The essential episodes of Airwolf

Watch these 15 in order and you've got Airwolf — each pick states its reason.

1. 01

   S01E01 · Pilot · January 22, 1984 · 1h

   Shadow of the Hawke: Part 16.6

   While demonstrating the capabilities of the new prototype supercopter codenamed 'Airwolf', Dr. Charles Moffet goes rogue, steals the chopper and kills almost all of the observers. At least one man -- Michael Coldsmith Briggs III survives. Briggs, codenamed 'Archangel' is the head of a covert organization called 'The Firm' and Archangel calls upon the one man in the world he knows that can retrieve the copter. The problem is Stringfellow Hawke is not only a loner, but a recluse as well. The amount of money the Firm is willing to pay for Airwolf's recovery is irrelevant. Hawke wants just one thing - the safe return of his brother, Saint John, who was captured during the Vietnam war and is evidently a POW.

2. 02

   S01E04 · Season 1 peak · February 4, 1984 · 1h

   Bite of the Jackal7.8

   An ambitious executive at the Firm makes a subversive play for Archangel's job. A bomb is planted aboard a vintage helicopter owned by Dominic Santini and he's forced to crash land. When Hawke and Archangel go hunting for Dom, Airwolf is ambushed and shot down. The two must convince a group of locals to help them repair their damaged tail rotor. Complicating matters on Dom's end, he must contend with a stowaway aboard his chopper -- a young girl searching for her dad.

3. 03

   S01E06 · Top rated · February 18, 1984 · 1h

   One Way Express7.5

   A movie producer hires Santini Air for a dangerous stunt involving the landing of a helicopter onto the roof of a moving semi. Dom and String nearly come to blows, however, when String tries to convince Dom that his reaction time might not be up to snuff for this particular action sequence. Things get even more dicey when it appears that the production might just be an elaborate cover for a high-stakes gold heist.

4. 04

   S01E08 · Top rated · March 10, 1984 · 1h

   Fight Like a Dove7.3

   An Israeli war crimes hunter is killed by a suspected Nazi named Hans Daubert in France. His daughter vows revenge and seeks the help of String and Dom, along with Airwolf, to bring him to justice. Complicating matters is Archangel's involvement with Daubert who is a known arms dealer selling to the powers that he chooses to in order to influence political outcomes in the world -- and Archangel is his supplier!

5. 05

   S01E09 · Top rated · March 24, 1984 · 1h

   Mad Over Miami7.5

   Santini makes an unauthorized flight to Cuba in order to rescue two political prisoners who are being ransomed for $2 million. However, while there, the exchange site is attacked and the ransom money is stolen. While flying back to the mainland, Santini is forced to crash land back on Cuba and Hawke must brave a hurricane in Airwolf to rescue his friend.

6. 06

   S01E10 · Top rated · March 31, 1984 · 1h

   And They are Us7.5

   North and South Limbawe are in conflict over oil and a despotic General plans to overthrow his own government in South Limbawe and attacks his neighbors to the North. String and Dom are sent by Archangel to aid North Limbawe and it's leader, Seku Logana, but Logana has his own prejudices about receiving aid for his cause.

7. 07

   S01E11 · Top rated · April 7, 1984 · 1h

   Mind of the Machine7.8

   Dr. Robert Winchester is a brilliant researcher and a former test pilot who helped design Airwolf. Now, he's asking for Hawke's help in test flying a simulator that he's designed to enable the Firm to train future test pilots to fly Airwolf. Reluctantly, Hawke agrees, but determines that the simulator's "feel" is a little off.

8. 08

   S01E12 · Top rated · April 14, 1984 · 1h

   To Snare a Wolf7.5

   Archangel warns String about a zealous government bureaucrat named D.G. Bogard who will stop at nothing until he finds Airwolf. Dom and Hawke take time out from shooting a military training film to hide Airwolf in a different location before it can be discovered, but Bogard catches on to their ruse and tracks Hawke back to the new hideaway. To complicate things, an eager pilot tails Dom and Hawke in an effort to convince Santini that she deserves a job working for his company.

9. 09

   S02E03 · Top rated · October 6, 1984 · 1h

   Moffett's Ghost7.5

   The Firm asks String to covertly shuttle a renowned researcher and diplomat, Dr. Roger Burton, to Russia for a secret meeting since Airwolf can get past the Russian defenses without being detected. Unfortunately, before Hawke can go back and recover Dr. Burton, a virus implanted by Airwolf's creator, the late Dr. Moffett, rears its ugly head and threatens not only the destruction of the supercopter but the elimination of the Firm as well unless a computer programmer String knows can undo the damage the evil Dr. Moffett concocted.

10. 10

    S02E04 · Season 2 peak · October 13, 1984 · 1h

    The Truth About Holly7.8

    String and Dom rescue Dom's niece from her abusive boyfriend and return her to the U.S. Unfortunately, the boyfriend hasn't given up on her yet and sends his goons in search of her. Caitlin O'Shaughnessy re-enters the picture, asking Dom for a job at his hangar. Meanwhile, while trying to assimilate to life in the U.S., Holly begins hanging out on a movie set with String and Dom.

11. 11

    S02E05 · Top rated · October 20, 1984 · 1h

    The Hunted7.5

    A rich corporate industrialist, Carter Anderson III, hires Santini and Hawke to ensure his safe transportation needs when it becomes evident that he might be targeted for a hit. Anderson is aware of the existence of Airwolf and Hawke agrees to use the supercopter to help protect Anderson if necessary. Caitlin agrees to fly one of the helicopters for the mission, but there's a twist that she's unaware of; her new boyfriend just might be in on the assassination plan.

12. 12

    S02E06 · Top rated · October 27, 1984 · 1h

    Sins of the Past7.5

    Dom and String return to Dom's birthplace when Dom learns that his daughter has died of a drug overdose. After attending the funeral, they return to California where Dom is arrested on suspicion of murdering his ex-wife. String returns to the island to investigate the murder and learns that unsavory elements have begun taking over the seaside community where a casino is being developed. String finds himself pondering a burning question...does the casino's developer have something to do with the deaths of Dom's wife as well as his daughter?

13. 13

    S02E07 · Top rated · November 3, 1984 · 1h

    Fallen Angel7.8

    Marella unofficially asks String and Dom to attempt a rescue mission when Archangel is captured by rival agents and his wing of the Firm is disavowed. Archangel had embarked on a rescue mission for a former lover which he later discovers is a trap to lure him to his capture and subsequent brainwashing. String and Dom must find Archangel and deprogram him before he can assassinate the Firm's top leader, Zeus.

14. 14

    S03E03 · Season 3 peak · October 12, 1985 · 1h

    And a Child Shall Lead7.0

    Leading aircraft designer, Robert Phelps, is abducted by foreign agents to the horror of his mentally challenged son, Bobby. Hawke decides to try and find Phelps, obtaining leads from Bobby, whose autism gives him the ability to draw detailed clues from memory. While in the agent's custody, Phelps has a sudden heart-attack and is rendered useless to them. Hawke has to find him for Bobby.

15. 15

    S04E24 · Series finale · August 7, 1987 · 1h

    Welcome to Paradise6.5

    John comes to the aid of an old flame whose husband was killed by drug dealers.