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Neil Loving, WR3, 1967
Goddard Hoopskirt Rocket, 1928 StarTrek Starship Enterprise, 1966 Robert McCall Space Mural, 1976 Sean Tucker, Challenger III, 2010 Jerrie Mock, Cessna 180, Spirit of Columbus, 1964 Robert Fulton, the Airphibian, Flying car in 1950 Cirrus SR22, 2001 LearJet 23, 1963 Otto Lilienthal, Glider, 1891 - 1896 1909 Wright Military Flyer Blériot XI, 1909 John Stringfellow Steam Engine, 1868 Ford Tri-motor, 1926; Boeing 247, 1933; DC-3, 1935 Beechcraft 35 Bonanza, 1949 Cray-1 Supercomputer, 1977 ISS Cupola, 2010 ATS-6 Antenna, 1974 Iridium Communications Satellite, 1990s Mercury Freedom 7, 1961; Gemini VII, 1965; Apollo 11, 1969 Starwar X-wing Fighter, 1977 Jackie Cochran, T-38 Talon, 1961 Patty Wagstaff, Extra 260, 1991 Mario Andretti Indy 500 racing car, 1969 Glenn Curtiss, V-8 Motorcycle, 1907 Roscoe Turner, RT-14 Meteor, 1936 Jon Sharp, DR 90 Nemesis, 1994-1998 Mariner 10, 1973; Voyager I & II, 1977 Viking lander, 1976; Mars Rover Marie Curie, 1997; Spirit and Opportunity, 2004; Curiosity, 2012; Perseverance, 2020 1/8
The Wright Brothers The invention of the airplane by Wilbur and Orville Wright is one of the great stories in American history. The Wright brothers’ invention not only solved a long-studied technical problem, but helped create an entirely new world. This gallery explores who Wilbur and Orville Wright were, what they achieved and how they did it, and how the world first reacted to their revolutionary invention. At the center of the story and the heart of the gallery is the original 1903 Wright Flyer, one of the most iconic artifacts in the Smithsonian’s collection. 1900 Wright Glider (reproduction) On their path to the first successful powered airplane, the 1903 Wright Flyer, the Wright brothers built three full-size gliders to test their design ideas regarding control, aerodynamics, and structures. The first one in 1900 produced less lift than the brothers' calculations predicted, but its wing-warping system for lateral control and forward elevator for pitch control worked beautifully. The Wrights primarily flew the 1900 glider as a kite, with no pilot aboard, to test its performance, but they did make a few free glides with Wilbur Wright as pilot, totaling two minutes in the air. 1902 Wright Glider (reproduction) The third in a series of gliders leading up to their powered airplane, the 1902 glider was the Wright brothers' most advanced yet. Reflecting their single, evolving design, it was again a biplane with a canard (forward) surface for pitch control and wing-warping for lateral control. But its longer, narrower wings, elliptical elevator, and vertical tail gave it a much more graceful, elegant appearance. Like the 1901 glider, this one also had a spruce and ash framework supported within pockets sewn into its muslin fabric covering. The fabric was again applied on the bias (the direction of the weave at a 45-degree angle). The wings were rigged with a slight downward droop to counteract side-slipping due to crosswinds. 1903 Wright Flyer The Wright brothers inaugurated the aerial age with the world's first successful flights of a powered heavier-than-air flying machine. The Wright Flyer was the product of a sophisticated four-year program of research and development conducted by Wilbur and Orville Wright beginning in 1899. After building and testing three full-sized gliders, the Wrights' first powered airplane flew at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903, making a 12-second flight, traveling 36 m (120 ft), with Orville piloting. The best flight of the day, with Wilbur at the controls, covered 255.6 m (852 ft) in 59 seconds. The Wrights pioneered many of the basic tenets and techniques of modern aeronautical engineering, such as the use of a wind tunnel and flight testing as design tools. Their seminal accomplishment encompassed not only the breakthrough first flight of an airplane, but also the equally important achievement of establishing the foundation of aeronautical engineering. Inventing the Airplane, Changing the World (2:15)
Wright Brothers Discover Aspect Ratio (6:20) The Story of the Inner Tube Box (3:56) 2/8
