Air & Spacecraft

Aeronca C-2

"Just the basics" was the name of the game with the Aeronca C-2. The pilot sat on a bare plywood seat with five instruments, a stick, and rudder pedals in front of him..

Aeronca L-3B Grasshopper

The Aeronca L-3B is an example of the light planes used by the U.S. Army during World War II.

Albatros D.Va Reproduction

Starting with the introduction of the D.I in August 1916, the Albatros D series produced many of the most iconic German fighter planes of World War...

Alexander Eaglerock

The Alexander Eaglerock series was one of several civilian aircraft brands that emerged after World War I. Winging away from the Denver-based...

Antonov An-2 Colt

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Antonov An-2 Colt's 45-year production run is one of the longest ever for any aircraft.

Apollo 17 Lunar Module Ascent Stage Mock-up

The Grumman-built Lunar Module, or LM, was the first true spacecraft—designed to fly only in vacuum. It was a key component in fulfilling the Apollo...

Aviatik (Berg) D.I

Berg incorporated some interesting traits into his strange-looking airplane. When two side radiators on some of the early Aviatiks weren't getting the job done.

Beech C-45H Expeditor

Beech's twin-engined Model 18 helped helped the advance and growth of commercial aviation in the years before World War II.

Bell UH-1H Iroquois (Huey)

The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, commonly known as the "Huey," was a multipurpose utility helicopter famous for its widespread use during the Vietnam War....

Boeing 100/P-12/F4B

In 1928, Boeing developed the first in a family of fighters that would be one of their most successful designs between wars.

Boeing 247D

The Boeing 247 is considered to be the first modern airliner. Its sleek, low-wing, all-metal, retractable-gear, twin-engine design marked the...

Boeing 727-100

One of the world's classic airliners, the Boeing 727 was built to carry on the successful legacy of its forerunner, the 707. With a low-altitude,...

Boeing 737-130

The 737 is the smallest and most popular jetliner in the Boeing family. Dependable and economical, the 737 series has a reputation as a workhorse and...

Boeing 747-121

The growing worldwide demand for air travel during the 1960s led to the development of the 747, the first "Jumbo Jet."

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

This particular 787, ZA003, was the third Dreamliner built. It first flew on March 14, 2010. In addition to its role in the flight test and certification program

Boeing 80A-1

Until the mid-1920s, American commercial airplanes were built for mail, not people. Boeing's Model 80, along with the Ford and Fokker tri-Motors, were a new breed of passenger aircraft.

Boeing B&W Replica

The B&W was the first airplane designed and built by Boeing. On June 15, 1916, Mr. Boeing himself took the B&W aloft for the first time.

Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress

The iconic Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress served the Allied cause around the globe during World War II. Perhaps most famous as the workhorse of the...

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

The B-29 Superfortress revolutionized World War II-era bombers, enabling long-range missions over Japan.

Boeing B-52G Stratofortress

The Boeing B-52 was developed as a strategic long-range bomber. Originally designed to deliver nuclear weapons from high altitude, it has...

Boeing CH-47D Chinook "My Old Lady"

The CH-47 Chinook is a descendent of the banana-shaped Piasecki helicopter designs of the 1940s and 1950s, such as the H-21. Frank Piasecki’s...

Boeing Inertial Upper Stage Mock-up

The Boeing-developed Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) was an autonomous, upper-stage booster rocket. It could be launched from Titan IV expendable launch...

Boeing Lunar Roving Vehicle Engineering Mock-up

Boeing began work on the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) in 1969 in support of NASA's planned Apollo "J" lunar-landing missions. These missions used...

Boeing Model 40B Reproduction

In 1925, Boeing built its first Model 40 in response to a U.S. Post Office competition for a design to replace war surplus de Havilland DH-4s. The...

Boeing VC-137B "Air Force One"

The first presidential jet plane, a specially built Boeing 707-120, is known as SAM (Special Air Missions) 970.

Boeing WB-47E Stratojet

The B-47 Stratojet is one of the most important aircraft ever designed by The Boeing Company. It was the world's first large swept-wing aircraft,...

Bowers Fly Baby 1A

The Fly Baby is the winning entry in the 1962 Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Design Contest.

Bowers Fly Baby Prototype

The Fly Baby was the winning entry in the 1962 Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Design Contest. Designed and built by Seattle resident Peter...

