Planes | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/planes/RSS feed for PlanesenWed, 07 Jan 2026 21:11:47 +0000This Is the Only Museum Dedicated to Weather Artifacts in America. It May Shut Down Due to Funding Shortageshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-is-the-only-museum-dedicated-to-weather-artifacts-in-america-it-may-shut-down-due-to-funding-shortages-180987962/The Oklahoma institution, which preserves and displays historic weather-related objects, is asking for donations from the publicWed, 07 Jan 2026 21:11:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-is-the-only-museum-dedicated-to-weather-artifacts-in-america-it-may-shut-down-due-to-funding-shortages-180987962/Last Known Surviving American Ace Pilot From World War II Dies at 103https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/last-known-surviving-american-ace-pilot-from-world-war-ii-dies-at-103-180987239/Donald McPherson shot down five planes in the Pacific theater in the final years of the war, earning him the title of "ace"Tue, 26 Aug 2025 21:08:50 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/last-known-surviving-american-ace-pilot-from-world-war-ii-dies-at-103-180987239/See Electric Aircraft, Rockets and Everyone’s Favorite ‘Star Wars’ Droid at the National Air and Space Museum’s Newly Reopened Gallerieshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/see-electric-aircraft-rockets-and-everyones-favorite-star-wars-droid-at-the-national-air-and-space-museums-newly-reopened-galleries-180987143/Across five exhibition halls, the museum showcases the past, present and future of aviation and space travelMon, 11 Aug 2025 19:15:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/see-electric-aircraft-rockets-and-everyones-favorite-star-wars-droid-at-the-national-air-and-space-museums-newly-reopened-galleries-180987143/Amelia Earhart Made History in a Plane She Called Her ‘Little Red Bus.’ Here’s How It Became a Revered Museum Artifact and Hallowed Symbolhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/amelia-earhart-made-history-in-a-plane-she-called-her-little-red-bus-heres-how-it-became-a-revered-museum-artifact-and-hallowed-symbol-180987062/As the Smithsonian presents the aviator’s restored Vega in Washington, a special replica of the aircraft quietly re-emerges after decades in obscurityTue, 29 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/amelia-earhart-made-history-in-a-plane-she-called-her-little-red-bus-heres-how-it-became-a-revered-museum-artifact-and-hallowed-symbol-180987062/This World War I Plane Has Two Claims to Fame: It Was One of the Deadliest Fighter Aircraft of Its Time, and It Was Flown by Snoopyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-world-war-i-plane-has-two-claims-to-fame-it-was-one-of-the-deadliest-fighter-aircraft-of-its-time-and-it-was-flown-by-snoopy-180987050/The Sopwith Camel was challenging to fly but also successful in downing enemy planes, and it went on to gain pop-culture fame thanks to the beloved “Peanuts” beagleFri, 25 Jul 2025 17:45:13 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-world-war-i-plane-has-two-claims-to-fame-it-was-one-of-the-deadliest-fighter-aircraft-of-its-time-and-it-was-flown-by-snoopy-180987050/Pioneering Teenage Parachuter Georgia 'Tiny' Broadwick Showed That Courage Isn't Counted in Poundshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/georgia-tiny-broadwick-showed-that-courage-isnt-counted-pounds-180986565/The first woman to parachute from an airplane, she will be recognized in an exhibit when part of the newly renovated National Air and Space Museum reopens this yearTue, 20 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/georgia-tiny-broadwick-showed-that-courage-isnt-counted-pounds-180986565/Amaze Yourself With the Unbelievable Story of Bessie Coleman, the Black Aviator Who Wowed the Nation With Her High-Flying Achievementshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/amaze-yourself-unbelievable-story-bessie-coleman-black-aviator-wowed-nation-high-flying-achievements-180986564/Long before the Tuskegee Airmen, Coleman inspired a generation of pilots to take to the skiesTue, 13 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/amaze-yourself-unbelievable-story-bessie-coleman-black-aviator-wowed-nation-high-flying-achievements-180986564/The Enduring Mystery of a Plane That Vanished in the Icy Canadian Wilderness With 44 People On Boardhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-enduring-mystery-of-a-plane-that-vanished-in-the-icy-canadian-wilderness-with-44-people-on-board-180985878/Seventy-five years ago, a Douglas C-54D Skymaster disappeared en route from Alaska to Montana. No trace of its crew and passengers, including a pregnant mother and her young son, has ever been foundThu, 23 Jan 2025 12:15:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-enduring-mystery-of-a-plane-that-vanished-in-the-icy-canadian-wilderness-with-44-people-on-board-180985878/The Trial of Bruno Richard Hauptmann—Accused Murderer of the Lindbergh Baby—Began in New Jersey on This Day in 1935https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-trial-of-bruno-richard-hauptmann-accused-murderer-of-the-lindbergh-baby-began-in-new-jersey-on-this-day-in-1935-180985694/The German-born man was convicted of kidnapping and killing the son of pilot Charles LindberghThu, 02 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-trial-of-bruno-richard-hauptmann-accused-murderer-of-the-lindbergh-baby-began-in-new-jersey-on-this-day-in-1935-180985694/The Secretive Spaceplane of the U.S. Space Force Conducts First-of-Its-Kind Maneuvershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-secretive-spaceplane-of-the-us-space-force-conducts-first-of-its-kind-maneuvers-180985425/Called aerobraking, the technique allows the highly classified craft to change orbit without using propellant—and some are wondering why the agency has let us in on this newsWed, 13 Nov 2024 21:58:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-secretive-spaceplane-of-the-us-space-force-conducts-first-of-its-kind-maneuvers-180985425/