Quest For Vertical Take-Off

Throughout the ’50s and ’60s, the world’s super powers had a common fear: the vulnerability of their runways to preemptive attack and destruction. The answer? Do away with the need for runways altogether.

In this remarkable program, HISTORY™ examines the extraordinary Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft (VTOLs) developed by militaries as a way to mitigate the consequences of a potential airbase attack. First, find out how VTOL technology was pioneered by Germany during WWII, and how the onset of the Cold War brought about a rebirth of the Luftwaffe and some of its most ingenious designers. Next, get an insight into American VTOL efforts, including the Pogo, a propeller-driven plane that flipped on its belly once airborne, and the highly advanced Ryan X-13 Vertijet. Finally, uncover advanced British VTOL projects that have remained hidden from view for 40 years, and learn how the Soviets used their invasion of Afghanistan during the ’80s to test out some of their latest VTOL technology.

From WWII to the twenty-first-century wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, QUEST FOR VERTICAL TAKE-OFF offers a unique perspective on the astounding technology behind VTOL aircraft.