Airplanes

Document Deep Dive

“Unbroken“‘s Louis Zamperini Crashed Into the Pacific on May 27, 1943. Here is the Missing Air Crew Report

The National Archives holds a record with details of the downing of the former Olympian’s B-24 bomber that left him lost at sea for 47 days

December 22, 2014

Will the Search for Amelia Earhart Ever End?

More than eight decades after she disappeared in the South Pacific, the aviator continues to spark intense passion—and controversy

January 2015

Designing a Smaller, Lighter Airplane Tail

With engineers from Caltech, Boeing and NASA, Israel Wygnanski is ushering in a new era of fuel-efficient airplane design

December 1, 2014

Holy Smokes! Tobacco May Fuel Planes in the Future

The seeds from a new type of tobacco plant grown in South Africa release an oil that can be made into biofuel

November 12, 2014

Cool Finds

Smaug the Dragon And Other Unexpected Airport Surprises

There’s more to the world’s airports than newsstands and food courts

November 6, 2014

Trending Today

Aircraft Hunters Think They’ve Found a Scrap of Amelia Earhart’s Plane

This isn’t the first time a seemingly game-changing piece of evidence about Earhart’s disappearance has arisen, however

October 30, 2014

Trending Today

The Last Crew Member Who Dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima Died

Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk said he never regretted his involvement in the bombing

July 30, 2014

Tech Watch

Airbus Demos A Near-Silent, Zero-Emission Plane

The E-Fan 2.0 is the first step on the road to all-electric and hybrid flight

July 25, 2014

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

Looking for a New Place to Live? This Man Chose an Airplane

Oregon man Bruce Campbell created a home in a salvaged 727 aircraft

July 14, 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

Cool Finds

There Have Been 418 Major Drone Crashes Since 2001, Many of Them in the United States

Even the military is having drone problems

June 26, 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

Another Amelia Earhart Is Trying to Fly Around the World

Amelia Earhart (no relation to Amelia Earhart) is trying to follow in her namesake’s flight path

June 20, 2014

Tech Watch

Can a Plane Fly Around the World on Solar Power Alone?

With a wingspan greater than a 747, but weighing less than most cars, the Solar Impulse 2 will attempt to circumnavigate the planet.

June 9, 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

The TSA Isn’t Good at Reading Body Language (And Neither are You)

Nobody can tell you’re freaking out inside. Not even specially trained TSA agents.

March 25, 2014

Trending Today

When Searching for Crashed Planes at Sea, Binoculars Are the Most Useful Tool

Technologies often fail to produce results, so when it comes to searching for planes lost at sea, the old-fashioned way works best

March 13, 2014