Show cover for Air Warriors

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

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".

  • F-14 Tomcat
    8.2/106 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • A-10 Warthog
    8.0/1023 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • F-4 Phantom
    8.0/109 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • OV-10 Bronco
    8.0/107 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • P-38 Lightning
    8.0/106 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • B-17 Flying Fortress
    8.0/105 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • Harrier
    7.8/1011 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • AC-130
    7.8/107 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • F6F Hellcat
    7.8/109 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • Spitfire
    7.8/105 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • B-1 Lancer
    7.8/105 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • Apache
    7.7/1019 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • F-16
    7.7/1016 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • P-51 Mustang
    7.7/1012 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • MiG
    7.7/107 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • B-29 Superfortress
    7.7/106 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • Osprey
    7.6/1013 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • Chinook
    7.6/1010 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • Galaxy
    7.6/105 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • AH-1 Cobra
    7.6/105 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • Prowler/Growler
    7.5/1013 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • Black Hawk
    7.5/1014 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • Drones
    7.5/1011 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • B-24 Liberator
    7.5/106 votes
    Loading...

    #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

  • Zero
    7.4/105 votes
    Loading...

    #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