Smithsonian HD Network Schedule

Air Disasters

Hidden Danger

2026-05-27 20:00:00 PST - 2026-05-27 21:00:00 PST

In 1991, a Boeing 737 operating as United Airlines Flight 585 suddenly rolls into a dive and crashes within eight seconds, killing all 25 people on board.

Air Disasters Playing Now!

Murder in the Skies

2026-05-27 21:00:00 PST - 2026-05-27 22:00:00 PST

When Germanwings Flight 9525 crashes in the French Alps, investigators discover shocking truths about the co-pilot's mental health.

Air Disasters

Imperfect Pitch

2026-05-27 22:00:00 PST - 2026-05-27 23:00:00 PST

On 27 November 2008, an aircraft on a post-maintenance test flight operating as XL Airways Germany Flight 888T stalls and crashes into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of France, killing all seven people on board.

Air Disasters

Death and Denial

2026-05-27 23:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 00:00:00 PST

In 1999, EgyptAir Flight 990 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean while flying from New York City to Cairo, killing all 217 people on board; the cause of the crash is disputed.

Air Disasters

Alarming Silence

2026-05-28 00:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 01:00:00 PST

Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes shortly after take-off in Detroit in 1987; a fatal preflight error caused the second-deadliest plane crash in the U.S. history.

Air Disasters

Engine Gone

2026-05-28 01:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 02:00:00 PST

Three crews experience the same devastating event; with radically different outcomes when an engine falls off their commercial airplane.

Air Disasters

Stealth Bomber Down

2026-05-28 02:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 03:00:00 PST

When a USAF stealth bomber crashes after takeoff, investigators search for a reason.

Combat Ships

Mutiny

2026-05-28 03:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 04:00:00 PST

A look at how technological advances over the centuries have transformed maritime warfare.

Combat Ships

Stealth

2026-05-28 04:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 05:00:00 PST

Vessels that operate in secret, unseen by their enemies, from secret missions that helped win World War II to modern stealth ships using strange shapes and technology to avoid spying ears and eyes.

Combat Ships

Smugglers and Pirates

2026-05-28 05:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 06:00:00 PST

A look at how maritime task forces and the Coast Guard are keeping commercial vessels and US shores safe from pirates and drug smugglers.

Combat Ships

Heroes of Guadalcanal

2026-05-28 06:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 07:00:00 PST

A comprehensive look at the naval battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942 and the heroic efforts of U.S. sailors who held off powerful Imperial Navy.

Combat Ships

Amphibious Assaults

2026-05-28 07:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 08:00:00 PST

The evolution of amphibious assault vehicles, including the restoration of Britain's last surviving LCT 7074 landing craft, designed to carry six Churchill tanks.

Combat Ships

World Wars

2026-05-28 08:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 09:00:00 PST

A look at how the role of battleships changed over the course of the First and Second World Wars.

Combat Ships

Torpedo Boats

2026-05-28 09:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 10:00:00 PST

From tests in the River Thames, to the German's deadly U-boat attacks in World War II, this episode explores the silent threat of submarines.

Combat Ships

Secrets of the Sea

2026-05-28 10:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 11:00:00 PST

Stories of espionage at sea, including deadly U-boat cat-and-mouse games during WWI, the sinking of the Lusitania, a gun-smuggling private yacht that made history, and liners turned troopships.

Combat Ships

The Battle of Trafalgar

2026-05-28 11:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 12:00:00 PST

The legendary Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, which pitted Napoleon's French ships against a British armada under the command of Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Combat Ships

Secrets and Lies

2026-05-28 12:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 13:00:00 PST

A look at how the art of deception was used by naval forces in the first half of the 20th century; in 1939, the German raider Atlantis is equipped with fake funnels, while its sailors dressed as women pushing prams to fool Allied merchant ships.

Air Warriors

Hawker Hunter

2026-05-28 13:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 14:00:00 PST

The inside story of Britain's flagship super jet of the Cold War era, the Hawker Hunter, and its most thrilling flights during the late 20th century.

Air Warriors

F1-11

2026-05-28 14:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 15:00:00 PST

The history of the F-111 and how the fighter-bomber no one wanted went on to dominate both air and battlefields in the late 20th century.