We All Fly We All Fly gallery celebrates the breadth and depth of general aviation and its deep impact on society. This gallery explores the many facets of general aviation, from sport to business to humanitarian, and introduces the variety of careers available in aviation. Aircraft featured in the gallery include the Sean D. Tucker Challenger III, Cirrus SR22, and the Lear Jet 23. Sean D. Tucker Challenger III Sean D. Tucker rolled and tumbled like no other flyer. Specialty Aero and Aviation Specialties Unlimited built the Challenger III aerobatic biplane to withstand Tucker’s maneuvers—like rolling the Challenger III at 400 degrees per second. A “flying tail” helped him fly sustained knife-edge and backwards flight. Designers and engineers made the airframe with welded steel tubes. They used wood spars in the wings, and covered the wings and fuselage with fabric. Eight ailerons and curved wing tips enhanced maneuverability. The tail had a carbon-fiber covered vertical fin and an aluminum rudder. The custom-built, fuel injected engine featured aluminum pistons manufactured for drag racing cars. Cessna 180 Spirit of Columbus 60 years ago, Geraldine "Jerrie" Mock became the first woman to fly solo around the world. After 29 days, 11 hours, 59 minutes, and 23,103 miles, Mock touched down at Port Columbus airport on April 17, 1964, to become the first woman to accomplish the feat. She flew in her Cessna 180 "Spirit of Columbus" which was donated to our Museum in 1976, along with a pair of her sunglasses. A Flying Car in 1945 (Fulton Airphibian FA-3-101) Designed by Robert Fulton Jr., the Airphibian in 1950 became the first roadable aircraft approved by the Civil Aviation Administration. It could fly to an airport and then, after disengaging wings, tail, and propeller, become a car. While a technical success as a flying car, the Airphibian did not become a marketable design due to the inherent compromises of air and car technologies and financial difficulties. A former company officer donated the Airphibian in 1960 and Robert Fulton III restored it in 1998. Cirrus SR22 The Cirrus SR22 changed the face of general aviation when introduced in 2001 with completely new exterior designs of all-composite material, improved aerodynamics and expanded windows, ergonomically designed interior based on a side yoke control and new instrumentation, and the integrated flight instrumentation/avionics systems. The Cirrus SR22 represents the first comprehensive and transformational redesign of personal aircraft in over 50 years. It has been the best-selling general aviation airplane every year since 2003 and is the recipient of many aerospace industry design and safety awards. In 2014, Alan and Dale Klapmeier were inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Lear Jet 23 The first Lear Jets, the Model 23s, were the first products of the original Lear Jet Corporation for the new field of business and personal jet aviation. So significant was the design that for years "Lear Jet" was synonymous with "bizjet." William P. Lear Sr. initiated the Lear Jet's development in 1959. The aircraft drew upon the structural quality of the Swiss AFA P-16 strike-fighter and featured a fuselage that narrowed at each side where the wing and engine nacelles extended outward-a design concept known as area rule-to provide smooth airflow around the engines. Successive Lear Jet models set many speed records. In production since 1964, the Lear Jet line closed in 2021. This is the second protoype Model 23 and was used as a test aircraft. 3/8
Early Flight Between the first flights of the Wright brothers in 1903 and the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the airplane grew from an ancient dream into a reality that would shape the future. Early Flight uses artifacts like the Lilienthal Glider, 1909 Wright Military Flyer, and the Blériot XI to explore how in one short decade people in America and around the world were pushing boundaries, setting records, participating in air shows, and turning the aircraft into a technology that would usher in the aerial age. Lilienthal Glider The most significant pre-Wright brothers aeronautical experimenter was the German glider pioneer Otto Lilienthal. Between 1891 and 1896, he built and flew a series of highly successful full-size gliders. During this period, Lilienthal made close to 2,000 brief flights in 16 different designs based on aerodynamic research he conducted in the 1870s and 1880s. Like the example in the National Air and Space Museum collection, most were monoplanes with stabilizing tail surfaces mounted at the rear. Control was achieved by shifting body weight fore-and-aft and from side-to-side. Beyond his technical contributions, he sparked aeronautical advancement from a psychological point of view, as well by unquestionably demonstrating that gliding flight was possible. He was a great inspiration to the Wright brothers in particular. They adopted his approach of glider experimentation and used his aerodynamic data as a starting point in their own research. 