Military Channel's World Premiere Series Showdown: Air Combat Recreates Historic Dogfights Using Restored Fighters from Every Era of Aerial Warfare

Military Channel's World Premiere Series Showdown: Air Combat Recreates Historic Dogfights Using Restored Fighters from Every Era of Aerial Warfare

- Hosted by U.S. Air Force Major Paul 'Max' Moga, F-22A Raptor Demonstration Pilot from the Air Combat Command's 1st Fighter Wing -

SILVER SPRING, Md., May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Military Channel takes viewers on an aerial journey in SHOWDOWN: AIR COMBAT, which features recreations of history's most compelling dogfights by pitting the restored aircraft from every era of aerial warfare against each other in the air. U.S. Air Force Major Paul "Max" Moga of the Air Combat Command's 1st Fighter Wing hosts the series and offers amazing insight into each aircraft's strengths and weaknesses, its place in the evolutionary timeline of aircraft design innovation and the ground-breaking dogfighting tactics employed in each confrontation. With ten world premiere episodes, SHOWDOWN: AIR COMBAT launches on the Military Channel starting Sunday, June 15 from 10-11 PM ET. In addition, the first episode will be sneak previewed starting Friday, June 6 on Military Channel's Video-On-Demand services.

From a chase plane, Major Moga provides play-by-play commentary of the fast-paced action as viewers fly alongside these historic warbirds while they recreate dogfights that defined the annals of air combat. Each episode provides a rare opportunity to see a dramatic duel between some of history's most treasured aircraft like a World War II-era P-38 Lightning pitted against the only all-original Mitsubishi Zero still flying today. Major Moga not only introduces viewers to the historical aircraft and the innovative technology each plane employed, but to the extraordinary pilots who flew these planes on their original missions and the context of these missions within the greater conflict of each war. From the legendary Red Baron's Fokker Dr-1 triplane to the cutting-edge swept-wing Russian's MiG-15 jet fighter and from the innovative World War 1 French SPAD biplane to the modern crown jewel of fighter planes, the U.S.'s F-22A Raptor - SHOWDOWN: AIR COMBAT provides viewers the opportunity to see these actual planes take to the skies. In addition to restored aircraft and computer animation, precise quarter-scale radio-controlled replicas were used to recreate the World War 1 dogfights.

Major Moga is currently an instructor pilot and Air Combat Command's F-22A demonstration pilot based at Langley Air Force Base, Va. He has served operationally as an instructor pilot and flight commander and has logged more than 250 combat flying hours including supporting Operation Allied Force over the skies of the former Yugoslavia. Subsequently, Major Moga was one of fifteen pilots accepted into the initial F-22A instructor pilot cadre of the 43rd Fighter Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. In 2006, he was selected to be Air Combat Command's first F-22A demonstration pilot and currently displays the unique maneuvers only this U.S. fighter plane can perform at air shows and events across the globe.

SHOWDOWN: AIR COMBAT is produced for Military Channel by Traveling Light Media. Adam Friedman is executive producer and director; Lee Fulkerson is executive producer and series writer. For the Military Channel, Brian Kelly is the executive producer and Clark Bunting is the executive-in-charge of production.

About Military Channel

The Military Channel brings viewers compelling, real-world stories of heroism, military strategy, and significant turning points in history. The network takes viewers "behind the lines" to hear the personal stories of servicemen and women and offers in-depth explorations of military training, aviation technology and cutting-edge weaponry. As the only cable network devoted to military subjects, it also provides unique access to this world, allowing viewers to experience and understand the full spectrum of human drama, courage, and patriotism intrinsic to the armed forces, as well as, the long-held traditions of the military. For more information, please visit www.military.discovery.com.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications is the number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery's 100-plus worldwide networks are led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, The Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, Military Channel and HD Theater, with digital media properties including HowStuffWorks.com. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Co. (NASDAQ:DISCA)(NASDAQ:DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

** Color Artwork, Episode Screeners and Additional Press Materials Are Available at www.press.discovery.com **

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Source: Discovery Communications

CONTACT: David Schaefer, +1-240-662-2954, David_Schaefer@discovery.com,
or Sheriece Matias, +1-240-662-2377, Sheriece_Matias@discovery.com, both of
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Web site:

http://www.military.discovery.com/
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