The aircraft flew a distance of 3,199 miles (5,148 km) without needing control inputs from an onboard safety pilot.

What was the first airplane you wanted to fly? For me, it was the J-3 Cub. I was 4 years old and at a birthday party at the San Carlos Airport in California. One of the adult guests brought his J-3 ...

How skill and rigorous training helped pilots endure when ditching was the only option. David Kindy Today's aircraft can safely and routinely fly over large bodies of water, including the Atlantic ...

A commercial airliner can weigh anywhere from 100,000 pounds to over a million pounds. It is astonishing how such gargantuan weight can not only take off from the ground, but also routinely fly long ...

The unmistakable V-formation geese adopt in flight is more than a cool aerial trick. The entire flock benefits from upward air flowing off the lead bird’s wings, whose fellow fliers then get to save ...

An airplane's safety is primarily determined by its "fatigue exposure" (usage patterns, maintenance quality, and storage environment), not its calendar age. NTSB data indicates no increase in ...

This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more. This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more. NEWARK, NJ - MAY 26: An airplane passes by the sun after taking off from Liberty Airport on ...

Check out a new book of paper airplanes inspired by the Smithsonian’s collections Michael D. Hulslander A paper airplane and its inspiration, the Mitchell U-2 Superwing. Plane image - Gift of Frank X.