F6F Hellcat

2026-05-28 15:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 16:00:00 PST

The naval fighter designed to counter the Japanese Zero turns the tide of the war in the Pacific.

Air Warriors

F-14 Tomcat

2026-05-28 16:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 17:00:00 PST

The true story of the F-14 Tomcat, the military aircraft made famous in ``Top Gun``; how it served as the US Navy's top carrier fighter for a generation.

Air Warriors

AC-130

2026-05-28 17:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 18:00:00 PST

The massive AC-130 provides unparalleled close air support to U.S. and allied ground troops.

Air Warriors

P47

2026-05-28 18:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 19:00:00 PST

An inside look at the P47 Thunderbolt and the critical role it played in both the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II.

Air Warriors

Osprey

2026-05-28 19:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 20:00:00 PST

The Marine Corps' V-22 Osprey.

Air Warriors

F-15

2026-05-28 20:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 21:00:00 PST

The F-15 Eagle's conquests in Iraq, Yugoslavia and even space.

Air Warriors

Tornado

2026-05-28 21:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 22:00:00 PST

An inside look at the Panavia Tornado's evolution from a Cold War low-level bomber to a high-level fighter-interceptor.

Air Warriors

Lancaster

2026-05-28 22:00:00 PST - 2026-05-28 23:00:00 PST

The inside story of the Avro Lancaster, the British bomber that was rushed into service to fight back against Nazi Germany.

Air Warriors

F-18

2026-05-28 23:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 00:00:00 PST

Exploring the history of the F-18 and how the U.S. Navy's dual-role aircraft has dominated both the air and the battlefields for over three decades.

Air Warriors

Harrier

2026-05-29 00:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 01:00:00 PST

The inside story of the Harrier, the world's most famous short takeoff and vertical landing fighter jet.

Air Warriors

AH-1 Cobra

2026-05-29 01:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 02:00:00 PST

During the Vietnam War, the United States needed a helicopter that could defend itself; the AH-1 Cobra, the world's first pure attack helicopter.

Air Warriors

Prowler-Growler

2026-05-29 02:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 03:00:00 PST

Electronic warfare aircraft; the EA-6B Prowler; the EA-18G Growler.

Aerial America

Arizona

2026-05-29 03:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 04:00:00 PST

A flight over Arizona explores the state's storied past, architectural achievements and landscapes, including America's natural wonder, the Grand Canyon.

Aerial America

The Great Plains

2026-05-29 04:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 05:00:00 PST

An aerial tour over America's Great Plains tracks the prairies, farms, oilfields and wildlife.

Aerial America

Alabama

2026-05-29 05:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 06:00:00 PST

Vast cotton fields, Gulf coast beaches; famous Civil Rights marches; NASCAR's most dangerous track; steel factories.

Aerial America

Nevada

2026-05-29 06:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 07:00:00 PST

An aerial tour of Nevada; the state's deserts, ghost towns, neon cities and Hoover Dam; its history built on epic booms and busts.

Aerial America

South Carolina

2026-05-29 07:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 08:00:00 PST

White sand beaches; Blue Ridge Mountains; Charleston's Rainbow Row.

Aerial America

Roadside Attractions

2026-05-29 08:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 09:00:00 PST

A cross-country aerial journey over America's most majestic and unique roadside attractions.

Aerial America

New England

2026-05-29 09:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 10:00:00 PST

An aerial tour over New England captures its beauty while celebrating its rich history; from the Massachusetts harbours, where Americans rebelled against the British, to the autumn colours that blanket the mountains of Vermont.

Air Disasters

Death Race

2026-05-29 10:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 11:00:00 PST

When a modified WWII fighter plane crashes into the crowd at a Nevada air show, investigators struggle to find the cause.

Air Disasters

Slam Dunk

2026-05-29 11:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 12:00:00 PST

A quick trip from Washington D.C. to Ohio in 1994 turns deadly when pilots of a twin-engine turboprop attempt a risky landing.

Air Disasters

Fatal Delivery

2026-05-29 12:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 13:00:00 PST

The two-man crew of a UPS cargo jet must attempt an emergency landing when a fire in the cargo hold fills their cockpit with smoke.

