The WORST episodes of Air Warriors

Every episode of Air Warriors ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Air Warriors!

A winged fighter that hasn’t lost a fight in 26 years, a lifesaver that’s part plane and part chopper, and an attack helicopter our enemies call the Black Death. These are America’s undisputed kings of the sky: the F-15 Eagle, the V-22 Osprey, and the AH-64 Apache. And their success stories are as remarkable as they are improbable. Witness their turbulent journeys, brought to life through rarely seen combat footage and the stories of the dedicated pilots and teams who fly and maintain these ultimate air warriors.

Last Updated: 5/25/2024Network: Smithsonian ChannelStatus: Continuing
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#1 - AH-1 Cobra

Season 10 - Episode 10 - Aired 7/23/2023

Experts discuss the history of the AH-1 Cobra, an agile attack helicopter designed for combat in the Vietnam War and later used for dangerous ground support missions in the Iraq War.

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#2 - Stuka Dive Bomber

Season 10 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/16/2023

Aviation historians and veterans detail how the high-speed dives and pinpoint accuracy of the Junkers Ju-87 Stukas became a Nazi terror weapon and symbol of German power during World War II.

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#3 - C-47 Skytrain

Season 10 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/9/2023

Originally designed as a civilian passenger airliner, the C-47 becomes a durable military workhorse, delivering paratroopers behind enemy lines on D-Day, rescuing injured soldiers and more

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#4 - Hawker Hunter

Season 10 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/2/2023

The inside story of Britain's flagship super jet of the Cold War era, the Hawker Hunter, and its most thrilling flights during the late 20th century.

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Galaxy
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#5 - Galaxy

Season 9 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/12/2022

Lockheed's C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft stands out for its massive size and aid provided to the American military during war, but its peacetime contributions truly set it apart.

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Little Bird
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0 votes

#6 - Little Bird

Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/5/2022

Go inside the cockpit of the nimble Little Bird, a small but mighty attack helicopter on the front lines of many U.S. military operations, including the Vietnam War, Iraq War and many more.

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P-47
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0.00
0 votes

#7 - P-47

Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/29/2022

Learn how the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter jet played a pivotal role in carrying the Allies to victory in World War II and the Pacific War.

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Top Dogfighters
star
6.00
1 votes

#8 - Top Dogfighters

Season 7 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/6/2020

There are few wartime conflicts as dramatic or as breathtaking as a dogfight. Two planes chasing and dodging each other at supersonic speeds. The stakes: life or death. Witness some of the most spectacular battles in the air, from World War II to Vietnam to Desert Storm. We celebrate both the remarkable aircraft involved, including the F-15 Eagle, the F-4 Phantom, the F6F Hellcat, and the P-38 Lightning, and give firsthand accounts from some of the bold fighter pilots who looked death in the face and won.

Zero
star
6.00
2 votes

#9 - Zero

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/9/2019

The Japanese's A6M Zero was the most feared airplane at the beginning of World War II, designed to cause death and destruction on an incredible scale. With the legendary Zero leading the charge, the Imperial Japanese Navy dominated the Pacific, from Pearl Harbor to Wake Island to the Philippines. To have a shot of winning the war, the U.S. Navy needed to somehow beat this fast, nimble, and lightweight killer. Their solution: exploit the Zero's flaws by pitting its agility against the muscle of the F4U Corsair.

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B-24 Liberator
star
6.50
2 votes

#10 - B-24 Liberator

Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/21/2021

The B-24 was America's go-to heavy bomber in the early years of World War II, able to go faster, farther, and carry a larger payload than its predecessor, the B-17. And as the most mass-produced bomber in history, it was able to attack in large numbers, overwhelming the enemy and earning its name: the Liberator. Discover how the B-24 came into existence and answered the U.S. military's desperate need for a long-range bomber. Then witness some of its key missions, flying time and again into the mouth of hell to take on Axis forces.

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Harrier
star
6.67
3 votes

#11 - Harrier

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/14/2017

It's sleek, powerful, fast, and innovative, with the grace of a chopper and the knockout punch of a fighter jet. The Harrier is the world's most famous short takeoff/vertical landing jet and the Marines' go-to aircraft for close-air support. But despite all of its amazing capabilities, the Harrier has sparked controversy over the years and has been forced to prove itself time and time again. Discover its remarkable story, as told by the men and women who maintain, fly, and fight with this icon of aviation.

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C-17
star
6.90
10 votes

#12 - C-17

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/4/2015

The C-17 Globemaster III is the Air Force's favorite heavy hauler, a flying warehouse that has stood tall against the mightiest of enemies for decades. Strangely, some of its toughest battles were fought right in America, where critics in Congress nearly scrapped the big gray beast before it even left the ground. This is the story of how the C-17 flew through all opposition to prove it could pull its weight in any situation, as told by the men and women who flew the "Moose" into and out of danger in Eastern Europe, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

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F-111
star
7.00
2 votes

#13 - F-111

Season 9 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/20/2022

Learn the history of the F-111 bomber jet, a Vietnam-era flop that turned that turned into an essential piece of U.S. military hardware in Libya and the Gulf War.

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Top Choppers
star
7.00
4 votes

#14 - Top Choppers

Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/13/2020

They're sleek and steadfast, high-tech and high-capacity, dynamic and deadly. No matter the mission, from attack to rescue to disaster relief, these military helicopters always rise to the challenge. Get an up-close, inside look at the AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook, and V-22 Osprey as we examine the machines and their most memorable missions. Through rare footage and interviews with the pilots who flew these choppers into danger, we show what gives these air warriors the ability to get the job done time and again.

