Tactical to Practical

Former Navy fighter pilot and series host Hunter Ellis examines military solutions to problems that crossed over into civilian life. Hunter explores the Army's relationship with four-wheel drive--from WWII Jeeps to the Humvee. From off-road to the dark of night, he takes a glowing green look into night vision technology, now used in law enforcement and wildlife research. And, he shows how GPS (Global Positioning System) came into its own in Desert Storm and is about to make the compass obsolete!

Hand-held sonar devices; radar; and carbon-fiber technology.

Military aircraft adapted for civilian use. Also: animals used by the military.

Born in the military, tanks, satellites and parachutes find useful and exciting applications in civilian life.

Hunter teaches us about the offroad abilities of the desert patrol vehical.

Seaplanes; Vertical Take-Off Landing Craft; origins, history and mission of military police; simulators; video games; paintball war games.

Non-lethal weapons; hypersonic sound; digital technology; portable information technology; biometric and software security; wireless communications; video teleconferencing; the wireless network; fastest craft on land and in the water.

The history and technology of submarine rescues; treasure hunter Mel Fisher's search for the Atocha; dirigibles; snow gear.