Air Transportation

Surfers, Sunsets, and Dancing Girls: How Air Travel Came To Hawaii

“Hawaii by Air” opens today at the National Air and Space Museum, tracing the history of air travel to America’s “most exotic state.”

July 25, 2014

Trending Today

The Horrific Downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 Has Echoes in History

Lessons from history hint at what might happen next

July 18, 2014

Cool Finds

British Airways’ New Blankets Pick Up On and Display Your Anxiety

The blankets are only in the experimental phase right now, however

July 3, 2014

If You’ve Never Missed a Flight, You’re Probably Wasting Your Time

Do you find yourself spending endless hours waiting at the airport? Here’s what math says about the perfect time to arrive for your next flight

June 23, 2014

Cool Finds

In Wales, Traveling by Dragon Is Now an Option, According to Google Maps

You can also commute by carriage or Loch Ness monster, depending on your location in the U.K.

June 4, 2014

Future Is Here Festival

Take a Peek Into the Future’s Present With Our Live Coverage of Smithsonian’s Two-Day Festival

The magazine’s 2nd annual conference brings together experts, authors and visionaries in the fields of science, science fiction and technology.

May 2014

Cool Finds

Less Than a Fourth of Jet-Wheel Stowaways Survive—And That’s a Generous Estimate

One teen recently survived a jet wheel ride from California to Hawaii

April 21, 2014

Tech Watch

Can New Technology Help Planes Dodge Turbulence?

Airlines are testing new technology that could even warn pilots of “clear air turbulence” in advance

April 4, 2014

Cool Finds

See Every Plane Criss-Crossing Europe in This Weirdly Beautiful Video of Flight Paths

An air traffic control company created this incredible video showing flight patterns around Europe

March 12, 2014

Tech Watch

An Airship The Size of a Football Field Could Revolutionize Travel

A new fuel-efficient airship, capable of carrying up to 50 tons, can stay aloft for weeks and land just about anywhere

March 7, 2014

Cool Finds

What’s the Most Perfect Moment to Buy That Plane Ticket?

You know that the longer you wait to book a flight, the higher ticket prices climb. But when exactly should you book a flight?

March 7, 2014

Fast Forward

Photos: The Rise of the Volocopter

A helicopter has just one rotor to provide lift. This machine has 18

March 2014

New Research

This Winter’s Record Number of Plane Cancellations Can’t Entirely Be Blamed on Weather

This has been the worst winter for flight cancellations on record

February 17, 2014

Border Agents Can Search Laptops “Without Reasonable Suspicion”

A U.S. District Court judge says border agents should be allowed to search travelers’ laptops

January 3, 2014

Photos: The U.S. Military’s Prototype for a Flying Submarine

Capable of carrying 66 tons of cargo, the Aeroscraft could bring airships back to the skies

March 31, 2013

Document Deep Dive

Document Deep Dive: A Firsthand Account of the Hindenburg Disaster

Frank Ward was a 17-year-old crewman when he saw the infamous disaster, but his memories of that day are still strong, 75 years later

May 1, 2012

Found: Letters from the Hindenburg

A new addition to the Smithsonian collections tells a new story about the legendary disaster

May 2012

Traveling Light in the New Year

Don’t overpack is a rule to live by. So why not declutter on New Year’s Eve

December 29, 2011

A Prize-Winning Architecture Tour of Beijing

The next Pritzker Prize for architecture will be awarded in the Chinese capital, a tribute to its new crop of award-worthy structures

November 23, 2011

TV’s “Pan Am:” A Case of Misplaced Nostalgia

Who doesn’t miss the retro glories of the early Jet Age celebrated in the ABC series? But enough with the sexy stewardesses already

October 27, 2011