A world traveler, the dapper Julian founded Black Eagle Airline in 1946 to ferry goods between North and South America.

History of Flight

Oldies and Oddities: The Disney War Plan

By Stephen Joiner

Pilots of the Sopwith Camel complained that the engine, guns, fuel tank, and pilot were clustered too close. They didn

Mach 1: Assaulting the Barrier

In 1947, no airplane had ever gone faster than the speed of sound.
By Stephan Wilkinson

A technician employs the proverbial 10-foot pole to extract a contaminated filter from a Republic F-84. With samplers mounted, there was no room for wingtip fuel tanks.

In The Museum: A Helicopter in Every Garage

By Rebecca Maksel

The Boeing X-48C blended wing-body, the last model tested in the full-scale tunnel, is shown on August 31, 2009. After its last day, September 4, engineers began dismantling the model, as NASA made plans to move forward with the demolition of the tunnel beginning in early 2010.

Oldies and Oddities: Blown Away

By Ken Scott

With highly trained engineers coming to the United States from abroad, chances are good that we’ll see more naturalized citizens in line for the Wright Trophy.

Moments and Milestones: The American Way

By George C. Larson, member, NAA

U.S. Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager circa 1947.

Above and Beyond: Recovery: Bataan

By Ralph Wetterhahn

Vi Cowden during her service with the WASPs in the 1940s.

Moments and Milestones: Delivery Man

By George C. Larson, member, NAA

Moments and Milestones: Unknown Unknowns

By The Editors

In the May 25, 1909 issue of Britain’s The Aero, a caption referred to “The ailerons or small planes” (arrows) on Samuel Cody’s British Army Aeroplane.

Oldies and Oddities: Where Do Ailerons Come From?

By Tom Crouch

The Road to the Future… Is Paved With Good Inventions

We bring you 10 great ideas that made flying safer, easier, or just a whole lot more fun.
By The Editors

The Boeing 307 Stratoliner was the first airliner able to soar above the storms, thanks to a new cabin pressurization system.

In The Museum: Flight at the Museum

By Rebecca Maksel

Eric Brown at the Berkshire Aviation Museum. (Homepage photo: His 1969 Royal Navy Portrait)

A&S Interview: Captain Eric Brown

Holder of the Guinness World Record for most types of aircraft flown
By Rebecca Maksel

John Glenn’s transcontinental F8U flight led to his selection as an astronaut.

Above and Beyond: Too Much, Too Soon

By General Robert L. Cardenas, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) As told to James P. Busha

A paper fan shows an aerialist ascending.

In The Museum: Fashion Lighter Than Air

By Tom D. Crouch

The Billy Mitchell Court-Martial

Courtroom sketches from aviation's Trial of the Century.
By Rebecca Maksel

Reader Scrapbook

Snapshot

Air & Space Videos

	Space Station Fly-Around Take a narrated tour of the station with the same animation astronauts use in training.
	Lunar Run How a plasma-powered rocket would shoot for the moon.
	The First Lunar Landing One of history's great voyages, captured on 16mm film.
	WW I Pilot Training Rare footage of Army pilots learning to fly Jennies in 1917.
	Armstrong’s Close Call A fiery bailout while training to land on the moon.
	Mercury Astronauts Meet the Press, 1959 ...and answer the question: "What was your least favorite test?"
	Marines Test the Joint Strike Fighter A Marine takes the new F-35 for a spin.
	On the Prowl Climb into the cockpit for a flight in an EA-6B Prowler.
	Dodging Missiles F-105 pilots recall the dangers of flying over North Vietnam.
	F-105 Walkaround Get a close look at the National Air and Space Museum’s Thunderchief.
	PTQ: Put Together Quickly Watch Boeing technicians repair an airliner—in two minutes.
	Operation Tumbler-Snapper Atomic bombs versus airplanes in the Nevada desert.

In the Magazine

In his portrait of the storied racer Rare Bear and its crew, photographer Tyson Rininger captures the sense of anticipation that surrounds air races. “Something’s coming,” this quiet night scene seems to suggest. “Tomorrow, it’s win or lose.”

Air & Space Interview

A&S Interview:
Burt Rutan

A wide-ranging talk with the magician of Mojave

New Worlds

Confidence Booster

This little known Apollo artifact caused astronauts to rest a little easier.

View full archiveRecent Issues

About Us

Air & Space/Smithsonian magazine has been delighting aerospace enthusiasts with the best writing about their favorite subject since April 1986. As an adjunct of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, Air & Space matches the grand scope of the Museum, encompassing every era of aviation and space exploration. With stories that range from the Wright Brothers to the design of NASA's next lunar lander, Air & Space emphasizes the human stories as well as the technology of aviation and spaceflight.

