Smithsonian TV Guide — Friday, 26 June 2026

Browse the full Smithsonian TV guide for Friday, 26 June 2026. 24 programmes listed , including 6 tonight. US listings updated daily — scroll down to tonight's highlights or use the day tabs above to browse the weekly schedule.

Early Morning

00:00 1h

Air Warriors

S2 · E2 · Prowler/ Growler True

Prowler/ Growler

The Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler and its newer counterpart, the EA-18G Growler, have the ability to fly alongside fighter planes and jam enemy radars.

01:00 1h

Air Warriors

S11 · E7 · Hawker Hunter True

Hawker Hunter

Narrators Beau Weaver and Bob Naughton talk about Britain's flagship super jet during the Cold War and its most thrilling flights in the late 20th century.

02:00 1h

Air Warriors

S1 · E4 · F1-11 True

F1-11

The F-111 bomber jet was a Vietnam-era failure that became vital in Libya and the Gulf War.

03:00 1h

Air Warriors

S2 · E1 · A-10 Warthog True

A-10 Warthog

The ungainly-looking A-10 Thunderbolt fighter plane, affectionately called the "Warthog," protects American ground troops and outguns its competitors.

04:00 1h

Air Warriors

S4 · E3 · P-51 Mustang True

P-51 Mustang

North American Aviation's P-51 Mustang fighter was requested by Britain's Royal Air Force, and its superiority helped to end World War II sooner.

05:00 1h

Air Warriors

S8 · E1 · F-86 Sabre True

F-86 Sabre

A look at one of America's first fighter jets, includes tales of its battles against the Soviet MiG jet during the Korean War and beyond.

Morning

06:00 1h

Air Warriors

S9 · E3 · Top Ten 21st Century True

Top Ten 21st Century

Experts examine the best aircrafts of the 21st century, from stealth fighters to drones, and feature the combat of the A-10 Warthog against the AC-130 gunship.

07:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E52 · Missouri Travel

Missouri

An aerial survey of Missouri reveals St. Louis, Kansas City and regions in between with everything from bustling river ports to breathtaking mountain views.

08:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E8 · Rhode Island Travel

Rhode Island

A flyover of America's smallest state reveals historic lighthouses and a stone millhouse that may have been built by Norsemen before the time of Columbus.

09:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E45 · Best Small Towns Travel

Best Small Towns

An aerial tour from coast to coast captures the charm of America's most interesting small towns, from California to Florida with many visits in between.

10:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E16 · Maryland & Delaware Travel

Maryland & Delaware

Maryland and Delaware have been the sites of everything from a terminus of the Underground Railroad to the battle that inspired 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'

11:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E12 · Massachusetts Travel

Massachusetts

The sights of the Bay State span hundreds of years, including the Pilgrims' landing place, the highway on which Paul Revere rode and Boston's sports venues.

Daytime

12:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E63 · Natural Wonders Travel

Natural Wonders

A collection of aerial views of America's natural wonders includes the story of the original debates over how the Grand Canyon was formed.

13:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E74 · Outdoor Adventures Travel

Outdoor Adventures

A cross-country flight showcases its mountains, beaches, national parks and other tourist attractions.

14:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S24 · E10 · Deadly Directive True

Deadly Directive

When Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashes shortly after takeoff, the catastrophe leads to the grounding of the entire Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet.

15:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S17 · E7 · Caught on Tape Documentary

Caught on Tape

On February 4, 2015, TransAsia Airways Flight 235 crashes into the Keelung River in Taiwan shortly after taking off from Taipei Songshan Airport.

16:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S20 · E4 · Cabin Catastrophe True

Cabin Catastrophe

A Boeing 737 is rocked by a midair explosion that challenges its pilots and nearly ejects a passenger out of a blown-out window.

17:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S13 · E10 · Titanic in the Sky True

Titanic in the Sky

One of an Airbus A-380's engines explodes soon after taking off from Singapore, and the pilots have to hold the plane together and return to the airport.

Evening

18:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S19 · E6 · Fatal Climb Documentary

Fatal Climb

When TAROM Flight 371 crashes after taking off from Bucharest, Romania, on March 31, 1995, investigators must determine if it was an accident or murder.

19:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S20 · E3 · Explosive Touchdown True

Explosive Touchdown

Investigators search the wreckage of an MD-90, which suffered a sudden explosion upon landing in Hualien, Taiwan, to uncover the cause of the tragedy.

20:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S20 · E7 · Atlantic Ditching True

Atlantic Ditching

When a helicopter carrying workers offshore ditches into the ocean, an investigation reveals a flaw in the chopper's design.

21:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S1 · E4 · Flying Blind True

Flying Blind

A 1996 Aeroperu flight headed for Chile turned back just after takeoff when the pilots realized all the aircraft's instruments were giving false readings.

22:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S18 · E2 · Blown Away Documentary

Blown Away

On July23, 2014, TransAsia Airways Flight 222, crashed into buildings while on approach from Kaohsiung to Magong Airport on Penghu Island in the Taiwan Strait.

23:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S19 · E6 · Perilous Payload True

Perilous Payload

Three out of balance planes confirm the need for critical backup systems.