1909 Wright Military Flyer The 1909 Wright Military Flyer is the world's first military airplane. In 1908, the U.S. Army Signal Corps sought competitive bids for a two-seat observation aircraft. Flight trials with the Wrights' entry began at Fort Myer, Virginia, on September 3, 1908. After several days of successful flights, tragedy occurred on September 17, when Orville Wright crashed with a Army's observer. Orville survived with severe injuries, but observer was killed, becoming the first fatality in a powered airplane. On June 3, 1909, the Wrights returned to Fort Myer with a new airplane to complete the trials begun in 1908. Satisfying all requirements, the Army purchased the airplane for $30,000, and conducted flight training with it at nearby College Park, Maryland, and at Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas, in 1910. It was given to the Smithsonian in 1911. Blériot XI Louis Blériot achieved immortality when he made the first airplane crossing of the English Channel in a Blériot Type XI on July 25, 1909. His daring crossing of the English Channel in 1909 in a Bleriot XI made these single-wing airplanes popular among European aviators. This one was owned by Swiss stunt pilot John Domenjoz. His dizzying feat of "looping the loop" in it 40 consecutive times earned him the nickname "upside-down Domenjoz." Stringfellow Steam Engine At an exposition in 1868 in London's Crystal Palace, where the Stringfellow Steam Engine powered a triplane model along a cable, the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain awarded a prize of £100 to Stringfellow’s engine as the lightest in proportion to its power, producing one horsepower for the weight of 13 pounds. In 1889, Smithsonian Secretary Samuel Langley purchased the engine, along with a "car" designed to carry an engine and a pair of propellers, for £25. How Otto Lilienthal Glided Like a Bird (1:28)
World's First Military Airplane (1:32) Bleriot XI - The First Warplane (8:23) 4/8
America by Air America by Air traces the history of commercial aviation in the United States from airmail to airlines. Exploring the history of air transportation in the United States, this exhibit shows how the federal government has shaped the airline industry, how improvements in technology have revolutionized air travel, how the flying experience has changed, and how different airlines have fared over the course of the history of commercial aviation. Ford Tri-Motor There are 18 Ford Tri-motor in existence today, 8 of which have current FAA airworthiness certificates, 5 are displayed in museums and another 5 are under restoration. Douglas DC-3 First flown in 1935, the Douglas DC-3 became the most successful airliner in the formative years of air transportation, and was the first to fly profitably without government subsidy. More than 13,000 DC-3s, both civil and military versions, U.S. and foreign built, were produced. Many are still flying. An enlarged variant of the popular 14-seat DC-2, the 21-seat DC-3 was comfortable by the standards of its time and very safe, because of its strong, multiple-spar wing and all-metal construction. The airlines liked it because it was reliable, inexpensive to operate, and therefore profitable. Pilots liked its stability, ease of handling, and excellent single-engine performance. Boeing 247-D The world’s first modern airliner, the Boeing 247 revolutionized air transportation when it entered service with United Air Lines in 1933. With its sleek, low-wing, all-metal construction; retractable landing gear; and supercharged, air-cooled engines, the Boeing 247 was 50 percent faster than its competitors. Its innovative design launched a new generation of commercial airliners, notably the Douglas DC-2. The Boeing 247-D version pioneered the use of controllable-pitch propellers and wing de-icer boots. The airplane on display above is the first production 247-D. Roscoe Turner and Clyde Pangborn flew it in the 1934 England-to-Australia International Air Derby, better known as the MacRobertson Race. The airplane placed third overall and second in the transport category, completing the 18,180-kilometer (11,300-mile) journey in just under 93 hours. It was returned to United Air Lines and flown as the airline’s flagship until replaced by DC-3s. Ford’s Flying Machine (1:15)
