Product Description

Inside the high-tech, high-stakes competition to create America’s newest fighter plane. NOVA goes behind the doors of the world’s two largest aerospace companies to record classified meetings, climbs into cockpits to fly the most revolutionary planes, and examines the high-stakes battle waged between Boeing and Lockheed Martin to build the most capable and versatile fighter ever created—the Joint Strike Fighter. You’re on the front line as the two aerospace giants fight for a contract that will make aviation history and help protect America, and that could provide the winner total domination of the U.S. defense fighter industry. Marking the first time filmmakers have been allowed inside a major weapons competition, NOVA enters Boeing’s Phantom Works and Lockheed’s legendary Skunk Works, and travels to the flight test centers at Edwards Air Force Base and Patuxnet Naval Air Station to document key moments of the competition. Join military brass, aviation engineers, and test pilots as they race to create a single aircraft that meets three criteria—that the winning plane be stealthy, affordable, and adaptable to the widely varying needs of the Air Force, Navy, and Marines. Filmed over four years, Battle of the X-Planes reveals the breakthrough designs, heartbreaking setbacks, adrenaline-fueled test flights, and one final nail-biting decision—the winner of the most lucrative contract in military history-–the Joint Strike Fighter.

Special DVD features include: bonus video footage of Lockheed fighters; a visit to a "graveyard" for old military planes; materials and activities for educators; outfitting a fighter pilot activity; designing a stealth plane; link to the Battle of the X-Planes companion Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.

On one DVD9 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: 4X3 full frame.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47721 in DVD
• Brand: Nova
• Released on: 2003-08-05
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 120 minutes

Customer Reviews

State-of -the-Art Fighter competition
No it wasn't the Discovery Channel, Discovery Wings or even the History Channel that scooped this incredible story. NOVA did it with unpresedented access to the twin giants of aircraft manufacturing Boeing and Lockheed. I have waited since 1999 to see an indepth film about the State-of-the-Art military fighter aircraft buisness. NOVA takes the viewer deep inside the ultra top-secret Lockheed Skunk Works and the Boeing Phantom Works design and manufacturing centers. We have a ring-side seat at every step of the developmental process of the Joint Strike Fighter. The only story that is missing in this otherwise supurb DVD, is the extreamly intense intersevice and political battle BEHIND the scenes that is as fascinating and deadly as any air battle in the skies. Not ALL of the military services even wanted the JSF. It was practically crammed down the throats of the Navy for example because they did not want a single engined fighter. The Air Force greatly resented the entire concept of a multiple user "Joint" anything. The Marines were thrilled that they were not being given another hand-me-down aircraft. So in the end it all came down to dollars, common sense, and an extraordinary "one size fits all" fighter. The JSF will be the ultimate and perhaps last manned fighter plane built by the USA, the next generation of fighters will be UNMANNED Air Combat Vehicles or UCAVS.........but that's another story.

Very Interesting
I've seen this three times and never cease to be amazed at the technology involved in the world of fighter planes. Although I do wonder how long it will really last as a fighter plane as it seems we are moving into the world of UCAV's (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles). Do we really need pilots to be in the line of fire? Either way it was awe inspiring seeing the Boeing proto-type hovering a couple hundred feet above the ground in Maryland and doing a full 360 degree turn in midair. Taking off vertically, landing vertically, manuvering faster than any other fighter/bomber ever built, stealth, super-sonic flight speeds... Both Lockheed and Boeing run the gammut and turn out excellent aircraft. It's a very interesting two hours watching this film. You won't be disappointed

Amazing!
I watched this when it originally aired on PBS, and was amazed at how quickly the story pulled me in. I'm probably a 4 out of 10 on the techno-geek scale only because I read and enjoy Tom Clancy and Dale Brown novels, but I found the story engaging and compelling. I would recommend it anyone, techno-geek or not, simply because the competition between the two manufacturers, and the evolution of the two planes was so interesting. I plan on purchasing this so I can watch it over again.