Air Disasters

The Final Push

2026-05-29 13:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 14:00:00 PST

Investigators try to find the cause of two similar air crashes that happened nearly 12 years apart.

Air Disasters

Fatal Approach

2026-05-29 14:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 15:00:00 PST

A false warning in the cockpit triggers a series of pilot errors, sending a commuter plane crashing by the runway of an Amsterdam airport.

Air Disasters

Turboprop Terror

2026-05-29 15:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 16:00:00 PST

When a turboprop stalls and crashes into a North Carolina forest, investigators resort to a risky test flight-and uncover an industry-wide safety problem.

Air Disasters

Mayday Munich

2026-05-29 16:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 17:00:00 PST

A plane with members of the Manchester United football team crashes while heading home from Yugoslavia, killing 23 aboard.

Air Disasters

Focused on Failure

2026-05-29 17:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 18:00:00 PST

On 28 December 1978, the crew of United Airlines Flight 173 are preoccupied with a landing gear problem as the aircraft circles in a holding pattern in the vicinity of Portland, Oregon; it runs out of fuel and crashes in a sparsely populated area.

Air Disasters

Scratching the Surface

2026-05-29 18:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 19:00:00 PST

After taking off from Taiwan, a China Airlines 747 suddenly disappears from radar and crashes, killing 225 people.

Air Disasters

Unlocking Disaster

2026-05-29 19:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 20:00:00 PST

A 747's cargo door opens at 23,000 feet, causing an explosive decompression that ejects nine passengers from the plane.

Air Disasters

Flying on Empty

2026-05-29 20:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 21:00:00 PST

When Air Transat Flight 236 runs out of fuel over the Atlantic, its pilots desperately try to keep their Airbus A330 in the air until they reach land.

Air Disasters

Cruel Skies

2026-05-29 21:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 22:00:00 PST

The U.S. Aviation Weather Center in Kansas City, Miss.; the importance of accurate weather forecasting to the aviation industry.

Air Disasters

Lost in Translation

2026-05-29 22:00:00 PST - 2026-05-29 23:00:00 PST

On 10 January 2000, Crossair Flight 498 crashes just two minutes after takeoff from Zürich, Switzerland, while heading for Dresden, Germany, killing all 10 people on board.

Air Disasters

Deadly Pitch

2026-05-29 23:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 00:00:00 PST

A team of experts investigates in detail the carnage of a cargo plane; an anonymous tip helps explain why a cargo plane crashed just moments after taking off from Miami.

Air Disasters

Landings Gone Wrong

2026-05-30 00:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 01:00:00 PST

Relying on instinct rather than the rule book, three flights end in tragedy when crews improvise on their final approach.

Air Disasters

Collision Course

2026-05-30 01:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 02:00:00 PST

A passenger ferry sinks after crashing into rocks off the coast of a Greek island, killing 82; it leads to a shocking investigation.

Air Disasters

Caught in a Jam

2026-05-30 02:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 03:00:00 PST

A commuter turboprop crashes onto hilly terrain in New Zealand; the search for answers inevitably leads to the cockpit.

Aerial America

Illinois

2026-05-30 03:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 04:00:00 PST

A high-flying tour over Illinois; the Windy City, prairies and rivers; the state's dramatic history of great fires, crime and historic battles; Chicago's unique skyscrapers and the Lincoln Tomb.

Aerial America

Dallas - Fort Worth

2026-05-30 04:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 05:00:00 PST

An aerial tour over Dallas and Fort Worth highlights the cities' differences while showcasing their shared contributions to the Texas narrative.

Aerial America

Iowa

2026-05-30 05:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 06:00:00 PST

A sky-high tour over Iowa explores its vast stretches of farmland, covered bridges and evolution from wilderness to statehood.

Aerial America

Kentucky

2026-05-30 06:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 07:00:00 PST

An aerial tour over Kentucky reveals a state of racetracks, country music highways, bourbon distilleries and a history of feuds and traditions.

Aerial America

Georgia

2026-05-30 07:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 08:00:00 PST

The Empire State of the South; ancient Moundbuilders to the Cherokee Indians.

