Flightpath

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.

Since WWII, military aircraft like the Labrador have perfected dangerous rescues at sea. Canada's Search and Rescue (SAR) operation is perhaps the world's best peacetime commando force. The "Flightpath" crew joins a crack unit as it competes against five other teams in high-risk, life-saving techniques, living up to their motto "seek and save."

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.

Many people dream of flying with the birds, but Bill Lishman is the first to make this dream a reality. An environmentalist and inventor, Lishman is a visionary ultralight pilot who modified his plane to guide young Canadian geese on a 400-mile migratory journey. Watch young goslings as they identify his plane as their mother and gradually learn to fly alongside the aircraft.

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 evolution of the ultralight has created a booming industry in do-it-yourself kits priced at the cost of a car. For many people, the affordability of these planes offers a chance to realize their dreams of flying; paraplegic Carl Hiebert is one of these people. An aerial photographer, Hiebert can now soar above the countryside at will.

Want to fly an MiG? Engage in a dogfight? We go to Moscow where, in this post-Cold War age, anyone can rent a supersonic jet by the hour. But for amateur and professional pilots alike, there remains a persistent enemy: the G-force that causes pilot blackout. To combat its deadly effects, British, US and Canadian pilots have been testing for the perfect pilot G-suit since WWII.

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.

Voisey's Bay, Labrador, is a 21st-century Klondike. Using powerful Bell 212 helicopters to navigate an otherwise inaccessible landscape, prospectors discover $10 billion motherlode of nickel and copper. "Flightpath" provides the first full coverage of a new adventure on the northern frontier.