE. EACH BULLET WAS ABOUT THE SIZE OF MY THUMB, AND EACH OF THESE MACHINE GUNS COULD FIRE ABOUT 1,200 ROUNDS A MINUTE. Narrator: BUT IT WAS THE F-86's PIONEERING RADAR-TARGETING SYSTEM THAT MADE THE SABRE SUCH A DEADLY GAME CHANGER. A GUNSIGHT AND KEEN EYE HAD GIVEN WAY TO HIGH TECH. Wood: AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE NOSE RIGHT HERE, YOU SEE THIS BLACK AREA. THAT'S WHERE THE RADAR CAME OUT OF. AND IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY COMPUTE THE RANGE TO THE TARGET. AND ONCE YOU HAVE THE RANGE COMPUTED, THEN THERE'S A LITTLE COMPUTER IN THERE -- A VERY RUDIMENTARY COMPUTER -- THAT WOULD ACTUALLY COMPUTE WHERE YOU HAD TO AIM. Narrator: THE SABRE'S RADAR-TARGETING SYSTEM ENABLED IT TO ACHIEVE A 10:1 KILL RATIO IN KOREA, SECURING THE SABRE'S LEGACY AS THE DOMINANT FIGHTER OF ITS ERA. COMING UP, THE JET FIGHTER THAT AMERICA RELIES ON TO ENSURE ITS HOMELAND SECURITY. FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE DETAIL IT WAS ASSIGNED. Narrator: AMERICA'S FIGHTERS ARE WORLD-RENOWNED AS THE DEADLIEST AERIAL TERMINATORS EVER CREATED. AMONG THE MOST FEARSOME IS THE F-16 FIGHTING FALCON. IT'S LEFT A TRAIL OF HAVOC IN THE SKY FOR FOUR DECADES SO DEPENDABLY LETHAL THAT MORE F-16s ARE FLOWN BY WESTERN AIR FORCES THAN ANY OTHER FIGHTER. FOR PILOTS WHO FLY IT, ITS OFFICIAL NAME DOESN'T SEEM TO DO IT JUSTICE, SO THEY CALL IT "THE VIPER. " NOTHING MORE GETS YOUR BLOOD PUMPING THAN FLYING THE F-16. Narrator: CAPTAIN LUKE CAMPAGNE FLIES AN F-16 FOR THE CALIFORNIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD'S 144th FIGHTER WING. HIS UNIT IS PART OF A MILITARY DEFENSE WEB OVER THE U. S. ON ALERT 24/7 TO COUNTER ANY AERIAL DOMESTIC THREAT. THE VIPERS HERE ARE AMONG THE 1,500 NORAD HAS SCRAMBLED NATIONWIDE SINCE 9/11. Campagne: THE AIRCRAFT IS VERY AGILE. WE CAN ACHIEVE SUPERSONIC AIRSPEEDS TO GET TO AN AIRCRAFT AS FAST AS WE CAN. WE CAN SLOW IT DOWN AND FLY ALONGSIDE VERY SLOW AIRCRAFT. WE CAN BRING AIR-TO-AIR MUNITIONS TO BEAR. ANY TYPE OF SCENARIO, WE'RE VERY WELL-SUITED TO USE THE F-16 TO THE MAX EXTENT POSSIBLE. Narrator: LIKE AMERICA'S OTHER TOP FIGHTERS, THE F-16 CARRIES A DAUNTING ARSENAL. THE 144th WING CAN ELIMINATE ANY AERIAL THREA WITH ITS AIM-9 AND AIM-120 AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES. ORDNANCE CREWS CAN LOAD THE VIPER WITH UP TO SIX TONS OF MUNITIONS. BUT ON ONE INCREDIBLE MISSION, A DRAMA RARELY TOLD ABOUT 9/11, F-16s FACED OFF AGAINST AN ENEMY WITH NO WEAPONS AT ALL. THREE HIJACKED PASSENGER JETS HAD HIT THEIR TARGETS -- THE TWIN TOWERS AND THE PENTAGON. A FOURTH HIJACKED PLANE, UNITED FLIGHT 93, WAS HEADED FOR WASHINGTON, D. C. COLONEL