Flying an Air Race in the First Modern Airliner (1:27) The First Modern Airliner: The Boeing 247 (6:46) Douglas DC-3: Most Successful Airliner (1:29) Common
X-wing Fighter Jackie Cochran's T-38 Talon The T-38 Talon was the world’s first supersonic jet trainer. Airmen and astronauts have flown it. It entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 1961, and nearly 1,200 were produced. Patty Wagstaff and her Extra 260 Patty Wagstaff became the first woman to win the U.S. National Aerobatic Championship with this aircraft in 1991, and again in 1992. The Extra 260 is recognized for its beauty, high performance, and maneuverability. 5/8
One World Connected One World Connected tells the story of how taking to the skies and stars fostered two momentous changes in everyday life: the ease in making connections across vast distances and a new perspective of Earth as humanity’s home. Featuring an array of satellites and other tools that have increased human connection, the exhibition asks visitors to consider how global interconnection touches their lives and to imagine how advances in technology might impact our near-future. Beechcraft 35 Bonanza On March 7-8, 1949, Captain William Paul Odom departed Honolulu Airport on the island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, flying the fourth prototype Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza, N80040, which he had named Waikiki Beech, enroute to Teterboro, New Jersey, non-stop. He arrived there after 36 hours, 1 minute, setting a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Record for Distance in a Straight Line of 4,957.24 miles, averaging 137.64 miles per hour. The Bonanza had 12 gallons of gasoline remaining, having consumed 272.25 gallons. Computer, Super, Cray-1, CPU This is a CRAY-1, an early example of a class of computers called "supercomputers." It was built by Cray Research, Inc. of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and installed at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. Unlike most computers, it was hand-wired, and its circuits were arranged in a three-quarters circle. Both helped increase the speeds at which signals travel from one part of the computer to another. Hefty power supplies are located below each of the circuit bays, and the padding on them suggests a piece of lounge furniture. At NCAR, the machine was used between 1977 and 1983, where it performed complex calculations involving the numerical modeling of weather phenomena. As the speeds of ordinary workstations increased over the years, it became obsolete and was donated to the Smithsonian. ISS Cupola One of the most iconic features of the International Space Station is its stunning Cupola which offers spectacular views of the Earth below. Cable, Fiber Optic, Undersea, Single Armor Satellites provide unprecedented flexibility in passing information around the world. But they compete with and complement another technology for international communications: fiber optic cables laid beneath oceans and connecting the world's major land masses. Fiber optic cables can carry more information, more quickly than satellites, but they concentrate service to the most heavily populated regions of the world. This section of cable represents late 1990s technology. Note the thin filaments at the center of the cable; these are the fiber optic strands that transmit communications. ATS-6 Antenna The primary objectives of ATS 6 were to erect in orbit a large high-gain steerable antenna structure capable of providing a good-quality TV signal to a ground-based receiver and to measure and evaluate the performance of such an antenna. Sirius FM-4 Comm Satellite The Sirius FM-4 broadcasting satellite was built as a flight-ready back-up for a constellation of three satellites developed by SiriusXM. The solar panels are stowed as if for launch. Fully opened in orbit, they would span more than 78 feet Communications Satellite, Iridium This satellite is the heart of a space-based communications system called Iridium. Conceived, designed, and built by Motorola, the Iridium system provides wireless, mobile communications through a network of 66 satellites in polar, low-Earth orbits. Inaugurated in November 1998, under the auspices of Iridium LLC, this complex space system allowed callers using hand-held mobile phones and pagers to communicate anywhere in the world--a first in the history of telephony. The system is still operational today. Designed primarily for commercial communications, the U.S. government has used Iridium extensively in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. 6/8