Aerial America

Oregon

2026-05-30 08:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 09:00:00 PST

Oregon's Cascade Mountains; Columbia River waterway.

Aerial America

Pennsylvania

2026-05-30 09:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 10:00:00 PST

A high-flying tour of Pennsylvania.

Aerial America

Minnesota

2026-05-30 10:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 11:00:00 PST

A sky-high tour over Minnesota reveals the state's ancient, glacial landscapes and tells the stories of the pioneers who helped build the nation.

Aerial America

Boston 24

2026-05-30 11:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 12:00:00 PST

A day-long aerial tour of the New England city of Boston in Massachusetts; where Americans first rebelled against Britain by dumping chests of tea into the harbor and where rock band Aerosmith first made it big.

Aerial America

Yellowstone

2026-05-30 12:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 13:00:00 PST

An aerial tour of the world's first national park showcases Yellowstone's diverse wildlife and rich history.

Aerial America

Alaska's Call of the Wild

2026-05-30 13:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 14:00:00 PST

A look at America's landmarks, including a view of bears catching clams in Alaska's rivers; a high-flying tour reveals Alaska's call of the wild spirit that has lured adventurers and dreamers north for centuries.

Mighty Cruise Ships

Nieuw Statendam

2026-05-30 14:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 15:00:00 PST

One of Holland America Line's largest cruisers makes its debut in the Caribbean, highlighted by a visit to an exclusive private island resort.

Mighty Cruise Ships

Seven Seas Explorer

2026-05-30 15:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 16:00:00 PST

Sailing from Chile and Peru to Ecuador and Costa Rica, the luxurious Seven Seas Explorer cruise ship is full of marble, granite and almost 500 chandeliers.

Mighty Cruise Ships

Marina

2026-05-30 16:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 17:00:00 PST

Visit Stonehenge, kiss the Blarney Stone and hunt for Nessie on a magical tour of the British Isles, aboard Marina.

Mighty Cruise Ships

AIDAnova

2026-05-30 17:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 18:00:00 PST

We hop aboard a seven-day cruise to the Canary Islands and Madeira aboard the first large liner to run purely on cleaner-burning liquefied natural gas.

Mighty Cruise Ships

Carnival Vista

2026-05-30 18:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 19:00:00 PST

The Carnival Vista is the new flagship for one of the world's largest cruise lines, carrying more than 4,600 passengers and boasting 10 restaurants, nearly 2,000 staterooms and a crew of 1,400.

Mighty Cruise Ships

Symphony of the Seas

2026-05-30 19:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 20:00:00 PST

A crew of 2,200 on the Symphony of the Seas tends to more than 5,500 passengers as they sail to ports in Spain, France and Italy.

Mighty Cruise Ships

MSC Divina

2026-05-30 20:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 21:00:00 PST

Experience romance on a mega cruiser that pampers its guests with the best of Italian design and American convenience.

Mighty Cruise Ships

Viking Star

2026-05-30 21:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 22:00:00 PST

We follow passengers and crew aboard Viking Star during its two-week tour from Barcelona to its home port in Bergen, Norway.

Air Disasters

Speed Trap

2026-05-30 22:00:00 PST - 2026-05-30 23:00:00 PST

Joining NTSB and military experts as they work together to uncover how a fighter jet could collide with a civilian flight.

Air Disasters

Meltdown Over Kathmandu

2026-05-30 23:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 00:00:00 PST

Landing at one of the world's most challenging airports, a passenger plane comes in like a fighter jet and crashes, killing 51 of the 71 people aboard.

Air Disasters

Vertigo

2026-05-31 00:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 01:00:00 PST

On Jan. 3, 2004, Flash Airlines Flight 604 banks to the right just after takeoff and crashes into the Red Sea, killing all 148 people on board.

Air Disasters

Lapse in Security

2026-05-31 01:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 02:00:00 PST

Air Disasters

Delivery to Disaster

2026-05-31 02:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 03:00:00 PST

History's most terrifying air disasters, and the investigations that followed, are revisited and reexamined.

Aerial America

Alaska's Fire and Ice

2026-05-31 03:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 04:00:00 PST

The world's largest volcanic island; Iceland's landscapes, forged by fire and ice; a tour over Alaska, the residents it attracts and the wildlife that thrives in these unique surroundings.

