Watch

Planes That Never Flew

  • 2003
  • Ended
  • Documentary
  • ~47m / ep
  • 1 season
  • 5.0/10

Planes That Never Flew is a Discovery Channel documentary series about experimental aircraft projects that never flew. Over four one-hour episodes, the series examined the history behind aborted projects to build two jet fighters, a supersonic transport, and a nuclear-powered long range bomber.

Latest: Season 1 · 2003

View all seasons
  1. E1. The Last Rocket Fighter

    Apr 4, 2003 · 47m

    The British-designed Saunders-Roe SR177, an advanced rocket plane that, though capable of climbing to the very edge of space, fell victim to sabotage by a rival aircraft company.

  2. E2. The American SST

    Apr 11, 2003 · 47m

    A documentary on the SST, America's answer to Concorde in the competition between Europe and the United States to build a supersonic airliner.

  3. E3. America's First Jet Fighter

    Apr 18, 2003 · 47m

    The history of 1950s icon the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, designed by engineer Clarence `Kelly' Johnson, who had previously failed in an attempt to create a supersonic fighter.

  4. E4. The Atomic Bomber

    Apr 25, 2003 · 47m

    The story behind plans for an atomic bomber that failed to progress from the drawing board.