Smithsonian TV Guide — Friday TV Listings & Schedule

Browse the full Smithsonian TV guide for Friday, 30 October 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

S6 · E5 · OV - 10 Bronco True

OV - 10 Bronco

Military members discuss the history behind the OV-10 Bronco and how it functions as both a helicopter and a jet in difficult environments.
01:00 1h

Air Warriors

S6 · E6 · MiG True

MiG

The history behind the MiG is revealed from the moment it took flight in World War II to fighting against American aircrafts in Iraq.
02:00 1h

Air Warriors

S8 · E4 · Messerschmitt BF 109 True

Messerschmitt BF 109

Experts share an inside look into Nazi Germany's premier fighter, which has been credited with aiding the Nazis in thousands of victories over Allied pilots.
03:00 1h

Air Warriors

S8 · E5 · B-24 Liberator True

B-24 Liberator

Experts share how the B-24 Liberator went from concept to combat in months and how it became the most mass-produced military airplane in history.
04:00 1h

Air Warriors

S11 · E2 · PBY Catalina True

PBY Catalina

The PBY Catalina seaplane served multiple roles during WWII, primarily for air-sea rescue missions, cargo transport, convoy bombing and anti-submarine warfare.
05:00 1h

Air Warriors

S11 · E4 · Mosquito True

Mosquito

Narrators Beau Weaver and Bob Naughton take a closer look at the de Havilland Mosquito which was used as a bomber, fighter and reconnaissance aircraft.

Morning

06:00 1h

Air Warriors

S8 · E3 · Hawker Hurricane True

Hawker Hurricane

An exploration of Britain's use of the Hawker Hurricane aircraft in World War II battles highlights how the aircraft became the secret weapon they relied upon.
07:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E43 · Wyoming Travel

Wyoming

The striking landscapes of Wyoming have witnessed much history, from the expeditions of mountain men such as Jim Bridger to women's rights pioneers.
08:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E65 · Trailblazers Travel

Trailblazers

A helicopter team travels from coast-to-coast seeking out landmarks that celebrate over two centuries of leaders who had a hand in shaping America's history.
09:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E39 · Idaho Travel

Idaho

The millions of acres of untamed land and great ancient stones of the state of Idaho are explored, featuring a look at the state's unique visual treasures.
10:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E58 · Northern California Travel

Northern California

An aerial crew presents a dramatic view of Northern California where the region displays natural landmarks and historical manmade structures.
11:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E42 · The Dakotas Travel

The Dakotas

The Dakotas helped future president Theodore Roosevelt overcome the loss of his first wife and became the home of a sculptor's greatest triumph.

Daytime

12:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E57 · Washington D.C. Travel

Washington D.C.

Washington's skyline makes a profound impression because of all the history and symbolism embodied in its buildings, monuments and memorials.
13:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E22 · Nevada Travel

Nevada

An aerial tour of Nevada shows that it has more to offer than Las Vegas, revealing historic gold and silver mines and ghost towns as well as Hoover Dam.
14:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S5 · E2 · Gimli Glider Documentary

Gimli Glider

In 1983 an Air Canada jetliner runs out of fuel at 41,000 feet, and the pilots are faced with the task of landing with almost all of their instruments disabled.
15:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S12 · E7 · Catastrophe at O'Hare True

Catastrophe at O'Hare

The 1979 crash of an airliner at O'Hare International Airport was the deadliest air disaster ever on U.S. soil, and maintenance procedures were to blame.
16:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S2 · E2 · A Wounded Bird True

A Wounded Bird

As a commuter plane leaves Atlanta one of its propellers breaks and strikes the engine nacelle, causing the wing to lose its lift, and the plane sinks rapidly.
17:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S23 · E1 · Deadly Exchange Documentary

Deadly Exchange

After a commuter flight crashes a mile away from the Missouri runway where it was supposed to land, investigators look into the final seconds in the cockpit.

Evening

18:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S4 · E3 · Fire Fight Documentary

Fire Fight

The toilet of an Air Canada DC-9 catches on fire, and as the plane makes an emergency landing in Cincinnati, a flashover causes the cabin to burst into flames.
19:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S3 · E1 · Hanging by a Thread True

Hanging by a Thread

An Aloha Airlines flight from Hilo to Honolulu, Hawaii was forced to land on Maui when a crack in its fuselage resulted in explosive decompression.
20:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S11 · E6 · Turning Point Documentary

Turning Point

The hydraulics controlling the lower rudder of a Boeing 747 fail 35,000 feet above the Bering Sea, but its pilots maintain control of the plane.
21:00 1h

Ice Airport Alaska

S4 · E1 · Arctic Guardians Other

Arctic Guardians

A 737 at Anchorage International is grounded after a supposed toxic leak; the USAF's most advanced fighter jets are endangered during a mid-air refueling.
22:00 1h

Ice Airport Alaska

S4 · E1 · Arctic Survival Other

Arctic Survival

Anchorage fights through when a national snowstorm shuts down U.S. aviation; USAF aircrews train on Alaska's North Slope; life-saving cargo gets transported.
23:00 1h

Ice Airport Alaska

S4 · E3 · Crisis At Crooked Creek Other

Crisis At Crooked Creek

A remote village suffering from water pollution receives emergency supplies from a family-run airline; Alaska's largest cargo airline loads explosives.