Airplanes
The Man Who Pierced the Iron Curtain in a Flying Go-Kart—and Left Civilization Forever
Escaping communism in a DIY aircraft wasn’t enough for Ivo Zdarsky. So he invented his own way of life in a Utah desert ghost town
United Will Be the First U.S. Airline to Add Braille to Its Plane Interiors
The carrier announced that it will update its entire mainline fleet over the next three years
Airlines Will Be Required to Make Bathrooms More Accessible
Single-aisle planes will face new rules from the U.S. Department of Transportation—but they won’t go into effect for more than a decade
Could This Convertible Seat Improve Air Travel for Wheelchair Users?
If adopted, a new prototype would allow passengers to remain in their own wheelchairs on flights
Found Hatching in a Suitcase, Rescued Parrots Begin New Life
The 24 chicks are growing up at a conservation facility after being seized from a smuggler's carry-on
You Can Now Make a Reservation to Go Through Security at These Airports
Denver and Minneapolis are the latest airports to roll out the service—just in time for the busy summer travel season
France Just Banned Short-Haul Flights. Why Are So Few Routes Affected?
To reduce carbon emissions, lawmakers want travelers to opt for trains on shorter journeys
Airbnb Names the Top Trending Destinations for Summer 2023
From relaxing beach towns to historic European cities, these popular spots will soon be bustling with vacationers
Biden Wants Airlines to Compensate Travelers for Delayed and Canceled Flights
Proposed regulations would require airlines to do more when they are at fault for major disruptions
A Swarm of Bees Delayed a Flight for Three Hours
When the plane's engine turned on, the pollinators simply left the aircraft—and passengers were finally able to board
Hong Kong Is Giving Away 500,000 Free Plane Tickets
The government hopes to boost tourism in the wake of the pandemic and civil unrest
In 1946, a Black Pilot Returned to the Cockpit After a Double Amputation
Neal V. Loving, whose memoir will soon be released by Smithsonian Books, built his own planes, ran a flight school and conducted research for the Air Force
NASA’s Electric Plane Will Take Flight This Year—but Its Future Is Uncertain
The X-57 Maxwell has removed some barriers to electric flight, but its funding expires soon
More Than 350 New UFO Sightings Added to U.S. Government Records
Officials speculate these may include balloons, drones, airborne plastic bags or birds
The Most Anticipated Museum Openings of 2023
Scheduled to launch this year are new institutions dedicated to punk rock, Amelia Earhart and robots
How Quixote’s Windmills Inspired a Spanish Inventor to Envision Vertical Flight
The autogiro finds new fans a century after its first liftoff
This British Zoologist Wants to Reinvent Color
Andrew Parker has produced some of the brightest hues in the world. So, what’s his secret?
U.K. Airports Will Ease Restrictions on Liquids and Laptops in Carry-On Bags
Starting in 2024, travelers won't need to limit liquids to travel-size containers
Ten Strange and Amazing Historical Artifacts We’ve Launched to Space
As spaceflight catapults us into a high-tech future, several missions have made sure to honor the past
Unique NASA Observatory Will Make a Final Flight—to a Museum
SOFIA, a 38,000-pound telescope inside an airplane, spent eight years observing the universe in infrared
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