The Aviators TV series is back with segments on warbirds, aerobatics, sailplanes, the Goodyear Blimp, and many others. The adventure docuseries returned to PBS on Sept. 16 — viewers should check local listings for specific airtimes.
As part of the fourth season launch, fans are able to immediately download season four episodes from the Apple iTunes store, according to the producers.
Warbirds are back by popular demand including segments on the SR-71 Blackbird and World War II fighter the F-4U Corsair. The crew also switches things up with segments on military choppers, bringing viewers aboard a two-bladed, single engine Cobra, an attack helicopter formerly used by the United States Army, in addition to the famous UH-1 Huey.
Bringing an entirely new dimension to the adventure, the program breaks free from traditional airplanes, even engines, as it takes on sailplanes and the current, historically relevant transformation of the Goodyear Blimp (left).
The pilot episode of the season, which will be made available for free on iTunes, shows off the FLS Microjet, and the death-defying stunts of aerobatic pilot Sean D. Tucker (pictured at top).
“We’re excited to move from base to base this year, exploring different geographies in a quest for the next amazing segment,” says show creator and executive producer Anthony Nalli.
The cast and crew made over a dozen stops to airfields across North America in this season alone, and also checked out Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida to learn what’s new in the world of aviation education.
Viewers can also expect changes in the cast for this year. Anthony Nalli and Kurtis Arnold return as veteran hosts for the season while adding a few new, yet familiar, faces for the season including airline pilot Joe Ellis and air show announcer Rob Reider — who climbs aboard to deliver the series’ ‘Tip of the Week.’
The crew has already begun filming for season five. One segment will feature the Breitling Jet Man, Yves Rossy.
The Aviators boasts viewership in 100 countries, and has aired on 85% of PBS affiliates. Since the series first became available to iTunes in 2011, it trended as one of the top downloaded shows in the first week, according to officials.
Details behind each of the 13 episodes of season four, as well as episodes in previous seasons, can be found at TheAviators.TV
I’ve seen few episodes and they were very boring. I love airplanes and aviation but if this show is so boring to me then it must be unbearable to anyone not deeply interested in aviation. Just look at top gear UK for example. They talk about cars and it is fun to watch. It is even addictive. Aviators could learn a bit and make their program more interesting. More graphics, more comparisons when talking about specs and faster pace would help. Now it is like antiques roadshow about airplanes.
Can anyone tell me when this show will broadcast on the PBS station in the Greater Hartford Area, I called them, and they had no clue what I was talking about?
You can check air times in your local area here: http://www.tracmedia.com/LOL/TheAviators/
Stations across the country schedule independently. The Aviators has aired on more than 85% of the PBS stations but scheduling has and undoubtedly will continue to be a bother for our 10 million weekly US viewers. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to catch the show if local airings don’t turn out to be the best way for you – iTunes, Hulu, Amazon, and on our website. We hope you can find a way to enjoy the show one way or another!
I’ve never seen any listing of any Aviators episode on PBS at my end; I doubt that the station actually airs the show.