Smithsonian TV Guide — Friday, 15 May 2026

Browse the full Smithsonian TV guide for Friday, 15 May 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 · E9 · Zero True

Zero

The history behind Japan's A6M Zero from World War II is showcased with a look at how the U.S. Navy beat it with their F4U Corsair aircraft.

01:00 1h

Air Warriors

S11 · E6 · B-1 Lancer True

B-1 Lancer

Narrators Beau Weaver and Bob Naughton talk about how the Cold War bomber B-1 Lancer evolved into one of America's most effective military aircrafts.

02:00 1h

Air Warriors

S9 · E2 · Top Ten Cold War True

Top Ten Cold War

In the Cold War battle between the U.S. and Soviet Union, some of the world's most formidable weapons were used, such as power lifters and nuclear bombers.

03:00 1h

Air Warriors

S4 · E1 · F-16 True

F-16

The General Dynamics F-16 is fast and nimble, and since the Vietnam War, it has evolved to become the U.S.' primary multirole warplane.

04:00 1h

Air Warriors

S9 · E1 · Top Ten WWII True

Top Ten WWII

The Allies used flying weapons in the fight against Nazi Germany, from the dogfighters like the P-51 Mustang and British Spitfire to the Hellcat dive-bomber.

05:00 1h

Air Warriors

S6 · E3 · F - 4 Phantom True

F - 4 Phantom

Military personnel share the history behind the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and discuss how the aircraft has been in use since the Cold War.

Morning

06:00 1h

Air Warriors

S7 · E2 · Top Choppers True

Top Choppers

A look at some of the world's most functional and powerful helicopters includes the Huey aircraft that was used in Vietnam as a rescue helicopter.

07:00 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.

08:00 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.

09:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E15 · New Hampshire Travel

New Hampshire

The state whose motto is 'Live Free or Die' hosts a population of free thinkers living among its impressive mountains, beautiful rivers and colonial villages.

10:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E50 · Indiana Travel

Indiana

The sights of the state in which Abraham Lincoln came of age include one of the world's iconic racetracks, a university with a golden dome and a vibrant city.

11:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E55 · Puerto Rico & US Virgin Islands Travel

Puerto Rico & US Virgin Islands

A flight over Puerto Rico and the Virgins reveals the stunning beauty of the Caribbean islands' towering mountains and dazzling beaches.

Daytime

12:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E72 · Great Cities Travel

Great Cities

An in-depth look at how major cities across the country run day and night as an aerial crew share footage of the beauty and famous landmarks from each city.

13:00 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.

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

S18 · E7 · Free Fall Documentary

Free Fall

On October 7, 2008, Qantas Flight 72 from Singapore Changi to Perth made an emergency landing at Learmonth airport near the town of Exmouth, Western Australia.

16:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

Sabotage True

Sabotage

Investigations into Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961, Italia Airlines Flight 870 and LAM Airlines Flight 470 reveal how sabotage can occur in many forms.

17:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S15 · E5 · Deadly Mission Documentary

Deadly Mission

In 1961, a United Nations DC-6 fatally is involved in a crash on the way to Ndola Airport from Zambia, which kills the Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjold.

Evening

18:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S14 · E11 · What Happened to Malaysian 370? True

What Happened to Malaysian 370?

On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared while flying from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport.

19:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S20 · E9 · Cockpit Killer Documentary

Cockpit Killer

Investigators conclude that a pilot deliberately wrecked his aircraft after LAM Mozambique Airlines Flight 470 nosedives and crashes in Namibia.

20:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S23 · E4 · Power Play Documentary

Power Play

When a turboprop loses power to the engine and crashes, the investigators discover a fatal defect which is in Dash 8s all over the world.

21:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S23 · E10 · Mystery over the Mediterranean Documentary

Mystery over the Mediterranean

A controversial theory emerges six years after EgyptAir Flight 804 falls into the Mediterranean Sea and the Egyptian authorities assume an act of terrorism.

22:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S18 · E10 · Dead of Winter Documentary

Dead of Winter

On November 15, 1987, Continental Airlines Flight 1713 crashed while taking off in a snowstorm from Denver, and the investigation reveals some chilling facts.

23:00 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.