Smithsonian TV Guide — Friday, 5 June 2026

Browse the full Smithsonian TV guide for Friday, 5 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

S6 · E4 · F - 22 Raptor True

F - 22 Raptor

The undetectable spy plane known as the F-22 Raptor is examined as Air Force pilots share what it's like to dominate the skies with the sneaky aircraft.

01:00 1h

Air Warriors

S6 · E7 · P-38 Lightning True

P-38 Lightning

The history behind the World War II warplane known as the P-38 Lightning is revealed as a look is taken at the pilots' struggle to learn how to fly it.

02:00 1h

Air Warriors

S1 · E2 · Apache True

Apache

The U.S. Army's AH-64 Apache attack helicopter backs up ground troops all over the world, striking with a variety of lethal weapons.

03:00 1h

Air Warriors

S11 · E5 · F-100 Super Sabre True

F-100 Super Sabre

Narrators Beau Weaver and Bob Naughton tell the story of the North American F-100 Super Sabre and how it became a sonic powerhouse after some difficulties.

04:00 1h

Air Warriors

S2 · E3 · Black Hawk True

Black Hawk

The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk became the U.S. Army's go-to helicopter for delivering troops to and from the battlefront in 1979 after years of development.

05:00 1h

Air Warriors

S11 · E8 · C-47 Skytrain True

C-47 Skytrain

The history of how the C-47 went from a passenger plane to a gunship in Vietnam.

Morning

06:00 1h

Air Warriors

S7 · E1 · Top Dogfighters True

Top Dogfighters

Stories of aerial combat include tales of dangerous fights that took place over Nazi occupied Germany with P-38 Lightning and Messerschmitts aircrafts.

07:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E1 · California Travel

California

The show's team flies over California's popular landmarks, providing viewers with a new look at Hearst Castle, Alcatraz Prison and the Golden Gate Bridge.

08:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E2 · Hawaii Travel

Hawaii

The show's team flies over the islands, capturing footage of big-wave surfers, pineapple plantations and a live, close-up overhead look at an erupting volcano.

09:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E36 · West Virginia Travel

West Virginia

The Mountain State, which John Denver called "almost heaven," with its fiercely independent spirit and towering peaks, is explored.

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 · E9 · Maine Travel

Maine

A flyover reveals picturesque Maine's rugged coastline, remote islands and vast, densely forested central wilderness and shows the state's beauty.

Daytime

12:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E68 · New York City 24 Travel

New York City 24

New York City is referred to as "the city that never sleeps," and an aerial tour over the five boroughs at night shows man-made and natural wonders.

13:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E24 · Mississippi Travel

Mississippi

The Magnolia State is explored for everything from civil rights locales to the birthplaces of literary minds like William Faulkner, and everything in between.

14:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S1 · E6 · Killer in the Cockpit? True

Killer in the Cockpit?

Cases in which a pilot deliberately crashes or attempts to crash an aircraft in a suicide attempt are presented, unleashing their plans on innocent passengers.

15:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S14 · E6 · The Death of JFK Jr. Documentary

The Death of JFK Jr.

When John F. Kennedy Jr.'s Piper Saratoga crashed in July 1999, speculation was rampant all over the world, and the NTSB was under pressure to find answers.

16:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S3 · E13 · Ocean Landing True

Ocean Landing

After Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 is taken over by three crazed political fugitives, the heroic pilot tries an emergency landing.

17:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S21 · E8 · Pitch Black True

Pitch Black

A pilots mishandling of an electrical problem causes Air Illinois Flight 710 to crash into an open field in poor weather, killing all 10 passengers on board.

Evening

18:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S20 · E2 · Impossible Pitch True

Impossible Pitch

A report is shared on the accident of a West Air Sweden Flight near Lake Akkajaure in Sweden during a cargo flight, which killed both crew members.

19:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S23 · E8 · Deadly Deception Documentary

Deadly Deception

A Bulgarian airliner gets hijacked and to save them the hijackers must be convinced that their demands have been met before the planes fuel runs out.

20:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

Accidents in the Air True

Accidents in the Air

After the Flydubai Flight 981 enters a rapid descent and crashes in Russia, investigators realize that it aborted its second landing attempt in poor weather.

21:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S2 · E3 · Collision Course True

Collision Course

When a Greek ferry is pushed off course by strong waves, it crashes into some rocks and makes eighty passengers lose their lives waiting for a rescue.

22:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S16 · E1 · Deadly Silence Documentary

Deadly Silence

On October 25, 1999, a Learjet 35, with professional golfer Payne Stewart onboard, ran out of fuel and strayed off course before crashing into a field.

23:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S3 · E5 · Bomb on Board True

Bomb on Board

A Philippine Airlines Flight is in danger as an Al-Qaeda terrorist has sneaked an explosive on board as it's in route to Tokyo, Japan.