Smithsonian HD Network

In 1991, a Boeing 737 operating as United Airlines Flight 585 suddenly rolls into a dive and crashes within eight seconds, killing all 25 people on board.

When Germanwings Flight 9525 crashes in the French Alps, investigators discover shocking truths about the co-pilot's mental health.

On 27 November 2008, an aircraft on a post-maintenance test flight operating as XL Airways Germany Flight 888T stalls and crashes into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of France, killing all seven people on board.

In 1999, EgyptAir Flight 990 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean while flying from New York City to Cairo, killing all 217 people on board; the cause of the crash is disputed.

Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes shortly after take-off in Detroit in 1987; a fatal preflight error caused the second-deadliest plane crash in the U.S. history.

An up-close look at the naval carriers, destroyers, and nuclear submarines of the Cold War.

Stories of historic Black struggle for equality in maritime combat; an enslaved powder boy who served during the French and Indian War; a Civil War gunner; the first African American to command a vessel with a fully integrated crew: Hugh Mulzac.

A look at how technological advances over the centuries have led to bigger and faster combat ships and transformed maritime warfare.

A look at key naval battles that have taken place in the Persian Gulf over the last 50 years and the warships involved, from both sides of the conflicts.

A look at the smallest ships of war and the major roles they've played over the centuries, including the 1776 gunboat built to stop a British invasion and the HA-19 sub.

New high-tech investigations uncover what sunk a World War I cruiser, a World War II submarine, a British destroyer from the Falklands War, and more.

A look at how navy weapons have evolved over the centuries, from cannons to gun turrets to nuclear missiles and beyond.

Exploring maritime heroes who left their mark on history through their bravery and skill, including Larry Chambers, Ernest Evans, and Robert Smalls.

A look at riverine warfare from the Civil War to Vietnam and small but powerful combat ships.

Recounting some of maritime warfare's explosions, from world wars and Vietnam to the nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll.

The story of one of the world's most effective war machines: the Viking longship, seeing how its design evolved from swift war canoe to versatile and feared ship that would change the course of history.

A look at the most famous wooden warships over the course of 500 years.

An inside look at the P47 Thunderbolt and the critical role it played in both the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II.

The inside story of the Avro Lancaster, the British bomber that was rushed into service to fight back against Nazi Germany.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is one of the most lethal bombers of the U.S. Air Force in WWII's European and Pacific campaigns; among other things, the plane delivered food to the German-occupied Netherlands.

A look at the rise and fall of the infamous Nazi dive bomber Ju-87 Stuka, an aircraft of World War II.

The Spitfire's legend and role in the Battle of Britain.

The inside story of how the AH/MH-6 evolved over the decades to become an irreplacable aircraft for the U.S. Military.

The inside story of Britain's flagship super jet of the Cold War era, the Hawker Hunter, and its most thrilling flights during the late 20th century.