National Museum of Air and Space

A paradise for lovers of terrestrial and space flight is in the United States. The National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Air and Space in Washington DC, the Smithsonian Institution in the United States contains the largest collection of aircraft and spacecraft in the world.

To me that I love everything about space (not to the point of wanting to travel to it, but that's another topic ...) I would love to introduce this unique museum and to discover the interesting collection, in which almost all objects on display are originals or backup copies of the originals.

A must for lovers of aeronautics in which also investigates the history, science and technology of aviation and space flight, as well as planetary science, terrestrial geology and geophysics place.
In addition, the building itself is interesting, as the National Museum of Air and Space is considered one of the most significant examples of modern architecture in Washington D.C.

Due to its proximity to the Capitol, the Smithsonian Institution wanted a building that was impressive but not overshadow the Capitol.

The design of the museum shows four large cubes of travertine rock or sinter which are connected by three spacious courts of metal and glass, which house the exhibits of missiles, aircraft and larger spacecraft.

The museum was opened in 1976 and since then has expanded its collection in an unstoppable advance of the conquest of air and space. The exhibition galleries highlight the history of aviation, the solar system, satellite imagery and aerial photography as well as exploring the universe

These are some of the most interesting pieces from the National Museum of Air and Space, although they are divided between the main building in Washington and its annex, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, a spectacular resort located near Washington Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia.

Including historical and curious pieces, like the Apollo module 11, the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, meteorites, original costumes of astronauts or moon rock:



The original Wright Flyer, a plane that made the first powered and controlled flight in 1903 (Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright).

One of the Douglas World Cruiser (specifically Chicago) that successfully conducted the first aerial circumnavigation of the earth for 175 days, covering more than 42,000 kilometers.

The Spirit of St. Louis, in which Charles Lindbergh made the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Bell X-1, in which Chuck Yeager made the first supersonic flight.
A V-2 Rocket reconstructed, the first human object to reach space.

The Friendship 7 capsule, with which John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth.
The module of Apollo 11, the first manned mission to reach the moon.

One of the few samples of lunar rock accessible to the public (you can even touch).
A rock from Mars (a meteorite).

A replica of Pioneer 10, the first human object to leave the solar system.
SpaceShipOne, the first private piloted vehicle to reach space.

The prototype of the Boeing B707, known as Boeing 367-80 or Dash 80.
The SR-71 Blackbird, a reconnaissance spy plane high speed and height.
The Air France Concorde, famous supersonic airliner.

The prototype space shuttle Enterprise.
The Enola Gay, the plane from which the atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima was launched on August 6, 1945.

A Messerschmitt Me 262, the Nazi model aircraft was the first fighter-bomber jet propulsion history.