Spy Planes

In this high-octane program, espionage takes wing with some of the most advanced aircraft ever built.

During the nearly half-century-long Cold War, the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. were engaged in the dangerous battle for hearts, minds, and power. In the name of deterrence and defense they each assembled the most advanced and powerful militaries in history. Armed only with cameras, the spy planes developed by these powerful nations during this tense and uncertain period flew higher, faster, and farther than their predecessors. They had names such as the Neptune, RB-57D, U-2, RB-57F, and the SR-71 Blackbird. SPY PLANES tells the tales of these extraordinary creations, detailing the missions, introducing the pioneers who made it all possible, and highlighting the technological advances that helped propel aviation into the future.

From unforgettable encounters to canceled projects, this is the complete tale of how two superpowers executed a high-stakes, high-high-altitude battle for military superiority.