TV Guide Smithsonian Thursday

An exploration of the typically dangerous conditions at Ted Stevens International Airport in Alaska highlights the dedicated crews that keep passengers safe.

In 1988 a brand-new Airbus A320 became the first of its model to crash after it hit the treetops just beyond the runway during a flyby at an air show.

The 1985 explosion of an Air India jet flying out of Montreal was attributed to a bomb planted by agents of two radical Sikh organizations working together.

In 1956 two commercial airliners are found in pieces on the floor of the Grand Canyon; the experts' conclusions change every air voyage that follows.

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.

When a World War II-era fighter plane nosedives into the crowd at a Nevada air show, investigators call on the pilot's friend to help determine what went wrong.

An analytical look is taken at historical rescue ships that played a part in transporting people and rescuing refugees and the injured from disaster.

Revolutionary designs and ship experiments change the tides of war over centuries.

Exploring four stories of uprisings across naval history including the infamous mutiny on the Bounty and the daring takeover of the brig Creole.

World War II operations involving stealth watercrafts, such as the submarine HMS Seraph, are examined in detail, as is the 1985 prototype Sea Shadow.

An in-depth examination of the amphibious assault ship, a type of amphibious warfare ship, which borrows its design from aircraft carriers, is conducted.

Heroic acts and life-threatening missions are retold as a closer look is taken at battleships to see how several world wars changed the ship's technology.

The heroism of U.S. sailors who held off the powerful Imperial Navy at the battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942.

The history of self-propelled torpedoes is shared as old ship designs are examined to see how the Navy accompanied the additional weapon.

The largest naval battle in modern history, which was fought in October 1944 in the waters of the Philippine Islands, and its ships are examined.

Firsthand accounts detail the dangerous operation to storm the beaches of Normandy, France as a close look is taken at the technology behind the famed armada.

A close look is taken at the sinking of the Lusitania, the war games of Gilbert Roberts, and the Pentagon's capture of a sunken Soviet nuclear submarine.

The Battle of Trafalgar, one of the greatest battles in naval history, includes nimble frigates and large ships like the HMS Victory.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

The battle of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf helps shed light on the impact the F6F Hellcat had on history and the Allies' eventually victory.

The history of one of the Navy's top carrier fighters, the F-14 Tomcat which was made famous by the movie "Top Gun."

The Cold War-era Panavia Tornado bomber's development and history.

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

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

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.

Information about a heavyweight combat plane called the AC-130 is shared as an in-depth look is taken at the near downfall of the gunship's future.