Bowlus (Hawley) BA-100 Baby Albatross

The Bowlus BA-100 Baby Albatross glider was designed by sailplane designer Hawley Bowlus. (Mr. Bowlus earlier worked as a plant manager at Ryan...

Canadair CL-13B Sabre Mk. 6

The F-86 Sabre, built by North American, is best known for its outstanding combat performance during the Korean War. First flown in 1947, the Sabre was the United States' first fighter to fly supersonic -- in a dive.

Caproni Ca.20

The Caproni Ca.20 was an aircraft ahead of its time in design, purpose, and armament.

Cessna CG-2 Glider

In 1930, the Cessna Aircraft Company offered the public a chance to fly. For the price of $398, a CG-2 glider could be bought by catalog.

Chanute (Octave) 1896 Biplane Glider Reproduction

Octave Chanute was one of the great pioneers of early flight. In 1896, Chanute, Augustus Herring, and fellow flying enthusiasts went to wind-swept...

Concorde

British and French aerospace companies collaborated to design and build 20 Concorde aircraft between 1966 and 1979.

Curtiss JN-4D Jenny Reproduction

The Jenny is one of America's most famous airplanes. Early versions of the Curtiss biplane were serving the U.S. Army before America's entry into World War I, flying in Mexico on the trail of Pancho Villa in 1916.

Curtiss P-40N Warhawk

The Curtiss P-40 was obsolete at the outbreak of World War II, and despite continued improvements, never equaled the capabilities of its adversaries....

Curtiss-Robertson Robin C-1

The Curtiss Robin was designed for private owners. Conventional in many ways, the Robin was popular because it had an unusually large, enclosed cabin

da Vinci Il Cigno Interpretation

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was one of the great minds of the Renaissance. Although most famous for his contributions to art, he was also...

de Havilland D.H. 106 Comet Mk. 4C

The de Havilland Comet was the world's first jet airliner, designed to overtake the American lead in air transports following World War II. Design...

DG Flugzeugbau Perlan Glider

On August 29, 2006, Steve Fossett and Einar Enevoldson flew a modified glider to a record-setting altitude of 50,727 feet (15,445 m) over the...

Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II

The nimble and speedy A-4 Skyhawk bucked the trend of "bigger is better." In 1952, Douglas designer Ed Heinemann, who had been the company's chief...

Douglas DC-2

The DC-1 was developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1932 in response to TWA's (then Transcontinental & Western Air) requirement for a new...

Douglas DC-3

Following the success of the DC-2, newly formed American Airlines approached the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1934 about a new design, one that would...

Explorer One 1:1 Scale Model

Explorer 1 was the first successful satellite of the United States, launched on January 31, 1958. It is credited with the discovery of the Van Allen...

Fairchild 24

The Fairchild F-24 is a truly classic aircraft in its field. Built in the 1930s and 1940s as an economical and easy-to-fly touring aircraft, the F-24 became the plane of choice for many Hollywood stars including Robert Taylor, Tyrone Power, Mary Pickford, and Jimmy Stewart.

Fieseler Fi 103 "V1"

On June 12, 1944, under the codename Operation Eisbär (Polar Bear), Nazi Germany unleashed a new type of weapon against London, England: the Fieseler...

Fokker D.VII Reproduction

Most experts agree that the Fokker D.VII was the finest single-seat fighter plane of the war. Designed by Reinhold Platz, the prototype was called the VII and

Fokker D.VIII Reproduction

The Fokker D.VIII was the firm's final and most advanced design of World War I. Designed by Fokker's great engineering genius, Reinhold Platz, the...

Fokker Dr.I Reproduction

One of the most famous and recognizable fighters of World War I the Fokker Dr.I was built in response to the earlier success of Sopwith's Triplane.

Fokker E.III Reproduction

With its mid-wing monoplane design and distinct comma tail, Fokker's E-series fighter is one of the most recognizable aircraft of World War I.

Franks Task Silhouette

The Silhouette is a modern, all-composite sport aircraft designed as a kit for home-builders. It was designed in 1984 by Task Research of Santa...

General Motors (Eastern Aircraft Division) FM-2 Wildcat

Originally designed as a biplane in the rapidly evolving aeronautical climate of 1936, the Grumman Wildcat quickly transformed into the familiar...

Goodyear F2G-1 Super Corsair

Big, robust, and fast, the Goodyear F2G was often referred to as the "Super Corsair" for good reason. Designed and produced by Goodyear rather than...

