8.2/106 votesLoading...#1 - F-14 Tomcat
Season 11 Episode 1 - Aired 5/21/2023
The F-14 Tomcat fighter jet hit the big screen in 1986's "Top Gun" and flew in major military conflicts like the Gulf of Sidra incident, Cold War confrontations and the Iran-Iraq War.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/1022 votesLoading...#2 - A-10 Warthog
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/27/2015
The A-10 Thunderbolt II was made for durability and power. With seeming indestructibility, it can eliminate armored vehicles, tanks, and even buildings with remarkable accuracy, all the while protecting American troops on the ground. Over the decades, it has repeatedly proved its worth, not only on the battlefield but in the eyes of its toughest critic: the U.S. Air Force. Discover the story of the ugly duckling affectionately named "Warthog," and see how this clunky but robust fighter continually out-flies and out-guns its competitors.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/109 votesLoading...#3 - F-4 Phantom
Season 6 Episode 3 - Aired 9/2/2018
The McDonnell F-4 Phantom II – otherwise known as the Bent Wing Wonder, Old Smokey, Rhino, Elephant, Double Ugly, and other nicknames not fit for print – is arguably one of the finest combat fighters of the 20th Century. It was produced in larger numbers than any other Western fighter of the time, and served with the U.S. Air Force, the Navy, and Marine Corps, and with 11 other nations around the world. In this episode of AIR WARRIORS, we profile one of the most effective combat jets in US combat: the Phantom II.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/107 votesLoading...#4 - OV-10 Bronco
Season 6 Episode 5 - Aired 9/16/2018
The OV-10 Bronco is the Swiss Army Knife of military aviation, faster than a helicopter, more maneuverable than a jet, and able to provide optimal support for troops on the ground in the most difficult of environments. Follow the journey of this light attack aircraft, from its humble origins five decades ago in the garage of two Marines to its heroic missions in Vietnam. Then see how a disastrous role in Desert Storm nearly grounded the warbird for good until it got a shot at redemption two decades later against ISIS.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/106 votesLoading...#5 - P-38 Lightning
Season 6 Episode 7 - Aired 5/26/2019
It was one of the most unique and deadly warplanes of World War II, with devastating agility and unmatched speeds of over 400 mph. But before the P-38 Lightning seized control of the air from the Japanese and the Germans, some of its pilots were forced to learn on the job. Follow its dogfighting journey, from Alaska to Africa and from Berlin to Tokyo, as the Lightning earned its name, blazing into battle and delivering a killer strike into the hearts of its enemies.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.0/105 votesLoading...#6 - B-17 Flying Fortress
Season 11 Episode 3 - Aired 6/4/2023
In World War II, the Women Air Force Service Pilots organization transported B-17 Flying Fortresses, which went to deliver food to the German occupied Netherlands in Operation Chowhound.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/1011 votesLoading...#7 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/107 votesLoading...#8 - AC-130
Season 6 Episode 1 - Aired 8/19/2018
Take the versatile design of the storied C-130 Hercules transport model, add a lethal number of miniguns, cannons and howitzers, and you get one of the most fabled and feared assets in the USAF inventory – the AC-130 flying gunship. This plane does not drop bombs or break speed records. Flying night or day, loitering at low altitude, it fires shells you’d expect to find on a tank or a battleship. In this episode of AIR WARRIORS, we’re profiling one of the deadliest combat weapons on the planet, the indomitable AC-130.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/109 votesLoading...#9 - F6F Hellcat
Season 6 Episode 2 - Aired 8/26/2018
It is the aircraft that secured victory for the Allies during World War II. It is a custom-built fighter plane, designed during wartime to go head-to-head with the Japanese A6M Zero. And it’s the weapon the U.S. Navy used to win control in the Pacific and ultimately, the war itself. Meet the F6F Hellcat—the fighter plane that turned the tide for the Allies.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/105 votesLoading...#10 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/105 votesLoading...#11 - B-1 Lancer
Season 11 Episode 6 - Aired 6/25/2023
Military experts and veterans discuss the history of the Rockwell B-1 Lancer, first conceived as a nuclear bomber during the Cold War, and its evolving wartime roles in the 1990s and 2000s.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/1019 votesLoading...#12 - Apache
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 11/16/2014
Hop aboard the AH-64 Apache, one of the most heavily fortified and well-armed helicopters ever built.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/1016 votesLoading...#13 - F-16
Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 6/12/2016
