National Air and Space Museum

An old photo, tinted brown, depicts a flat barren landscape with a single pillar of dense white smoke at the center of the photo.

That Time We Bombed a Volcano

When a town in Hawaii was threatened by lava in 1935, a group of airplanes tried to redirect the flow.

Red hot molten lava and thick dark dust spew from the ground while a small white. single-propeller aircraft flies overhead.

How Active Volcanoes Can Put Airplanes in Danger

A global early-warning system strives to keep aircraft safe from volcanic eruptions.

A massive aircraft with four propellers sits on a wet tarmac reflecting the bright red and white lights of the surrounding air base. The night sky above is cloudy, though some bright stars are visible.

The P-3 Orion Was Made for Hunting Submarines

How Lockheed's P-3 kept the Cold War from turning hot.

A military airplane painted in black sits on an airport ramp at sunset.

A P-61 Black Widow Pilot Finds a Way to Survive the Horrors of War.

A son discovers the emotional complexities of his father's service In World War II.

A large hand-carved teakwood chest with scalloped edges and four round feet. The chest appears to be stained a rich reddish brown. The front panel on the chest has a bas-relief globe pattern flanked by a pair of airplane wings.

This Trophy Chest Belonged to Amelia Earhart

A husband's holiday present for his famous wife is now a museum artifact.

A 65-year-old Black woman sits in the left seat of an airliner cockpit. She is smiling and wearing an airline captain's uniform, including a white shirt and a hat.

Meet the U.S. Air Force's First Black Female Pilot

Theresa Claiborne looks back on her outstanding career in military and civil aviation

A white man in his early 70s stands inside a museum gallery. He is wearing glasses and smiling. Behind him, is the nose and forward fuselage of a Boeing 747 airplane. The 747 is painted in a red, gray, and white paint scheme.

How to Display a 747 in a Museum

Boeing's 747 is big, but not so big that the forward fuselage can't be part of a museum exhibit

Three men sit under the shade of a massive airplane wing; one of the men is wearing an officer's hat. Two huge aircraft are parked in the background, both are painted black. Behind them is a lush island landscape. The photo has been given a green tint.

A World War II Veteran Recalls the Adventure of Patrolling the Pacific Aboard Flying Boats

This 100-year-old Navy veteran flew PBYs in World War II

Silver twin engine flying boat over a vast ocean. A small boat leaves it's wake below.

Flying Boats Were Once the Luxury Liners of the Air

Flying boats opened up travel destinations around the world—then they went to war

A composite of multiple images. In the background is a landscape of pine trees and fields. Over it in speia tone is an image of pilots in military uniforms. In the foreground is a grey airplane, banked in a turn.

Did the Nazis Kill German Test Pilot Melitta von Stauffenberg?

A National Air and Space Museum researcher solves a World War II mystery

A sleek jet aircraft painted red, white, and black flies over an air base in the desert.

Does a Fighter Pilot Have to Be Human?

Artificial intelligence proves it can dogfight. What’s next?

On a black background is a white, angular-shape aircraft with no cockpit. The opening for the jet engine air intake is the front of the aircraft. Painted in black letters on the rear fuselage is: "Boeing Phantom Works." The right wing is marked: "X-45A."

A Drone Named Elsie May Becomes a Museum Artifact

The X-45A is part of an elite group of aircraft that were tested in the skies above Mojave

Four military jets fly in a diamond formation across a blue sky. On the underside of each jet's wings, "US Navy" is painted in bold yellow letters. White airshow smoke streams from each jet. The moon is visible in the sky.

The Blue Angels Get Their First Female Jet Demonstration Pilot

Air & Space Quarterly talks to Blue Angels pilot Amanda Lee

A vibrant hydrogen balloon with intricate blue and gold designs floats above a bustling outdoor event set against a cloudy sky. Below, several white tents are set up in a grassy park, with groups of people mingling and walking around.

Balloon Expert Reacts to the Bridgerton Runaway Balloon Scene

Just how accurate is the portrayal of lighter-than-air flight in the third season of Bridgerton? Ballooning curator Tom Paone provides historical context.

A ladies long-sleeve blouse fastened by four plastic white buttons hangs against a dark background. The blouse features a multi-color map pattern printed on a white silk background.

How a World War II Escape Map Found a Second Use as a Ladies Garment

A look at an airman's special memento

SR-71 Blackbird on display in a museum

Why the SR-71 Blackbird Never Gets Old

The beauty of Lockheed's Blackbird

Three people stand inside one balloon's cavernous orange envelope during inflation.

See Hundreds of Hot Air Balloons Soar Above the Ground at the Largest Event of Its Kind

In 2023, nearly a million people experienced the wonder of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

A German fighter aircraft is painted dull grey, with some black markings including a Nazi swastika. A large gun in mounted near the nose of the plane, which has a single large propeller.

Where to See World War II Aircraft Up Close

Seven National Air and Space Museum aircraft on display in your neighborhood

Overhead detail view of a trophy showing a silver angel extending her arms holding a vintage airplane.

The Trophy That Honors U.S. Air Force Flights

An ornate trophy recognizes valor displayed by the men and women of the U.S. Air Force

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