Goodyear FG-1D Corsair

The Chance Vought F4U Corsair is considered the premier Navy and Marine fighter of World War II. The Corsair, along with the Grumman Hellcat, are...

Granville Brothers Gee Bee Z "City of Springfield" Reproduction

Like so many young people in the 1920s, Zantford Granville took a keen interest in the burgeoning field of aviation. He earned his pilot's license in...

Grumman A-6E Intruder

In the years following the Korean War, the A-6 was designed as a tough and versatile all-weather bomber to replace the Douglas Skyraider in U.S. Navy...

Grumman EA-6B Prowler

The Grumman (now Northrop Grumman) EA-6B Prowler is an electronic warfare aircraft that was operated by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Outfitted...

Grumman F-14A Tomcat

The failure of the General Dynamics F-111B to meet U.S. Navy requirements for an advanced carrier-based air-superiority fighter led to a new design...

Grumman F9F-8 (F-9J) Cougar

The F9F Cougar is the swept-wing variant of its forerunner, the F9F Panther -- Grumman's first jet fighter plane. As MiG-15s tangled with the slower,...

Heath Parasol

Edward Heath, born in 1888, received most of his engineering training at Chicago's Lane Technical High School and in the Chester Johnson family...

Howard DGA-15P

The Howard Aircraft Corporation made its name with high-profile racing successes in the mid-1930s. The most famous Howard aircraft, a DGA-6 known as...

Insitu Aerosonde Laima

"Aerosonde" is a trademarked name of an autonomous aircraft developed by InSitu, Inc. (later manufactured by Aerodonde, Ltd.), designed to collect...

Lamson (Alcor) Glider

The Alcor sailplane was one of the first sailplanes in the U.S. made of composite materials. Other innovations, like a pressurized cockpit (a first...

Lear Fan 2100

The Lear Fan 2100, a radical two-engine pusher prop-jet made almost entirely from composites, was Bill Lear's final project. When Lear died in 1978,...

Learjet 23

William Powell "Bill" Lear wasn't an aeronautical engineer when he started the Learjet project around age 60. He was an inventor and entrepreneur,...

Letov LF-107 Lunak Glider

The Czech aerobatic glider LF-107 "Luňák" (or "Kite") was designed by Rudy Letov and further developed by a group of sailplane pilots and...

Lilienthal (Otto) 1893 Glider Reproduction

German inventor Otto Lilienthal is considered to be one of the greatest airman of the nineteenth century. Starting in 1891, Lilienthal and his...

Lockheed 1049G Super Constellation

The elegant Lockheed Constellation was born from requirements put forth in 1939 by Howard Hughes for Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA) Lines....

Lockheed D-21B Drone

The D-21 drone was an unpiloted aircraft originally designed for CIA and Air Force surveillance missions over particularly hostile territories....

Lockheed F-104C Starfighter

The development of the Lockheed F-104, America's first operational Mach 2 fighter, was initially motivated by the threat posed by fast and agile...

Lockheed Jetstar Prototype (CL-329)

The Lockheed JetStar was designed in response to a request from the United States Air Force for a 10-passenger utility jet. On September 4, 1957,...

Lockheed M-21 (Blackbird)

The Blackbird family of aircraft cruised at speeds of more than Mach 3 and flew over 85,000 feet (25,500 m) in altitude. Conceived in the 1950s,...

Lockheed Martin RQ-3A Dark Star

During the 1990s, the U.S. Air Force showed renewed interest in UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). These aircraft were intended to fly high over...

Lockheed Model 10-E Electra

With its signature twin tail and exceptionally clean, art-deco appearance, the Lockheed Model 10 Electra series emerged as a purpose-built design...

Lockheed P-38L Lightning

Originally conceived as a high-altitude interceptor to meet a 1937 Army Air Corps requirement, Lockheed's Model 22, designated P-38 Lightning, was to...

Lockheed YO-3A Quiet Star

Lockheed designed the YO-3A as a nearly silent observation aircraft. The United States Army used the plane to observe nighttime enemy activity and...

MacCready Gossamer Albatross II

Paul MacCready was an aeronautical engineer who won the first Kremer Prize in 1977 for the flight of his human-powered Gossamer Condor over a closed...

McAllister Yakima Clipper Glider

The Yakima Clipper was designed and built in 1931-1932 by Washington State native and Northwest glider pioneer Charles McAllister. Based on German...