It's fast, it's acrobatic, and it's built to get in your face before you even know it's there. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the lightest fighter in the Air Force inventory, and ushered in a new breed of dogfighter. Witness its origins during the Vietnam War, as the U.S. military raced to create a fighter that could hold its own against the Russian's MiG. Then see how it evolved over the decades, adapted in order to stay relevant, and continued to soar to become the undisputed king of the multirole fighters.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/1012 votesLoading...#14 - P-51 Mustang
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 6/26/2016
With its long-distance range and highflying dogfighting abilities, the P-51 Mustang was designed to dominate the skies and help end World War II. And it did. Take flight on an aircraft that symbolized the power and romance of the fighter, a plane that continues to stun and amaze today. We track the history of this nimble, robust Air Warrior, from its international origins to the challenges it overcame in the battle for air superiority over Europe, captured through compelling firsthand testimony and rarely seen combat footage.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/107 votesLoading...#15 - MiG
Season 6 Episode 6 - Aired 9/23/2018
When the Soviet-built MiG-15 first screamed over the battlegrounds of the Korean War, America is horrified at what this new enemy fighter could do. Nimble, jet-powered, and capable of diving at supersonic speed, it outperforms any machine in the sky. Its sole purpose: ambush and bring down the B-29s bombers that are decimating the North Korean infrastructure. As it accomplished its mission time and again, the MiG-15 achieves the impossible – it steals air supremacy from the Americans. In the episode of AIR WARRIORS, we profile the MiG 15, the grandfather of the MiG fighter jet & the evolution of this infamous plane.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.7/106 votesLoading...#16 - B-29 Superfortress
Season 8 Episode 2 - Aired 2/28/2021
Follow the B-29's short but impactful career, from ending the war in Japan to bombing airfields during the Korean War.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/1013 votesLoading...#17 - Osprey
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/23/2014
Follow the journey of the U.S. Marine's V-22 Osprey, from early failures to war and humanitarian mission triumphs.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/1010 votesLoading...#18 - Chinook
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 11/1/2015
It looks like a lumbering giant but the CH-47 Chinook is fast, agile, and has been the Army's go-to chopper for decades.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/105 votesLoading...#19 - Galaxy
Season 10 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.6/105 votesLoading...#20 - AH-1 Cobra
Season 11 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/1013 votesLoading...#21 - Prowler/Growler
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 10/4/2015
Tomorrow's wars will be won and lost using electronic warfare aircraft, and the U.S. is counting on two warplanes to win them.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/1014 votesLoading...#22 - Black Hawk
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/11/2015
For decades, the Black Hawk has played a role in nearly every American conflict and is used all over the globe. But how did the UH-60 become the Army's go-to bird? This is the inside story of how the military workhorse got off the ground and became a multi-mission lifesaver. See how its pilots and engineers learned from setbacks and tragedies and expanded Black Hawk's capabilities to improve getting soldiers into and out of the heat of the battle.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/1011 votesLoading...#23 - Drones
Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 10/25/2015
Drones have evolved to fly higher, longer, and more covertly than any manned airplane ever has.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.5/106 votesLoading...#24 - B-24 Liberator
Season 8 Episode 5 - Aired 3/21/2021
See how the B-24 was mass-produced at a blistering pace to bring speed, range, and a huge payload to the enemy in WWII.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/105 votesLoading...#25 - 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.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of Air Warriors
Every episode of Air Warriors ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Air Warriors!
They are the high-flying pride of the U.S. military, one-of-a-kind warriors that, over the decades, collectively revolutionized aerial warfare. Through rare, archival footage and compelling...
Genres:DocumentaryReality
Network:Smithsonian Channel
Best Episodes Summary
"F-14 Tomcat" is the best rated episode of "Air Warriors". It scored 8.2/10 based on 6 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 5/21/2023. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "A-10 Warthog".