• Smithsonian
    Institution
  • Smithsonian
    Journeys
  • Smithsonian
    Store
  • Smithsonian
    Channel
  • goSmithsonian
    Visitors Guide
  • Smithsonian
    magazine

AirSpaceMag.com

  • Subscribe
  • Home
  • History of Flight
  • Flight Today
  • Military Aviation
  • Space Exploration
  • Need to Know
  • How Things Work
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Blogs

Editors' Picks

Area 51: Origins

America’s once-secret air base had humble beginnings.

Need for Speed

Airplanes with a mission: Fly faster.

Beyond the Moon

It’s not a place, exactly. But it could be NASA’s next destination.

The Invention of Flight

Inventors, dreamers, daredevils, charlatans: Aviation's early years had them all.

Vietnam Memoir

Stories from the war that shaped a generation.

Trending Topics

  1. Fighters
  2. 21st Century Aviation
  3. Aerospace Technology
  4. Bombers
  5. Aerospace Inventions

History of Flight

Page 4 of 30

What’s Under the Thames?

Almost 100 aircraft were lost in the river during World War II alone, and it's not certain how many are still to be recovered.
July 27, 2012 | By Rebecca Maksel

replica

Orville, Wilbur and Me

You too can fly a Wright aircraft.
July 2012 | By Phil Scott

Captain Carl Crane, who invented the autoland system, Captain George Holloman, and engineer Raymond Stout

The First Autolanding

Two pilots won a trophy in 1937 for keeping their hands off the controls.
August 2012 | By George C. Larson, Member, NAA

Fifty-four truckloads of manuscripts, film, and more

The Archives’ Big Move

Fifty-four truckloads of irreplaceable aviation history make the 35-mile trek to the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center.
August 2012 | By Rebecca Maksel

To the North Pole…by Balloon

115 years ago today, three Swedish explorers set off on the only attempt ever to reach the Pole by balloon.
July 11, 2012 | By Rebecca Maksel

The Tower Ravens

During World War II, a raven helped alert the city to approaching bombers.
July 02, 2012 | By Rebecca Maksel

The First Airplane Ad

The first newspaper ad for an airplane appeared 103 years ago today.
June 27, 2012 | By Rebecca Maksel

Battle Noise School

How psychologists conditioned soldiers and civilians to the sounds of combat during World War II.
June 07, 2012 | By Rebecca Maksel

Building Spitfires, Slowly

The legendary WWII fighter wasn't so fast getting out of the factory.
May 23, 2012 | By Rebecca Maksel

He Saved Navy Fliers from Spam

Long before Swanson's TV dinner, there was the Maxson Sky Plate.
May 17, 2012 | By Rebecca Maksel

Mercury

Piggyback Airplanes

Ten of aviation's most famous hitch-hikers.
July 2012 | By Lynn Keillor

designer August Bellanca

Making a Smoother (and Speedier) Airplane

Within months of its first flight, August Bellanca's Skyrocket II set five world speed records.
July 2012 | By George C. Larson, Member, NAA

Cancelled: Vertical Flyer

The Coléoptère was one weird-looking aircraft.
July 2012 | By Jeremy Davis

Second Life for Hangar One

The Moffett Field landmark may yet house aircraft again.
May 2012 | By Kara Platoni

Sea Shadow for Sale

For a mere $300,000, you can buy this unique stealthy seagoing vessel.
May 04, 2012 | By Pat Trenner

Space History Items Bring $1 Million

To buy a piece of space history, you need plenty of cash.
May 03, 2012 | By Rebecca Maksel

Celestial Body

De Havilland's D.H. 106 Comet blazed the commercial jet trail but broke its nation's heart.
January 2004 | By Phil Scott

Howard Hughes’ Robot

On his record-setting flight in 1938, the billionaire had two navigators, only one of which was human.
April 23, 2012 | By Rebecca Maksel

