The Aeronautics Division is responsible for the historical research and collecting activities of the National Air and Space Museum related to all aspects of flight in the atmosphere. The goal of the division is to preserve, document, and interpret the history of aeronautical technology within a broad and appropriate political, economic, and social context. As part of this responsibility, the division acquires, documents, and maintains a collection of historically significant artifacts for public exhibition, study, and reference. Staff members conduct historical research leading toward scholarly and popular publications, exhibitions, lectures, seminars, and other forms of public presentation. Staff members also respond to a broad range of requests from the public on matters related to the history of aeronautics.

The Aeronautics Division co-manages with the Space History Division the Smithsonian History of Aviation and Spaceflight Series. The series seeks to publish substantive works that further our understanding of the transformation aviation and spaceflight have brought about in our lives--our conceptions of time and distance, our daily routines and popular culture, and the conduct of exploration, business, and war--in their social, cultural, political, and military contexts.