For educational purposes<br /><br />From the launching and retrieving of planes by dirigibles in the early 1900s to piggy-backing and today's space shuttle.<br /><br />Piggybacking one plane on another is not an impossible ambition, as shown by the success of the Space Shuttle. <br /><br />However this episode documents that the pursuit of this ambition has been long and challenging.<br />Nicknamed for their ability to hitch a ride, parasites represent enormous technological breakthroughs. <br /><br />Used for everything from faster mail service to extra escorts, parasites have evolved. <br />Being able to ride on a mother craft extended these planes' potential.<br /><br />In the beginning, Curtis fighters hid inside dirigibles. Later, parasite aircraft launched out of giant bombers to protect the plane. <br /><br />Now, the space shuttle itself counts as a parasite.<br />Strange Planes offers a detailed history of these life-saving inventions.
