Behind the Wings

The world's largest operating aircraft enables a new era in hypersonic flight testing.

The unlikely story of the original super cargo transport aircraft that helped America win the space race.

The ethics of deploying AI in Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), are weighed against the risks of falling behind technologically.

Testing and simulation progress AI pilot agents from the lab to the field.

Explore the training, spacecraft, and people behind the first NASA Artemis crewed mission, Artemis II.

From 5th generation design to its technological breakthroughs, the F-35 is a formidable machine. At Lockheed Martin's assembly line in Fort Worth TX, F-35s are meticulously built. At the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, cadets learn how the F-35 fits into a modern combat environment. And at Miramar Naval Base in San Diego, CA, get an inside look at the life of the pilots who fly the F-35.

Time travel is now possible with the James Webb Space Telescope, as we explore distant worlds and our own Solar System in ways never seen before.

From medical delivery to flying taxis, autonomous drones are changing the future of transportation.

A return to the moon is imminent, and exploration continues into deep space.

Commercialization in the space industry brings a new era of innovation and exploration.

Satellites and their sensors provide a unique vantage to look back at Earth.

Exploration is in our DNA, and when it comes to space, we have a lot to explore.

For nearly sixty years the Learjet came to define a new class of luxury airplane - the business jet. Now, the last Learjet ever is being assembled at the Wichita-based production facility in "The Aviation Capital of the World". Speaking with aviation icons past and present, we get an intimate look at a company that shaped aviation as we know it today. From its record-setting performance achievements to its outsized role in popular culture, the Learjet's place in history is here to stay, long after the production lines shut down.

In the 1950s, The Century Series defined an era of aviation during the Cold War, charting a metamorphosis from one era to another. Jets were in their infancy, and many milestones, including the sound barrier, loomed large. In an arms race with the Soviet Union, a rising superpower, the U.S. got to work developing a variety of impressive fighter jets, now known as the Century Series. Starting with the F-100, the first production airplane to break the sound barrier in level flight, we explore how the century series pioneered new airplane designs, including the aerodynamic coke bottle shape made famous by the F-102. The F-104, a missile with a man in it inspired a generation of pilots. The F-105 looked like a fighter but was a bomber in disguise. As a series, their legacy is evident in modern fighter jets.

New fire conditions call for new firefighting methods and tools. Looking at Calfire, we learn how the largest municipal fleet of firefighting aircraft in the world has developed over time. Live data feeds revolutionize how firefighting teams understand fires and communicate during missions. Colorado gets ready to purchase its first Firehawk helicopter, and inter-agency teams coordinate at the local, state, and federal levels. The challenges in fighting wildfires are greater than ever, but with new methods of fighting the fires, so are the opportunities.

Wildfires are growing in intensity, and firefighting aviation is becoming increasingly crucial to saving forests and lives in Colorado and beyond. Fire aviation teams are critical, complex efforts, made up of pilots, technicians, and coordinators who work together with ground crews to put out and contain wildfires. As environmental conditions set the stage for unprecedented fire seasons, night vision goggle technology is employed for the first time, and Colorado legislatures are paying closer attention than ever to the importance of wildfires. The progress is clear, yet so much remains to be done.

Join host Matthew Burchette as he dives into the history of the iconic Beech 18 and takes a flight with the CO State Patrol…

Join host Matthew Burchette as he sits down with NASA legend Gene Kranz and discovers the future of space exploration at NASA’s Glenn Research Center…

Join host Matthew Burchette as he explores NORAD’s command center and even tests the limits of “restricted airspace"

Join host Matthew Burchette as he chats with Vietnam Huey pilots and tags along with the USCG on a training mission in sunny San Diego…

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the world's most widely produced aircraft with more than 44,000 units built. Join host Matthew Burchette as he goes flying over Denver Colorado and visits the Skyhawk manufacturing facility in Independence, Kansas.

Join host Matthew Burchette as he explores the world of electronic attack in this episode of Behind the Wings. From the recently-retired EA-6B Prowler to the next generation EA-18 Growler, electronic attack plays a vital role in our nation's security.

Millions have flown in and out of Denver International Airport but few have seen this incredible operation from the inside out. With more than 61 million passengers per year, Denver International (DEN) is the 5th busiest airport in the United States and it takes an army to keep operations humming.

Join Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum's curator and Behind the Wings host Matthew Burchette as he crawls through an iconic B-52 bomber, takes a trip to The Peace Garden State and explores one of only two active B-52 bases in the United States.