MARC SASSEVILLE AND LIEUTENANT HEATHER PENNEY RECEIVED THEIR ORDERS -- BRING DOWN FLIGHT 93. WITH NO TIME TO ARM THE F-16s, THEY TOOK OFF WITHOUT MISSILES OR AMMUNITION. THE TWO PILOTS HAD NOTHING TO AIM AT THE TERRORIST-CONTROLLED 757 EXCEPT THEIR OWN JETS. THEY AGREED ON THEIR STRATEGY. SASSEVILLE WOULD RAM THE COCKPIT; PENNEY WOULD TARGET THE TAIL -- A KAMIKAZE MISSION. FLIGHT 93 CRASHED IN RURAL PENNSYLVANIA BEFORE THEY COULD INTERCEPT IT. F-16s ARE NOW REQUIRED TO BE PREPPED AND ARMED AT EVERY DOMESTIC AIR-DEFENSE BASE. THOSE ARMED VIPERS BRING MORE THAN KILLER FIREPOWER INTO BATTLE. THEY ALSO BRING WICKED MANEUVERABILITY. LIKE MOST FIGHTERS, THE F-16 IS SO SPRY IT GENERATES GRAVITATIONAL FORCES, OR G's, THAT CAN OVERWHELM THE FRAGILE HUMAN AT THE CONTROLS. Hallion: A "G" IS THE FORCE OF GRAVITY THAT WE ALL EXPERIENCE WHEN WE'RE WALKING ON THE EARTH. BUT IN A FIGHTER AIRCRAFT LIKE THAT, YOU CAN GO TO NINE G's. YOU WEIGH NINE TIMES WHAT YOU NORMALLY WEIGH. Campagne: I'M A 200-POUND GUY SITTING IN THAT SEAT. I'M 1,800 POUNDS IN A FULL TURN OF THE AIRCRAFT. Kirik: WHEN YOU'RE PULLING NINE G's, IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE IN WET CEMENT, LIKE YOU'RE WEIGHTED DOWN IN QUICKSAND, IT'S PULLING YOU DOWN INTO THE SEAT. IT JUST FEELS LIKE ITS PULLING THE MUSCLES OFF YOUR BONES. IT MAKES BREATHING HARD BECAUSE YOUR CHEST IS HEAVY. Dr. Grant: AND EVENTUALLY, YOUR VISION CONSTRICTS, AND YOU CAN BLACK OUT AND GO INTO WHAT THEY CALL G-LOC, G-INDUCED LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. Narrator: G-LOC OCCURS WHEN EXTREME GRAVITATIONAL FORCES CAUSE BLOOD TO POOL IN THE EXTREMITIES, STARVING OFF THE BRAIN. IF THE PILOT FAILS TO RECOVER IN TIME, HE'LL PLUMMET AND CRASH. TO HELP PREVENT THIS, TRAINEES TAKE A WILD SPIN IN A CENTRIFUGE THAT REPRODUCES NINE G's. THEY LEARN HOW TO RESIST BLACKING OU WITH A SERIES OF PHYSICAL CONTORTIONS. AND WE TAKE A DEEP BREATH, HOLD OUR BREATH, AND SQUEEZE OUR LEGS, OUR ABDOMEN, OUR UPPER BODY TO TRY AND KEEP THE BLOOD UP INTO YOUR HEAD SO YOU DON'T PASS OUT. IF YOU DON'T PERFORM PROPERLY IN THAT, THEY WILL NOT GRADUATE YOU FROM THERE. SO YOU EITHER REPEAT IT, OR THEY WILL WASH YOU OUT AT THAT POINT. Narrator: FIGHTER PILOTS ALSO COMBAT G-LOC WITH APTLY NAMED G-SUITS. THEY'RE LINED WITH INFLATABLE BLADDERS THAT FILL WITH AIR WHEN SENSORS DETECT EXTREME G-FORCES. Hallion: AND WHEN THEY INFLATE WITH AIR, THEY ACTUALLY SQUEEZE THE BODY LIKE A VISE, LIKE A BIG PYTHON, IF YOU WILL, AND THE RESULT IS IT PREVENTS THAT BLOOD FROM POOLING IN THE EXTREMITIES. IT LITERALLY STOPS IT LIKE A DAM AND KEEPS THE BLOOD IN THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE BODY AND HOPEFULLY IN THE BRAIN. Narrator: IF A PILOT SENSES HE'S BLACKING OU AND MUST SAVE HIMSELF FROM ANOTHER LIFE-THREATENING CRISIS, THIS HANDLE IS HIS LAST RESORT. EJECTION IS A SHOCKER -- ZERO TO 250 MILES PER HOUR IN A HALF A SECOND. SINCE 1949, MORE THAN 5,400 AIR FORCE PILOTS HAVE EJECTED. MASTER SERGEANT LESLIE SUNDSTROM IS THE EGRESS SHOP CHIEF AT THE 144th FIGHTER WING. IT'S HER JOB TO MAKE SURE THE EJECTION SYSTEMS OF THE UNIT'S F-16s ARE READY WHEN THE PILOTS NEED THEM. IF HE NEEDS TO EJECT FROM THIS AIRCRAFT, HE CAN PULL THE HANDLE, AND THIS SEAT WILL SHOOT HIM SOME 300 FEET IN THE AIR WITH FULL PARACHUTE DEPLOYMENT IN 1. 8 SECONDS. Narrator: IT TAKES A 40-POUND ROCKE TO BLAST THE SEAT SKYWARD THAT FAST. IT HAS TO BE THAT POWERFUL TO PREVENT THE PILO FROM A FATAL COLLISION WITH THE AIRCRAFT'S TAIL. AS THE PILOT EJECTS, THE ROCKET HAS SO MUCH FORCE TO GET THE SEAT OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT. IT CAN PUT UP TO SIX G's ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S BODY. THAT'S HOW MUCH PRESSURE IS IN THAT ROCKET CATAPUL TO GET THIS SEAT OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT. Narrator: THE FORCE OF THE EJECTION COMPRESSES THE PILOT'S SPINE, CAUSING HIM TO SHRINK BY AS MUCH AS 1 INCH PERMANENTLY. AND WITH EACH EJECTION, NOT ONLY IS THE F-16 LOST, SO IS ITS $1 MILLION POLYCARBONATE CANOPY, WHICH WAS BUILT TO WITHSTAND A DIRECT HIT FROM A SEAGULL AT MORE THAN 500 MILES PER HOUR. NEXT, AN INNOVATIVE FIGHTER DESIGNED TO DOMINATE THE SKIES OF THE FUTURE. IT PROMISES TO REVOLUTIONIZE HOW FIGHTERS ARE DEPLOYED IN COMBAT. Narrator: OVER THE PAST HOUR, WE'VE EXPOSED THE SECRETS OF TODAY'S DEADLIEST AERIAL TERMINATORS. BUT A NEW GAME-CHANGER IN THE SKIES IS STAKING ITS CLAIM AS THE DOMINANT FIGHTER OF TOMORROW. THE F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER CRYSTALLIZES A CENTURY OF REVOLUTIONARY ADVANCEMENTS IN WARPLANE DESIGN. JUST ASK ALAN NORMAN, LOCKHEED MARTIN'S CHIEF TEST PILOT, FOR ITS F-35 PROGRAM. THE F-35 BRINGS UNPRECEDENTED CAPABILITY TO THE WAR FIGHTER. IN ESSENCE, EVERY SINGLE DAY, I GET A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE, AND I GET TO SEE WHAT THE PILOTS OF YEARS FROM NOW -- Hallion: THIS IS AN AIRCRAFT THAT IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS OPPONENT. IT CARRIES AIR-TO-GROUND ORDNANCE THAT CAN PUT YOU OUT OF BUSINESS, AND IT DOES THAT WITH STEALTH AND PRECISION AND A DEGREE OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF THE PILO THAT IS MATCHED ONLY BY THE F-22. IT IS THE IDEAL LITTLE BROTHER TO THE BIG-BROTHER F-22. Narrator: LIKE THE F-22, THE F-35 OWES ITS STEALTH