Aerial America

Coasts

2026-05-31 04:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 05:00:00 PST

An aerial tour over America's coastlines explores the visual splendor and rich history of the nation's varied borders.

Aerial America

Nebraska

2026-05-31 05:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 06:00:00 PST

Soaring above the Cornhusker State's vast farms, towering spires, desolate badlands and gleaming cities.

Aerial America

Dazzling Destinations

2026-05-31 06:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 07:00:00 PST

A sweeping tour over popular destinations in America, including the Badlands, Nantucket, the National Mall and more.

Aerial America

Washington D.C.

2026-05-31 07:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 08:00:00 PST

A soaring tour over Washington, D.C. explores the unique landscape, rich history and colorful story of the Nation's Capital.

Aerial America

Colorado

2026-05-31 08:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 09:00:00 PST

Alpine valleys; Rocky Mountains; Denver's towering skyscrapers.

Aerial America

Ohio

2026-05-31 09:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 10:00:00 PST

An aerial journey over Ohio showcases the Buckeye State's autumnal vistas, majestic rivers, epic skyscrapers and battlegrounds.

Aerial America

Utah

2026-05-31 10:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 11:00:00 PST

An amazing aerial tour over Utah reveals a state full of otherworldly landscapes and landmarks, including a history steeped in Mormonism, pioneering tragedy, and Olympic glory.

Aerial America

Wyoming

2026-05-31 11:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 12:00:00 PST

An aerial exploration of Wyoming reveals the Cowboy State's controversial history while highlighting its breathtaking canyons and volcanic formations.

Aerial America

Kansas

2026-05-31 12:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 13:00:00 PST

An aerial tour of Kansas shows a state with varied landscapes, scenic areas and historical conflict sites.

Aerial America

On the Water

2026-05-31 13:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 14:00:00 PST

Taking flight for a bird's eye tour of America's rivers, lakes and canals.

Aerial America

New York

2026-05-31 14:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 15:00:00 PST

Beauty of the Empire State; Central Park; tallest skyscrapers; mighty rivers; 17th century explorer Henry Hudson.

Air Disasters

Break Up Over Texas

2026-05-31 15:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 16:00:00 PST

Near the end of its flight, Continental Express Flight 2574 suffers wing damage and goes into a dive falling out of the sky.

Air Disasters

Nuts and Bolts

2026-05-31 16:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 17:00:00 PST

When an American cargo plane crashes moments after takeoff, investigators uncover a systemic problem with aircraft maintenance.

Air Disasters

The Turning Point

2026-05-31 17:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 18:00:00 PST

A Boeing 767 crashes miles from a South Korean runway; the investigation leads to contradicting stories between the surviving pilot and air traffic control.

Air Disasters

Deadly Delay

2026-05-31 18:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 19:00:00 PST

Almost immediately after taking off from Madrid International Airport, Spanair Flight 5022 banked to the right, slammed into a creek and burst into flames.

Air Disasters

Landing Hazards

2026-05-31 19:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 20:00:00 PST

Martinair 495 crashes on a rain-soaked runway in Portugal, showing how weather can doom a landing; American 1572 hits a storm and loses both engines amid a tower shutdown; crosswinds challenge an Air France crew already halfway down the runway.

Air Disasters

No Control

2026-05-31 20:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 21:00:00 PST

An examination of three crashes that occurred when pilots battled against their sophisticated aircraft.

Air Disasters

Playing Catch Up

2026-05-31 21:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 22:00:00 PST

A private jet attempting to compensate for a late approach to the airport, slams into an Ohio apartment building just a couple of miles from the runway.

Air Disasters

Deadly Display

2026-05-31 22:00:00 PST - 2026-05-31 23:00:00 PST

A high-stakes demonstration flight in Indonesia turns catastrophic when a Russian jet slams into a mountain.

Air Disasters

Fanning the Flames

2026-05-31 23:00:00 PST - 2026-06-01 00:00:00 PST

A complex recovery operation is launched to find out if a 747 which disappeared into the Indian Ocean was carrying illegal weapons.