James May's 20th Century (2007)

Episode Overview

In "Take Cover," James explores how warfare sparks innovation and gets the opportunity to fly in the RAF’s cutting-edge supersonic jet, calling it "the most amazing thing I have ever done." The episode opens with a look at the early 20th-century air combat, where James pilots a biplane to understand the challenges faced by first-generation aviators trying to strike targets. He uses flour bombs but finds it much harder than anticipated. Later, James joins a group of former Paratroopers to test out "make up for men," a type of camouflage paint. Unable to spot the hidden Paras in the forest, he turns to contemporary technology for assistance. Next, he investigates "the biggest art show of the century," featuring dazzle camouflage—an intriguing military innovation that adorned warships with complex patterns to mislead German U-boats during World War I. Finally, he meets Squadron Leader Paul Godfrey and is invited to fly the Typhoon, the latest RAF