Lights, camera, action!

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- The Discovery Military Channel filmed an episode here March 11. The episode, which is part of the series "Showdown: Air Combat," will focus on the F-22 and its capabilities. Maj. Paul Moga, F-22 demonstration team pilot, will host the series, which is scheduled to premiere in June and will highlight different military aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Cecil C. McCloud)

Lights, camera, action!

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- Maj. Paul Moga, F-22 demonstration pilot, hosts an episode from the series “Showdown: Air Combat,” a Discovery Military Channel production filmed here March 11. While Major Moga will host the entire series, which highlights a number of military aircraft, the Langley episode will highlight the F-22 and its capabilities. The series is scheduled to premiere in June. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Cecil C. McCloud)

Military Channel films at Langley for upcoming episode

Published March 17, 2008
By David Hopper
Air Combat Command Public Affairs

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- The Military channel traveled here Mar. 11 and 12 to record an episode for a new show called Showdown: Air Combat.

The episode being recorded here highlights the capabilities and possible uses of the F-22 Raptor.

A company called Traveling Light is creating the 10-segment TV Show for the Military Channel. The TV show is hosted by Langley's own Maj. Paul "Max" Moga an operational F-22 instructor pilot and the Air Combat Command's F-22 Single-Ship Demonstration Team Pilot assigned to the 1st Operations Group.

Showdown: Air Combat "uses restored aircraft to fly some of the most famous air combat battles in history," said Brian J. Kelly, vice president of production for the Military Channel, "not just what happened but how it happened and what it felt like to be there."

In addition, Military Channel officials said they expect this show to be sort of a novelty.

"We incorporate elements that have never been used before in an aerial documentary," said Conal M. O'Herlihy, line producer, Showdown: Air Combat. "For the first time, we have an active duty Air Force fighter pilot who is going to be in the chase plane following the planes and calling the action."

A video crew from Traveling Light Media witnessed the capabilities of the F-22 while they were here, courtesy of the ACC F-22 Demo team. The show is scheduled to premiere on the Military Channel in June. Showdown is unlike other shows because they use actual aircraft to re-enact famous aerial dogfights.

The Showdown series will showcase the P-38, P-47, P-51, the only flying Japanese Zero in the world with original parts and the ultra-modern F-22, said Adam J. Friedman, the director and CEO of Traveling Light Media.

The series will not only look at the history or story of what happened. The series actually takes the dogfight and looks at the men who flew them, the men who designed the aircraft and a close look at the aircraft itself, said O'Herlihy. "We will look at aircraft weapons, communications, and flaws. Then we will go in the air with the actual planes and re-enact the dogfight," he said.

"I think this [TV show] will give the American public the chance to see their Air Force up close," said Lt. Col Stephen D. Clutter, director Air Force entertainment office in Los Angeles. "I think the people at Langley are going to be proud to see their aircraft and personnel in this particular episode."