Footage of the 6-engined XB-70 Valkyrie, a 1960s coldwar supersonic strategic nuclear bomber. Features footage of it's maiden flight, wheel lockup and flameout, and it's infamous collision with an F-104 in 1966.
The Abrams is the US's main battle tank, and arguably the best of it's type in the world. With its sophisticated electronics and 120mm smoothbore main gun, it is capable of a 95% hit rate at distances of over 4km. It is powered by a 1500hp gas turbine, it is protected by state-of-the-art armour which can incorporate depleted uranium. Music: H-BlockX - The Power
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth heavy bomber. The B-2's composite materials, special coatings and flying-wing design all contribute to its "stealthiness." One of the most expensive planes ever built: estimates for the costs per plane range from 1.1 to 2.2 billion USD. Music: Massive Attack - 'Future Proof'.
The Tupolev Tu-144 Charger was a supersonic transport aircraft AKA Koncordski, on 15/07/69 it became the first commercial transport to exceed Mach 2, and the fastest commercial airliner ever. Includes footage of the the Paris Air Show 03/06/73 when the aircraft crashed killing all six crew.
09/08/1945 Codename "Fat-Man", the 2nd and last nuclear weapon to be used in combat. The weapon at 11:02 local time 500 meters above the city with a yield equivalent to 21,000 tons of TNT.
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine supersonic interceptor aircraft that served with the USAF from 1958 until 1967, and the first combat aircraft capable of sustained speeds above Mach 2. A highly inovative plane designed by Kelly Johnson to meet demands generated by the Korean war, it featured many design firsts.
Music: Massive Attack - Teardrop
An apocolyptic music video using stock footage of ICBM launches, a BBC drama called "Threads" and two Russian Nuclear weapon tests, Joe-4 and Joe-9. Sound track is Voices by Disturbed.
Formed in 1946 under the directive of Admiral Chester Nimitz, the Blue Angels are the US Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron. In the course of their history they have used the F6F Hellcat, F8F Bearcat, F9F Panther(first jet), F9F-8 Cougar, F11 Tiger, F-4 Phantom, A-4 Skyhawk and shown here the F/A-18. Hornet. Music: FC Kahuna - 'Hayling'.
The Lightning was an all-British Mach 2 capable supersonic Cold War fighter/interceptor. RAF pilots described it as "being saddled to a skyrocket". Designed as an air superiority fighter, it's role was to defend mainland Britain against bomber attacks. The Lightning served RAF and the Royal Saudi Air Force between 1957 and 1988.
Music: Ian Brown - "Northern Lights".
14/10/1947, Captain Charles "Chuck" Yeager becomes the first person to fly faster than sound. Yeager breaks the sound barrier in the Bell X-1 "Glamorous Glennis", named after his wife. He was able to reach 670-mph or Mach 1.015 at Muroc Dry Lake, California.
Music: Jean Michel Jarre - 'Oxygene Part II'
The A-10 was designed for high-survivability with a titanium cover surrounding both the cockpit, ammunition and fuel tank. Placement of the engines decreases the infrared signature lowering it's vulnerablity to heatseeking missiles and ground fire.
Music: Supergrass - "Tales of Endurance".
The F-111 is a supersonic multipurpose tactical fighter bomber capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear weapons . The two crew members sit side-by-side in a pressurized cockpit module that serves as an emergency escape vehicle and as a survival shelter on land or water.