McDonnell Douglas AV-8C Harrier

The Harrier is one of the most extraordinary and recognizable fighter aircraft in the world. A single-seat light fighter with vertical/short takeoff...

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet

An all-weather fighter and attack aircraft, the F/A-18 Hornet is a highly versatile combat jet capable of filling a wide range of roles, including...

McDonnell F-4C (F-110A) Phantom II

The F-4 Phantom II is one of the most important fighter aircraft of the jet era. Begun as a derivative of the McDonnell F3H Demon in 1953, the...

McDonnell Mercury Capsule Reproduction

Project Mercury launched the first Americans into space. Mercury's goal was to orbit a manned spacecraft around the Earth, investigate a human's ability to survive and function in space, and safely return both pilot and craft.

Messerschmitt Bf 109 E (Emil)

By far the most-produced fighter ever (over 33,000 estimated), the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the primary fighter of the German Luftwaffe during World...

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis (Chinese Modified)

Developed by the Soviet Union, the MiG-15 first flew in 1947 and entered service in June 1950, just in time for the Korean War.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 PFM

The MiG-21 is probably one of the best known Soviet aircraft—flown by many nations and built in larger numbers than any warplane since World War II.

Montgolfier Brothers' Balloon Scale Model

The French brothers Joseph-Michel Montgolfier (1740-1810) and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier (1745-1799) were the inventors of the first...

Nakajima Ki-43-IIIa Hayabusa "Oscar" Reproduction

Nakajima's Ki-43 Hayabusa ("Peregrine Falcon") was the most important Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF) fighter of World War II. It entered...

NASA Full Fuselage Trainer

The Full Fuselage Trainer (FFT) is a full-scale mockup of the space shuttle orbiter, minus the wings. It was used for general familiarization...

Nieuport 24bis Reproduction

The Nieuport 24 is part of the famous line of French fighter aircraft built by the Nieuport company. A preeminent Allied airplane type, various...

Nieuport 27 Reproduction

The Nieuport 27 was the last of its type to be flown by the French, Italian, and British airmen in World War I. Although the trend in fighter design...

Nieuport 28 C1

The Nieuport 28 was the last in the line of Nieuport fighters fielded during World War I. However, it was rejected in early 1918 by the French Air...

North American Aviation Apollo Command Module 007A

The Apollo Command Module (CM), joined with its Service Module (SM), acted as the "mothership" for lunar missions from 1968 to 1972. It flew an Earth...

North American P-51D Mustang

The North American P-51 Mustang was one of the most important aircraft, and arguably the finest all-around fighter type, of World War II. The...

Northrop YF-5A (N-156F) Freedom Fighter

In the late 1950s, at the height of the Cold War, the Northrop Corporation recognized the need and opportunity for a special kind of export fighter...

Pfalz D.XII

**This aircraft is currently offsite undergoing restoration**
The Pfalz D.XII flew in the shadow of its very successful and similar-looking...

Piasecki H-21B (CH-21B) Workhorse

Frank Piasecki was one of the pioneers of the American helicopter industry. Influenced by the autogyro designs of Pitcairn and Kellett in the 1930s,...

Piper J3C-65 Cub

The name "Piper Cub" is nearly synonymous with lightplane. It was designed as a small, simple, tandem two-seat airplane for flight training. The J-3...

Pratt-Read PR-G1 Glider

In 1942, the Pratt-Read Piano Company was awarded a contract to build 100 two-place training gliders for the U.S. Navy. The glider was designated...

Republic P-47D (F-47) Thunderbolt

Republic's immense and powerful P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the truly great fighters of World War II. Designed under the leadership of Alexander...

Resurs 500 Capsule

On November 15, 1992, the Vostok-derived Resurs 500 spacecraft was launched into orbit by a Soyuz rocket, embarking on a goodwill mission called...

Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a Reproduction

One of the best Allied fighters of World War I, the S.E.5a was considered fast, strong, and a stable gun platform. The original S.E.5 of late 1916...

Rumpler Taube (Dove) Reproduction

When German glider pioneer Otto Lilienthal perished in a flying accident in 1896, an Austrian named Ignaz "Igo" Etrich acquired two of his...

Rutan Model 27 Vari Viggen

More than a dozen innovative aircraft designs have sprung from the mind of Burt Rutan. After early work as a flight test engineer, then a designer...