The truth behind the tall tales of Hubert Fauntleroy Julian. By David Shaftel

Burt Rutan remembers the birth of the VariEze and names his favorite aircraft. By Linda Shiner

By Stephen Joiner

Computer analysis of World War I aircraft shows precisely why some were deadly and others, death traps. By Peter Garrison

The grandson of Amelia Earhart's photographer will carry her scarf higher than she ever did—into orbit. By Jill Michaels

In 1947, no airplane had ever gone faster than the speed of sound. By Stephan Wilkinson

Most pilots would head away from a thermonuclear explosion. By Mark Wolverton

By Rebecca Maksel

As NASA prepares to shut down a historic wind tunnel in Virginia, some hope for a stay of execution. By Michael Klesius

An embattled Florida field had more than history on its side. By Carl Posey

By J.R. Dailey

Lockheed P-38 Lightnings brought many a pilot home. This pilot would like to return the favor. By David F. Toomey

By Ken Scott

By George C. Larson, member, NAA

A peek into the logbooks of history’s notable pilots. By Tom LeCompte

The winning-est Bearcat in air racing steps up once more to the starting gate. By Preston Lerner

A virtual race to mark the 100th anniversary of the world’s first air meet By Tony Reichhardt

It didn't all happen at Kitty Hawk. By Roger A. Mola

Not only was it the fastest. It may have been the best flight research program ever. By Linda Shiner

By Ralph Wetterhahn

During World War II, WASPs proved that an airplane couldn’t tell the difference between a male and female pilot. By Jonna Dootlittle Hoppes

Do aviators make better leaders? By Barrett Tillman

A look inside the Smithsonian's Stratoliner.

By George C. Larson, member, NAA

By The Editors

By Tom Crouch

By J.R. Dailey

A collection of six inventions that prompt a single question: What the…? By The Editors

We bring you 10 great ideas that made flying safer, easier, or just a whole lot more fun. By The Editors

It took a maze of valves and venturis—and a trio of tycoons—to whisk passengers into the stratosphere. By Nick D'Alto

An illustrated history of balloons and airships. By Tom D. Crouch

By Rebecca Maksel

Holder of the Guinness World Record for most types of aircraft flown By Rebecca Maksel

By George C. Larson, member, NAA

By General Robert L. Cardenas, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) As told to James P. Busha

By Tom D. Crouch

By J.R. Dailey

A B-47 pilot remembers when an airplane—and Curtis LeMay—stiffened the spine of the Strategic Air Command By Walter J. Boyne

Diagnosis: Collective Panic Attack. Cause: Count von Zeppelin. By Dan Vergano

Courtroom sketches from aviation's Trial of the Century. By Rebecca Maksel

Reader Scrapbook

Snapshot

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In the Magazine

Air & Space Interview

New Worlds

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The truth behind the tall tales of Hubert Fauntleroy Julian.
By David Shaftel

Burt Rutan remembers the birth of the VariEze and names his favorite aircraft.
By Linda Shiner

Computer analysis of World War I aircraft shows precisely why some were deadly and others, death traps.
By Peter Garrison

The grandson of Amelia Earhart's photographer will carry her scarf higher than she ever did—into orbit.
By Jill Michaels

In 1947, no airplane had ever gone faster than the speed of sound.
By Stephan Wilkinson

Most pilots would head away from a thermonuclear explosion.
By Mark Wolverton

As NASA prepares to shut down a historic wind tunnel in Virginia, some hope for a stay of execution.
By Michael Klesius

An embattled Florida field had more than history on its side.
By Carl Posey

Lockheed P-38 Lightnings brought many a pilot home. This pilot would like to return the favor.
By David F. Toomey

A peek into the logbooks of history’s notable pilots.
By Tom LeCompte

The winning-est Bearcat in air racing steps up once more to the starting gate.
By Preston Lerner

A virtual race to mark the 100th anniversary of the world’s first air meet
By Tony Reichhardt

It didn't all happen at Kitty Hawk.
By Roger A. Mola

Not only was it the fastest. It may have been the best flight research program ever.
By Linda Shiner

During World War II, WASPs proved that an airplane couldn’t tell the difference between a male and female pilot.
By Jonna Dootlittle Hoppes

Do aviators make better leaders?
By Barrett Tillman

A collection of six inventions that prompt a single question: What the…?
By The Editors

We bring you 10 great ideas that made flying safer, easier, or just a whole lot more fun.
By The Editors

It took a maze of valves and venturis—and a trio of tycoons—to whisk passengers into the stratosphere.
By Nick D'Alto

An illustrated history of balloons and airships.
By Tom D. Crouch

Holder of the Guinness World Record for most types of aircraft flown
By Rebecca Maksel

A B-47 pilot remembers when an airplane—and Curtis LeMay—stiffened the spine of the Strategic Air Command
By Walter J. Boyne

Diagnosis: Collective Panic Attack. Cause: Count von Zeppelin.
By Dan Vergano

Courtroom sketches from aviation's Trial of the Century.
By Rebecca Maksel