Destination Moon The Destination Moon exhibition features iconic objects from the Museum's unrivaled collection of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo artifacts, including Alan Shepard's Mercury spacesuit and spacecraft, a Saturn V F-1 engine, and Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 spacesuit and command module Columbia. The gallery shows how an extraordinary combination of motivations, resources, and technologies made it possible for humans to walk on the Moon—and how and why we are going back today. Mercury Capsule. Freedom 7 The first American in space, Alan B. Shepard, Jr., hoped to fly this Mercury capsule on a long-duration orbital mission in late 1963 called Mercury-Atlas 10 (MA-10). After the success of MA-9, flown by astronaut Gordon Cooper in May 1963, NASA decided to cancel MA-10 to concentrate on its next human spaceflight project, Gemini. Reflecting Shepard's hope of flying in space again, he had the name Freedom 7 II, in tribute to his historic 1961 capsule, Freedom 7, painted on the spacecraft. Gemini VII Capsule Astronauts Frank Borman and James Lovell were launched into orbit aboard this spacecraft, Gemini VII, on December 4, 1965. Their primary mission was to show that humans could live in weightlessness for 14 days, a record that would stand until 1970. Gemini VII also served as the target vehicle for Gemini VI-A, piloted by Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford, who carried out the world's first space rendezvous on December 15. These two achievements were critical steps on the road to the Apollo Moon landing. This module is the only part of Gemini that returned to earth. Behind the heat shield was an adapter section containing propellants for the maneuvering thrusters, fuel cells for electric power, and retrorockets. It was jettisoned before reentry. The nose section was discarded during parachute deployment. In 1968 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration gave Gemini VII to the Smithsonian. Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia The Apollo 11 Command Module, "Columbia," was the living quarters for the three-person crew during most of the first crewed lunar landing mission in July 1969. On July 16, 1969, Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins were launched from Cape Kennedy atop a Saturn V rocket. This Command Module, no. 107, manufactured by North American Rockwell, was one of three parts of the complete Apollo spacecraft. The other two parts were the Service Module and the Lunar Module, nicknamed "Eagle." The Service Module contained the main spacecraft propulsion system and consumables while the Lunar Module was the two-person craft used by Armstrong and Aldrin to descend to the Moon's surface on July 20. The Command Module is the only portion of the spacecraft to return to Earth. Pressure Suit, A7-L, Armstrong, Apollo 11, Flown This spacesuit was worn by astronaut Neil Armstrong, Commander of the Apollo 11 mission, which landed the first man on the Moon on July 20, 1969. The lunar spacesuits were designed to provide a life sustaining environment for the astronaut during periods of extra vehicular activity or during unpressurized spacecraft operation. They permitted maximum mobility and were designed to be worn with relative comfort for up to 115 hours in conjunction with the liquid cooling garment. If necessary, they were also capable of being worn for 14 days in an unpressurized mode. Project Mercury: The First Americans in Space (4:06)
Gemini VII (2:37) Bridge from Mercury to Apollo (1:16) Apollo 11 - The First Moon Walk | Things You Wanna Know (2:45) One Small Step (1:38) Ask an Expert: Apollo and Moon Hoax (16:32) Lunar Module 2 MESA (2:38) Lunar Module Columbia (7:30) The Life of Lunar Module 2 (1:32) 7/8
Nation of Speed Featuring iconic vehicles from Mario Andretti’s Indy 500 winning race car to the Sharp DR 90 Nemesis, Nation of Speed paints a portrait of human ingenuity — the technology developed to propel people faster and faster— and explores how the pursuit of speed has shaped American culture and our national identity and is presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. 