TO A VIRTUALLY EDGELESS AIRFRAME THAT HIDES WEAPONS IN INTERNAL COMPARTMENTS. ITS SKIN, MADE OF A GRAPHITE EPOXY COMPOSITE, REDUCES THE PLANE'S RADAR REFLECTION EVEN FURTHER. THE MATERIAL IS LIGHTER THAN ALUMINUM YET STRONGER THAN STEEL, COMPRISING 40% OF THE AIRCRAFT BY WEIGHT. THE PENTAGON IS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE F-35 THAT THE AIR FORCE, NAVY, AND MARINES HAVE EACH ORDERED THEIR OWN CUSTOMIZED VERSION. THE AIR FORCE MODEL IS DESIGNED FOR CONVENTIONAL TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. THE NAVY'S HAS A BEEFED-UP FRAME AND TAILHOOK CARRIER DUTY. AND THE MARINES' VERSION PROMISES TO REWRITE THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. IT CAN TAKE OFF AND LAND VERTICALLY LIKE A HELICOPTER -- A FEAT NO OTHER SUPERSONIC FIGHTER CAN MANAGE. ONE PUSH OF A BUTTON ACTIVATES THE F-35's VECTORED-THRUST ENGINES AND A DOWNWARD-SHOOTING JET EXHAUST. Dr. Grant: INSTEAD OF COMING IN AND LANDING WITH A TAILHOOK AND CATCHING A WIRE, THE F-35B JUST COMES STRAIGHT DOWN ON THE DECK. Hallion: THE TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE THAT THE MARINE CORPS HAS WITH THEIR VERTICAL-FLIGHT VERSION OF THE F-35 IS THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY WITH THIS AIRCRAF TO DEPLOY EXPEDITIONARY COMBAT POWER FROM ALMOST ANYWHERE. Narrator: WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A LONG RUNWAY, THE STRATEGIC OPTIONS FOR THE F-35 ARE VASTLY MULTIPLIED. Hallion: YOU CAN DO IT OFF AN OIL PLATFORM. YOU CAN DO IT OFF A CONTAINER SHIP. YOU CAN DO IT OFF A ROUGH STRETCH OF ROAD. YOU CAN DO IT OFF A PARKING LOT. YOU'RE NOT CONSTRAINED BY USING A LARGE, FIXED RUNWAY. OR, FOR THAT MATTER, YOU'RE NOT CONSTRAINED BY USING A LARGE AIRCRAFT CARRIER THAT HAS A 1,000-FOOT DECK. Dr. Grant: THE MARINE'S LIKE THIS BECAUSE IN A COMBAT SCENARIO, THEY'LL WANT TO BRING THEIR F-35Bs UP VERY CLOSE TO THE FRONT LINES, LAND THEM FREQUENTLY, RE-ARM THEM, REFUEL THEM, AND SEND THEM RIGHT BACK INTO COMBAT, SUPPORTING MARINES ON THE GROUND. Narrator: EXTENDING A FIGHTER'S RANGE SO CLOSE TO THE FRONT LINES PROMISES TO REVOLUTIONIZE HOW AIR AND GROUND FORCES COORDINATE THEIR ACTIONS. BUT NO MATTER WHERE THE F-35 IS OPERATING, ITS PERFORMANCE IS ENHANCED BY A STAGGERING ARRAY OF HIGH-TECH ELECTRONICS. Dr. Grant: IT HAS ALL THE LATES IN SENSORS AND COMMUNICATIONS LINKS. SO EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY, COMPUTERS, THE ABILITY TO LINK AND NET SENSORS TOGETHER ON THE BATTLEFIELD -- ALL THAT COMES TOGETHER IN THE F-35. Narrator: THE F-35 MAKES ALL THAT COMPUTERIZED WIZARDRY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PILOT IN A