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 311 - 320 of 1736
July 07, 2022Speed and the Cold WarStory
Learn about the integral role speed played during the Cold War.
Read moreJune 30, 2022Five Connections Between the Need for Speed in the Air and on the GroundStory
Speed on the ground and in the air may have more connections than you think.
Read moreJune 29, 2022The Fastest Man on EarthStory
Learn about Glen Curtiss—who was at one time known as the fastest man on Earth.
Read moreJune 24, 20221947: Year of the Flying SaucerStory
What Kenneth Arnold saw while flying past Mt. Rainier on June 24, 1947, remains a mystery. He spent the rest of his life trying to explain it and inadvertently added the words “flying saucer” to the vocabularies of millions of people around the world. Learn about the story behind it.
Read moreJune 23, 2022The Wright Brothers at Kitty HawkStory
Kitty Hawk, NC—where the Wrights made their world changing flights.
A decade ago it was pretty rare to see an all-electric car on the road. Now that you see them all. the. time. we wondered – what about electric vehicles in the *sky*? Several companies are working to overcome the challenges of all-electric flight, and it’ll likely be a long time before your commercial plane goes electric. But smaller, shorter-distance applications of all-electric air transport might be just around the corner. In this episode, we speak to Dr. Martine Rothblatt to learn how her company is working towards using electric helicopters to deliver the ultimate precious cargo -- transplantable human organs.
Read moreJune 22, 2022The Flying TankStory
| Air & Space Quarterly
German forces pushing into the Soviet Union felt nearly invincible—until they met the Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik.
Read moreJune 22, 2022Is There a Doctor in The House?Story
| Air & Space Quarterly
Astronauts headed to Mars and beyond won’t be able to depend on Earth for a quick response in the event of a medical emergency.
Read moreJune 22, 2022Before the Wrights Were AviatorsStory
Orville and Wilbur Wright weren't always pioneering aeronautical engineers.
Read moreJune 21, 2022Phantom Flyers: Aerial Victory over North VietnamStory
For the crews of US Navy Fighter Squadron 31 (VF-31, the “Tomcatters”), June 21, 1972, was the last day of their first line period of sustained operations onboard the USS Saratoga before a scheduled week off. That day proved to be one of the most significant in the squadron’s history. Discover why.