1907 Curtiss V-8 Motorcycle This is his story, from setting records on the ground, to setting them in the air, and making an indelible mark on aviation. Some call Glenn H. Curtiss the “father of naval aviation.” He made the world’s first practical flying boats. In January of 1907, with a V-8 engine in his motorcycle, Glenn shattered the world speed record, becoming the fastest man on earth. On land as a bicycle maker and racer, a motorcycle designer and the fastest man alive, in the air as an aircraft designer and pilot, and on the water through his work with navies, Glenn Curtiss left his mark on history. Turner RT-14 Meteor With this aircraft, Col. Roscoe Turner became the only three-time winner of the Thompson Trophy. Gilmore the Flying Lion was the pet of the flamboyant air racer. In early 1930, Turner received a major sponsorship from the Gilmore Oil Company. Seeking a colorful way to promote the company's products, he purchased a male lion cub and named him "Gilmore." Turner and Gilmore began flying together and logged over 25,000 miles in the air before his retirement. Sharp DR 90 Nemesis The most successful aircraft in air racing history, Nemesis dominated its competition, winning 47 of its 50 contests from 1991 until its retirement in 1999. Flown by pilot and designer Jon Sharp, it won nine consecutive Reno Gold National Championships and 16 world speed records for its class. Chevrolet Corvette Since its introduction in 1953, the two-seater has steadily moved upmarket. Originally a relatively modest, lightweight 6‑cylinder convertible, subsequent introductions of V8 engines, competitive chassis innovations, and rear mid-engined layout have positioned the Corvette in the supercar class.The Corvette has become widely known as both "the most successful concept car in history and the most popular sports car in history." 8/8
Exploring the Planets Gallery The Exploring the Planets Gallery probes the science and history of our exploration of planets, moons, and other objects in our solar system. This exhibit tells the stories of the diversity of worlds circling our Sun and how exploring those worlds helps enhance our own understanding of Earth. Exploring the Planets draws on research from scientists in the Museum’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, who are actively involved in current planetary missions. Mars Pathfinder Rover Mars Pathfinder was launched December 4, 1996 and landed on Mars' Ares Vallis on July 4, 1997. It was designed as a technology demonstration of a new way to deliver an instrumented lander and the first-ever robotic rover to the surface of the red planet. Both the lander and the 25-pound rover carried instruments for scientific observations and to provide engineering data on the new technologies being demonstrated. Mars Exploration Rover Spirit and Opportunity landed on Mars January 3 and January 24, 2004 PST. Both rovers lived well beyond their planned 90-day missions. Opportunity worked nearly 15 years on Mars and broke the driving record for putting the most miles on the odometer. The adventure twins each found evidence for past wet conditions that possibly could have supported microbial life. Mars Curiosity Rover The Mars Science Laboratory, Curiosity, successfully landed on the red planet on August 6, 2012, after nearly a year traveling from Earth. Curiosity brought to the red planet’s surface a formidable life sciences laboratory that may well help resolve beyond serious question whether or not life ever existed on Mars. This rover is the first full-scale astrobiology mission to Mars since the Viking landers of 1976. Having followed the water, and found evidence of it, Curiosity now seeks to answer if Mars could have supported—or might still support—life. Mariner 10 Launched in 1973, Mariner 10 was the first spacecraft sent to the planet Mercury; the first mission to explore two planets (Mercury and Venus) during a single mission; the first to return to its primary destination for another look; and the first to use a gravity assist to change its flight path. Voyager Spacecraft Launched in 1977, the twin Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft explored the outer planets of our solar system. They flew past Jupiter in 1979 and Saturn in 1981 and 1982. Voyager 2 flew by Uranus and Neptune. In 2012, Voyager 1 entered interstellar space. The History of Mars Rovers (2:19)
Exploring Mars Curiosity (1:25) Curiosity Rover Mission Animation (5:28) Voyager Wrap-up and Question
Now we have come to the end of the tour. May I close by expressing my deepest appreciation of your interests? To be a docent of such a wonderful VIP is really an honor of which the Smithsonian might well be proud. I want to thank you for coming here. I hope that I will have the pleasure of seeing you all again in the future. Have a great day! Any Question? Thank you. |