During the mineral rush of the 1930s, ex-WWI pilots became pioneers of the Canadian North, braving harsh conditions in uncharted territory. Lured by the adventure, modern-day bush pilots continue to endure dangerous terrain and extreme weather to transport food and supplies to bush camps and remote communities in the Northwest Territories.
WWII bombing concepts revolutionized aerial firefighting techniques. In the high-risk, ceaseless war against forest fires, the Canadair CL-215 is the water-bomber of choice, capable of swooping down on a lake and scooping up 12,000 pounds of water in seconds.
Today's air ambulance service evolved from the medical evacuation techniques perfected during the Vietnam War. We fly with state-of-the-art Bandage-One, a Sikorsky (S76-A) air ambulance whose pilots, paramedics and transport nurses constantly face life-or-death emergencies. In this episode, the fate of a premature baby depends on the team's expertise.
One of the reasons the "Mountie always gets his man" is the RCMP's "Skycop" force. Established in 1921, the RCMP has a force of 50 aircrafts. Against the spectacular scenery of British Columbia, we fly with the Mounties on high-drama missions from drug reconnaissance to a native land dispute.
Airshows became popular after WWI when former fighter pilots transformed combat maneuvers into entertaining aerobatic flying routines. Today, fans flock to watch dramatic stunts like Cuban Eights, outside loops, tail stands and rolls. Join ace stunt pilot Joann Osterud as her Ultimate 10-300S spirals toward earth, leveling out in the final seconds before certain death.
When the Korean War revealed a desperate need for tough and reliable air transport, the US military responded with the C-130 Hercules, a hardy giant that can lift over 42,000 pounds. In this episode, the 'Mighty Herc' plays a central role in "Operation Airbridge" during the siege of Sarajevo, the longest humanitarian aid airlift in history.
A converted DC-10 is the world's first flying eye hospital, outfitted with a state-of-the-art operating room, conference room, recovery room and audio-visual suite. Travel to Burma and Mongolia, where the all-volunteer Orbis International trains local doctors and nurses in the latest sight-saving techniques.
The old warbirds are not just the wreckage of WWII. Often, they represent the very marrow of national history. At age 20, Jeff Jeffrey flew Halifax bombers over occupied Europe. Fifty years later, "Flightpath" follows his extraordinary effort to retrieve a downed Halifax from the depths of a Norwegian lake.
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