Airborne for 64 Days

In a Cessna 172, no less.
March 22, 2012 | By Rebecca Maksel

The Designing Life

This year’s National Air and Space Museum lifetime achievement award winner, Burt Rutan, talks about music, golf and his favorite chair.
March 2012 | By Perry Turner

« Previous 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next »

Most Popular

  • Viewed
  • Emailed
  • Commented
  1. Where Have All the Shuttle Engineers Gone?
  2. Panthers At Sea
  3. The Navy Gets a Panther
  4. Area 51: Origins
  5. NASA Art on Tour
  6. Driving the Space Shuttle
  7. Alaska and the Airplane
  8. The Pilots of Mount McKinley
  9. Alaska’s Crash Epidemic
  10. Off to the Races
  1. The Galileo Project
  2. When Pigs Could Fly
  3. Where Have All the Shuttle Engineers Gone?
  1. Refueling Angel Thunder
  2. The Rocket Ships
  3. The Mystery of the Lost Clipper
  4. Yellow 10
  5. Legends of Vietnam: Bronco's Tale
  6. Warbirds Over the Beach
  7. Glacier Girl
  8. Cause Unknown
  9. Above and Beyond
  10. Slim and Bud

View All Most Popular »

Advertisement


Follow Us

Air & Space Magazine
@airspacemag
Follow Air & Space Magazine on Twitter

Sign up for regular email updates from Smithsonian.com, including daily newsletters and special offers.

Air & Space Videos

Flightseeing on Mount McKinley

A very close look at the mountaintops around North America’s highest peak.

A New Way to Navigate

GPS systems help pilots fly through rugged Alaskan terrain.

X-47B Carrier Launch

An unpiloted combat aircraft takes off from an aircraft carrier for the first time.

SpaceShipTwo Fires Up

Virgin Galactic sends its edge-of-space ship past Mach 1.

How to Bag an Asteroid

NASA's plan to retrieve an asteroid and bring it (close to) home.

View All Videos »

Air & Space Interview

NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun talks about technology and innovation to attendees at the AARP "Orlando @50+" Conference in Orlando, Fl., Oct. 1, 2010.  Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Bobby Braun

NASA's outgoing Chief Technologist talks about what's in the R&D pipeline

Need to Know

Why do NASA launch times depend on lighting conditions?

It's all about the solar beta angle.

In the Magazine

July 2013

  • Where Have All the Shuttle Engineers Gone?
  • Panthers At Sea
  • Earth-Like Planets Could be Right Next Door
  • Alaska and the Airplane
  • The Pilots of Mount McKinley

View Table of Contents »






First Name
Last Name
Address 1
Address 2
City
State   Zip
Email

Marketplace

Smith Reader

In the Cockpit and In the Cockpit II, $48.99

In the Cockpit and In the Cockpit II

Current and retired curators from our National Air and Space Museum contribute the insightful text and striking images... $48.99

Window Shopping - Great deals direct from select advertisers!

Window Shopping

Gifts, Gadgets and Great Finds!

Travel & Adventure


Smithsonian at Chautauqua: The Elegant Universe

Smithsonian at Chautauqua: The Elegant Universe

Join us in western New York and explore the mysteries of the cosmos with experts (Jun 22 - 29, 2013)

Travel Wire

We know travel is one of your passions, and we're here to help you pursue it. We've collected some of the best offerings from our most valued travel partners.


View full archiveRecent Issues


  • Jul 2013


  • May 2013


  • Mar 2013

Newsletter

Sign up for regular email updates from Air & Space magazine, including free newsletters, special offers and current news updates.

Subscribe Now

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.

Explore our Brands

  • goSmithsonian.com
  • Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
  • Smithsonian Student Travel
  • Smithsonian Catalogue
  • Smithsonian Journeys
  • Smithsonian Channel
  • About Air & Space
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising
  • Subscribe
  • RSS
  • Topics
  • Member Services
  • Copyright
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ad Choices

Smithsonian Institution