In 1903, not only did the Wright brothers ’plane soar, but a young man named William Boeing stepped out of the Yale University gates. 13 years later, using wood, canvas and wire, the first "Boeing model", the B&W, was born. Boeing has since grown into a huge company and developed countless models, including the 1957-92 passenger jet, the 707. Later, we learn about the Constellation designed by Lockheed in the early 1940s. The fuselage of the machine evokes the graceful form of a dolphin, no wonder that with its beauty it also won the title of "Queen of Heaven". The C-69 was the first model to cross non-stop America, covering the Los Angeles-Washington DC distance in record time of 7 hours and 3 minutes. Connies were used for both military and civilian purposes until the early 1960s. This and many more stories are recounted here in Great Planes.

The Great Planes looks at some of the most important aircraft collections in the world – from the Shuttleworth Collection and its antique aeroplanes to the USAF Museum in Dayton Ohio and the mighty XB 70 Valkyrie. More than thirty aircraft types are featured; from great piston engined bombers like the Wellington and Halifax to obscure research aircraft like the Bristol 188, the North American X-15 and the Fairey Delta II. Also a look inside the hangar at Paine Field Seattle and the replica Messerschmitt 262s now flying in both the USA and Germany, filmed against the snow capped mountains of Washington State

Considered the biggest single engine fighter of its day, it became known as the one-man Air Force. When it was first produced, the F-105 was the biggest single-engine, single-seat fighter aircraft ever built.

Aviation history series which aired on the Discovery Channel family of networks. Originally called Great Planes.