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Spitfire
star
7.00
2 votes

#15 - Spitfire

Season 6 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/2/2019

The Supermarine Spitfire is one of the greatest air-to-air fighters in history, entering into combat over the skies of Dunkirk, London, and Malta when Britain needed it most. But before earning its reputation as the defense of the free world, the Spitfire experienced its share of turbulence against the mighty Luftwaffe. Thanks to a radical idea for an elliptical-shaped wing, a Rolls Royce engine, and ace pilots, this is the story of how it ultimately prevailed and helped free the world of tyranny.

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AC-130
star
7.00
2 votes

#16 - AC-130

Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/19/2018

The AC-130 is a heavyweight in a class of its own. The massive gunship brings unparalleled cover for troops on the ground and sheer force to enemy skies, day and night. With its revolutionary side-firing design, the AC-130 revolutionized close air support in the 1960s, but was nearly shelved after its weakness was exposed during Operation Desert Storm. Join us as we show how the latest generation of the plane provides further protection to ground troops as we examine the rise, fall, and rebirth of this legendary aircraft.

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KC-135 Stratotanker
star
7.00
1 votes

#17 - KC-135 Stratotanker

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/21/2017

Quite simply, the KC-135 Stratotanker is the backbone of American air power. This aerial refueler has allowed America's military aircraft to reach across the globe for the past 60 years, carrying up to 200,000 pounds of fuel with a transfer rate of 1,000 gallons per minute. Join us as we celebrate an aircraft that's always on call, always ready to adapt to unexpected situations, and always carrying enough fuel to feed thirsty U.S. fighter jets and keep them flying around the clock.

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B-52
star
7.07
15 votes

#18 - B-52

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/19/2016

The B-52 Stratofortress is affectionately known as the B.U.F.F., or Big, Ugly, Fat Fellow. Whatever you call it, the B-52 is one imposing beast of a bomber, stretching 159 feet, capable of flying nearly 9,000 miles in a single trip, and able to carry up to 70,000 pounds of weapons at a time. Join us as we crown the Air Force's longest serving heavyweight champ, a global reach aircraft that has, for more than a half a century, led the way in every major U.S. bombing campaign, from Korea to Vietnam to Iraq and beyond.

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Drones
star
7.18
11 votes

#19 - Drones

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/18/2015

Drones: they watch, analyze, even kill without ever risking a pilot's life. These unmanned aerial vehicles can be flown from anywhere on the globe and can get into places never before dreamed. They are widely used by military and civilians alike and can be seen almost everywhere, but exactly where, when, and how did these flying robots come to be? Join us as we follow drones over war zones, wildfires, and into aviation history as we detail their meteoric rise from yesterday's obscure wonder to today's global obsession.

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Apache
star
7.23
22 votes

#20 - Apache

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/16/2014

Highly maneuverable, heavily armed, and devastatingly powerful, the U.S. Army's AH-64 Apache is one of the most trusted and lethal weapons in the sky. Called "Black Death" by her foes, she's cast a feared shadow over the battlefield, but this modern chopper was nearly scrapped before ever seeing action. Discover the inside story of the world's premier attack helicopter, from its controversial beginnings, rife with technical challenges and tragic failures, to its remarkable triumphs against enemy forces.

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Chinook
star
7.30
10 votes

#21 - Chinook

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/11/2015

Power. Strength. Precision. The CH-47 Chinook is not the most glamorous aircraft in the military's inventory, but it's been the Army's go-to helicopter for lifting heavy cargo for decades. The Chinook has proven its worth in every notable conflict since Vietnam, but to live through changing war zones, the aging chopper has needed to learn new tricks. Explore how the Army's oldest heavy hauler evolved, from its birth after the Korean War to its triumphant performances in Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond.

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F-100 Super Sabre
star
7.33
3 votes

#22 - F-100 Super Sabre

Season 10 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/18/2023

Despite its early reputation for being unsafe, engineers evolved the F-100 Super Sabre into a supersonic powerhouse that carried out daily attack missions throughout the Vietnam War.

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Messerschmitt BF 109
star
7.33
3 votes

#23 - Messerschmitt BF 109

Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/14/2021

Discover the story or the Nazi fighter that was loved by some, hated by others, but recognized by all as revolutionary.

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F-4 Phantom
star
7.33
3 votes

#24 - F-4 Phantom

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/2/2018

It's called Double Ugly, the Rhino, and MiG Killer, but to the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and even NASA, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom is known for being one of the greatest frontline fighters of all time. Witness the remarkable story of an aircraft that was built for the Cold War, chased rockets to advance the Space Race, and transformed itself to serve in Vietnam and Iraq. It's a tale that spans six decades, beginning with a supersonic bang and ending in a blaze of glory.

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F-18
star
7.50
4 votes

#25 - F-18

Season 7 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/27/2020

The F-18 has been the backbone of U.S. Navy carrier operations since it was first introduced in the 1980s. It's built to pack a one-two punch as both a fighter and an attack aircraft, capable of dominating both the skies and the battlefield. We examine its origins, beginning in 1973, when the Navy looked to update its aging fighters, including the F-4 Phantom. We then follow the F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet on their most thrilling and perilous missions, from the baptism by fire in Desert Storm to recent bombing campaigns against ISIS.

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