REVOLUTIONARY NEW WAY. Norman: IN THE F-35, WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE AIRPLANE IN THE SENSE THAT WE ALMOST BECOME ONE WITH THE AIRPLANE AND HAVE A VISION OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD THAT I NEVER HAD BEFORE THROUGH THIS FANTASTIC HELMET THAT I CARRY WITH ME. Narrator: WHAT MAKES THE F-35's HELMET SO FANTASTIC IS THAT IT PROJECTS ITS OWN HEADS-UP DISPLAY. CRUCIAL IMAGES AND DATA ARE NO LONGER A DISEMBODIED COCKPIT DISPLAY BUT INTEGRATED MORE NATURALLY WITH THE PILOT'S PERCEPTIONS. WHEREVER HE MOVES HIS HEAD, THE DISPLAY IS AT THE CENTER OF HIS FOCUS. THE HELMET PROJECTS IMAGERY UNLIKE ANY STANDARD HEADS-UP DISPLAY. TAPPING INTO SENSORS IN THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE, IT CREATES A 3-D DEPICTION OF THE WORLD AROUND THE PLANE. Norman: WE HAVE A SPHERICAL VIEW OF THE AIRPLANE. SO, WHAT'S THAT MEAN TO ME? WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME IS NOT ONLY DO I SEE FORWARD, NOT ONLY DO I SEE TO THE SIDE, BUT IF I SO CHOOSE, BECAUSE I HAVE CAMERAS DOWN BELOW ME, I CAN LOOK RIGHT THROUGH MY AIRPLANE AND SEE DOWN BELOW ME. Narrator: THE F-35 PACKS THE FIREPOWER TO DECIMATE TARGETS ALL ON ITS OWN. IT CAN CARRY UP TO 18,000 POUNDS OF MUNITIONS. Hallion: THE F-35 IS A CLASSIC AIRCRAFT IN THE MOLD OF THE F-16 OR SOME OTHER AIRPLANES WE'VE SEEN THAT CAN DO AN AIR-TO-AIR MISSION IF NECESSARY AND DO AN AIR-TO-SURFACE MISSION. IT IS PRIORITIZED PRIMARILY FOR THE AIR-TO-SURFACE MISSION IN POWER PROJECTION, BUT IT CAN CERTAINLY TAKE CARE OF ITSELF AIR-TO-AIR. Narrator: THE F-35, WITH THE F-22, WILL ENSURE THAT THE U. S. WILL DOMINATE THE 21st CENTURY SKIES, MEETING EVERY EMERGING THREAT. Dr. Grant: FIGHTERS, IN GENERAL, WILL INCREASE IN IMPORTANCE OVER THE NEXT TWO DECADES. WITH THE WARS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ, WE HAD A GREAT ADVANTAGE. COALITION FORCES ALREADY HAD AIR SUPERIORITY. AS WE LOOK AT DETERRING A RISING CHINA IN THE PACIFIC, OUR FIGHTERS WILL BE MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT. Hallion: BUT WE CAN ONLY PREDICT ONE THING WITH CERTAINTY, AND THAT IS THE NEED FOR THE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT WILL CONTINUE. AND FIGHTER AIRCRAFT WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE THE WORLD'S SKIES. Narrator: NOW MORE THAN EVER, AMERICA'S FIGHTERS ARE CAPABLE OF TOTAL AERIAL SUPREMACY. THEY'LL DOMINATE BY TAKING ON MULTIPLE ROLES IN COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS BY INCREASING THEIR SUPPORT OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES AND BY CONTINUING TO BRING NEW, GAME-CHANGING INNOVATIONS INTO THE BATTLESPACE.