Dogfights

R4

ABC (2009)

Roadshow

Reviewer: Bob Estreich

This spectacular series recreates with computer graphics some of the great aerial dogfights from aviation history. Almost since the first days of military aviation, pilots have tried to shoot each other down. As the aircraft became specialised it became more necessary to stop their missions. If your preparations for a battle are being observed from the air you are at a disadvantage before the battle starts. If your assets are being bombed you would probably prefer to stop the bombers. If they are escorted by fighters you will have to develop better fighters to counter them. The documentary gives excellent comparisons between the conflicting aircraft and their capabilities, then describes the tactics needed to overcome an aircraft’s strengths or weaknesses. With this information we are then treated to a superb CGI rendering of a typical battle between these aircraft – the dogfight.

Series One is mostly dedicated to jet aircraft from the Korean War onwards through Vietnam and the Six Day War in the Middle East. There is also good coverage of World War 2 in the Pacific. Many of the pilots are still alive from these conflicts and it is fascinating to hear them speak of their experiences. They very quickly became experts at sizing up the qualities of the aircraft they were flying against, but so did their opposition. In combat after combat a dogfight became a war of tactics as much as gunnery. If you didn’t understand your opponent’s aircraft as well as your own, you would die. The pilot’s use of the correct tactics was critical to success.

Series Two rounds out the history with aircraft from World Wars 1 and 2 and includes the Falklands combat and Operation Desert Storm. It also includes a segment on night fighters and stealth technology. I would like to have seen a little more on the Luftwaffe, but at least it is covered.

The star feature of the shows is the brilliant computer graphic work. Diagrams of combat maneuverings are clear and well explained, but it is the video reconstructions of the combat that steal the show. The CGI is so detailed I was looking at the rivet detail on some closeups and checking others to see if it was live film. The Wow! factor in this series is very, very high. Watching how the aircraft desperately fight for a killing position brings home just what a life-and-death situation air combat really is. Even air-to-air missile combat, fought over distances of a kilometre or so, has its own tension.

Season One comes in four DVDs covering eight main battles and includes a full-length episode called “Dogfights – Greatest Air Battles” and a truly excellent summary “Dogfights – The Planes”.

Season Two has fifteen further segments with a slightly stronger emphasis on earlier prop-driven aircraft, which are my personal favourites.

If there is a bad point about the series it has to be the numerous obvious breaks for commercials. At each restart we get a rather obvious recap of the story so far and it becomes slightly annoying. This aside, it’s a truly great set.

A notable omission so far is the Battle of Britain, so dare we hope for a Series Three?

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This review will appear in Volume 2 No.5 (2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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