Stories of daring, stories of technological feats, stories of prevailing against the odds ... these are the stories we tell at the National Air and Space Museum. Dive in to the stories below to discover, learn, and be inspired. 

Showing 1 - 10 of 673

October 12, 2024 WWII Ace Arthur Van Haren Jr. Story

Arthur Van Haren Jr. became one of the most decorated naval aviators to come from Arizona, and one of the most decorated Latino pilots of World War II.  He embodied many Americans who entered the war with no previous military experience, yet through training, skills, and bravery, performed above what could have been imagined.

Read more
September 23, 2024 Treasure Hunting for Airplanes: The Great Debate Story | Air & Space Quarterly

Aviation archaeology is primarily the locating and documenting of old aircraft crash sites.

Read more
September 23, 2024 “If You Can See It, You Can Be It.” Story | Air & Space Quarterly

An Interview with Capt. Theresa Claiborne, the first African American woman pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

Read more
September 23, 2024 Jumbo Jet Story | Air & Space Quarterly

How the National Air and Space Museum acquired the Boeing 747 for America by Air exhibition. 

Read more
September 23, 2024 A Breath of Fresh Air Story | Air & Space Quarterly

Recent discoveries and news in aviation and space. 

Read more
September 23, 2024 The Secret History of Drones Story | Air & Space Quarterly

A short history of early 20th-century drones.

Read more
August 19, 2024 AirSpace Season 9 Episode 8: Limited Edition Story | AirSpace Podcast

Back in the 'Golden Age' of air travel in the 50s, 60s and 70s going on a trip in an airplane was an event. On those flights you would often get a little souvenir of your air travel; a deck of cards, a little toy, a trading card, captain's wings and a hat for your little tyke.

Read more
August 09, 2024 The Martin K-III Kitten Story

When the K-III’s designer James Vernon Martin offered the diminutive aircraft to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum in 1924, he presented it as “the first aeroplane in the entire world to incorporate the retractable chassis.”  The aircraft is a one-of-kind, experimental World War I era single-seat scout biplane.

Read more
August 07, 2024 What Happened to the Concordes? Story

These days, it takes seven hours to fly from New York to London, compared to under three hours flying at twice the speed of sound on the Concorde. When I started my internship at the National Air and Space Museum, I was determined to learn why.  

Read more
August 05, 2024 The Man Who Brought Home Earth: Stories of Bill Anders Story

Maj. Gen. William A. Anders was an Air Force pilot and a U.S. Ambassador to Norway. He served his country in various other roles, including as the first chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and founded a museum that celebrates aviation history. But he’s best known as one of three astronauts who flew on the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, during which he captured one of the most iconic and influential photographs in history. 

Read more