Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Wgbh Boston
• VHS Release Date: March 28, 2000
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 6304463227
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #620,658 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

For half a century we feared them. Now, for the first time, meet the rugged pilots of the Russian Air Force—and take a close-up look at the heart-stopping maneuvers that still fill Western flyers with awe.

Check out the "cobra": coiling up and back like a snake, a jet fighter evades the chasing enemy and becomes the pursuer. See vintage footage of the notorious taran, when wartime pilots would ram their foes in mid-air. Join aviation author Jeff Ethell as he tests out the powerful Su-27—and gets goaded into pulling a hair-raising stunt. The take a $15,000 ride aboard a bomber jet with a US thrill seeker (one measure of Russia's desperate economy), complete with stomach-turning g-forces. "I call it the zoom-boom-throw-up-in-your-helmet ride," a veteran pilot smirks.

Find out why, despite baffling differences in approach, Western aces see these fearless flyers as a formidable force—honing their dogfight tactics over the technology we so depend on. "We build our planes like fine watchers," one American expert notes. "And they build their like tanks."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Thriil,Horror of Soviet's Pilot's skillful,weii trained Flight skills, still oriented from"Dogfighting" !, May 30, 2009

By 

Moon Eui Sik (Seoul, South Korea) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nova: Top Gun Over Moscow [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Thrill and Horror of Soviet Pilot's skillful,well trained
Flight Techniques, still oriented with "Dogfighting".

From 1992, Boris Yelstinbecame 1st President of Russia Federation,Economic conditions including
Russian Air Force became very hard conditions and they began to seek Western wealthy, thrill-seekers.
Using 2-seat modern Fighters,they can experiences of Soviet Veteran Pilot's skillful flights
including"Cobra",coiling up and back like snake,a jet fighter evades the chasing enemy become the
persuer. JOIND Aviation author Jeff Ethellrode the powerful Su-27,goaded into pulling a hair-raising stunt,
dangerous low level fliht,and stomach-turnibg higher G-Forces.One American expert noted"We build
our planes like fine watch but they build like their Tanks" ! yes, there were many pebbles and
flying big birds,they can use without difficulties with making strong Wheels-structures compare
with prepareation of cnean US Airfields !
I,also had good emotional status,their recreation with Bodka,Steel-rod piercing Barbecue and singing
with the Guitar. They also visit to tomb of friend with his wife sheared Bodka again dripping to
their friend where the toobs near Air Field !
'