Rutan Model 76 Voyager Replica

More than a dozen innovative aircraft designs have sprung from the mind of Burt Rutan. After early work as a flight test engineer, then a designer...

Ryan M-1

The Ryan M-1 was T. Claude Ryan's first original aircraft design. Taking flight on February 14, 1926, it was developed to serve privately operated...

Sikorsky (S-62A) HH-52A Seaguard

For over 25 years, the Sikorsky Seaguard helicopter served as a dependable search-and-rescue aircraft for the U.S. Coast Guard. Based on the Sikorsky...

Sopwith Camel F.1 Reproduction

The famous successor to the Sopwith Pup, the Camel owes its nickname to the pronounced hump in front of the cockpit -- actually an enclosure for two...

Sopwith Pup Reproduction

The Sopwith aircraft that followed the 1½ Strutter was referred to as its "pup." Although officially named "Scout" or "Type 9901," the Pup name stuck...

Sopwith Snipe (7.F.1) Reproduction

The Sopwith Snipe was developed to succeed the famous Camel and designed specifically to take advantage of the 230-horsepower Bentley B.R.2 rotary...

Sopwith Triplane Reproduction

The Sopwith Triplane was closely related to its sibling, the Pup, but designed for superior roll and turn rate and had a remarkable rate of climb....

Sorrell Cool Crow 1 Parasol

Built by Otto "Red" Sorrell of Rochester, Washington in 1956, this unique aircraft was designed to take pleasure flights close to an airfield. Many...

Soyuz TMA-14 Descent Module

The Soyuz spacecraft has been the primary crew vehicle for the Soviet Union, now the Russian Federation, since its first (and fatal) flight in 1967....

SPAD XIII (S.13) Reproduction

The most successful French fighter aircraft of World War I was the series produced by the Société anonyme Pour l’Aviation et ses Dérivés, better...

Sputnik 1

The Soviet Union launched the world's first artificial satellite aboard an R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile on October 4, 1957. Called Sputnik...

Stearman C-3B Sport Commercial

Known for rugged dependability and no-nonsense design, Stearman C-2s and C-3s became popular workhorses on the short-haul "feeder" lines of America's...

Stearman PT-13A Kaydet (A75)

The Stearman PT-13 Kaydet was adopted by the U.S. Army and Navy as a primary trainer and served in that role from 1936 to 1945. Known as "Stearmans,"...

Stephens Akro

Clayton L. Stephens designed the Akro as a competitive aerobatic aircraft for the homebuilder market. The prototype was built for the late Margaret...

Stinson Model O Reproduction

The Stinson Aircraft Company of Wayne, Michigan built the Model O to serve as a training and utility aircraft. Based on the company’s popular Reliant...

Stinson SR Reliant

The Stinson SR “Reliant” was a high-wing cabin monoplane introduced in 1933. Its price of $3,995 was more affordable than its competitors, and it...

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX

The Supermarine Spitfire, one of the classic fighter designs of all time, traced its heritage to the Supermarine racing seaplanes of the Schneider...

Swallow Commercial

In the years following World War I, most civil aircraft in the U.S. were repurposed warbirds such as the Curtiss Jenny. The Swallow emerged from...

Taylor Aerocar III

Moulton “Molt” Taylor was a Washington native, born in the town of Longview in 1912. He soloed as a pilot while still in high school and studied...

Taylorcraft Model A

Clarence Gilbert (“C.G.”) Taylor was a talented airplane designer whose first major influence was the famous Cub, developed in cooperation with...

Vought (XF-8A) XF8U-1 Crusader

Best known for its F4U Corsair, Chance Vought Aircraft ventured into the postwar jet age with less stellar designs such as the F6U Pirate and F7U...

Wonder Woman's Invisible Plane

Wonder Woman’s Invisible Plane was designed by the enlightened Amazons of Paradise Island using highly advanced Amazon engineering.Originally...

Wright 1902 Glider Reproduction

Why is this called the most significant aircraft ever built and flown? No, it's not the plane that made history at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903.

Wright 1903 Flyer Reproduction

The brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved humanity's first controlled, heavier-than-air flight over the beaches of Kill Devil Hills, North...

Yakovlev Yak-9U

Initially a glider designer in the mid-1920s, Aleksandr Sergeyevich Yakovlev would eventually lead one of the Soviet Union’s most famous...