Warplanes of the USA: Washington, D.C., National Air and Space Museum

Warplanes preserved in Washington, District of Columbia

National Air and Space Museum, on the Mall.  There are 356 aircraft in the collection of the NASM.  65 are displayed in the NASM main building on the Washington, DC Mall.  More than 200 are located in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Chantilly, Virginia.  20 or more (numbers vary) are stored at the Aerospace maintenance and Regeneration Center, Tucson, Arizona (AMARC).  The aircraft on display in the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center are listed under Virginia Warplane Survivors.

(bluesnote Photo)

Apollo 11 Command Module.  The plaque says, "From the Apollo 11 mission, this command module Columbia carried the three astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins to the moon and back. On 20 July 1969, the Lunar Module Eagle carried astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin down the moon's surface for the first man to step upon the lunar surface. It was here where Neil Armstrong uttered the famous words: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind".  
Meanwhile, Collins orbited the moon in the command module awaiting their return. On 24 July 1969, the command module safely returned the astronauts to Earth for a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean."

(AWM Photo)

Imperial German Air Service Albatros D.Va 1917-1918.

(Smithsonian NASM Photo)

Albatross D.Va, Reg. No. 7161, 17, “Stropp”.

(USAAF Photo)

Beechcraft UC-47 Traveler (Staggerwing), ca 1943.  The Beech UC-43 Traveler was a slightly modified version of the Staggerwing.  In late 1938, the United States Army Air Corps purchased three Model D17S to evaluate them for use as light liaison aircraft.  These were designated YC-43.  After a short flight test program, the YC-43s went to Europe to serve as liaison aircraft with the air attachés in London, Paris, and Rome.

Early in the Second World War, the need for a compact executive-type transport or courier aircraft became apparent, and in 1942 the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) ordered the first of 270 Model 17S for service within the United States and overseas as the UC-43.  These differed only in minor details from the commercial model. To meet urgent wartime needs, the government also purchased or leased (impressed) additional "Staggerwings" from private owners including 118 more for the USAAF plus others for the United States Navy (USN).  In USN service the aircraft were designated as GB-1 and GB-2.  The Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN) acquired 106 "Traveller Mk. I" (the British name uses the UK double "l" spelling) through the Lend-Lease arrangement to fill its own critical need for light personnel transports.

  (Smithsonian NASM Photo)

Beechcraft C17L Staggerwing (Serial No. 93), Reg. No. NC15840.  C17B before engine change.

(USAF Photo)

Beechcraft King Air VC-6A flown as Air Force One.

Beechcraft King Air Model 65-90, first definitive prototype.

(SvenPaulus Photo)

(Ad Meskens Photo)

Bell X-1 (Serial No. 6062), "Glamorous Glennis".

(Cliff from Arlington Photo)

(Greg Goebel Photo)

(xiquinhosilva Photo)

Bell XP-59A Airacomet (Serial No. 27-1), Reg. No. 42-108784.  1st U.S. turbojet aircraft, First flight 2 October 1942.

(RAF Photo)

Bleriot XI in RAF service, ca 1916.

Bleriot XI, “Domenjoz.”

(USN Photo)

Boeing F4B-4 in flight ca 1930s.

(Smithsonian NASM Photo)

Boeing F4B-4 (BuNo.  9241), 21, USMC, 1757, Reg. Nos. NR9329, NX13, NC13

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Boeing 247D, United Airlines, ca late 1930s.

(xiquinhosilva Photo)

Boeing 247D (Serial No. 1953), Reg. No. NC13369.  (United Airlines).

(xiquinhosilva Photo)

Boeing 747-100 B, Northwest Airlines, nose section.

(Arjun Sarup Photo)

Boeing Vertol CH-46E Sea Knight, US Marine Corps HMM-774.

(Steve Jurvetson Photo)

Boeing X-45 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV).

(BetacommandBot Photo)

Breitling Orbiter 3 gondola.  First balloon to circle the globe.

(Sorruno Photo)

Cessna T-41A, one of three Cessna 150s used by the USAF Academy Flying Team.

Cessna 150L Commuter (Serial No. 15075257), Reg. No. N11213.

(Alan Radecki Photo)

Cessna Citation 500 (Serial No. 2), second model to be built, similar to one shown above.  It made its first flight on 23 Jan 1970, and was primarily used as a test-bed vehicle for subsequent Citation series aircraft and engines, instruments and components, systems evaluations, and icing testing and certification.

(Author Photo)

Curtiss D-III, “Headless Pusher,” (Serial No. 1), Reg. No. 2.  Replica possibly built in 1919, similar to the one shown above in North Dakota.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Curtis J-1 Robin, ca 1930s.

Curtiss J-1 Robin, “Ole Miss,” (Serial No. 723), Reg. No. NR526N.  27-day flight endurance record, 4 June 1935 to 1 July 1935.

(Arjun Sarup Photo)

(xiquinhosilva Photo)

Curtiss R3C2, US Army floatplane.

(Author Photos)

De Havilland DH-4 (Serial No. 21959), (Airco).  A15101.  Suspended from the ceiling.

(USN  Photo)

Douglas A-4C Skyhawk (BuNo. 149495) of attack squadron VA-113 Stingers landing on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) in March 1966.

(Mys 721tx Photo)

(Tony Hisgett Photo)

Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk (BuNo. 148314). C/N 12624.

(NASA Photo)

Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket (BuNo.  37974).  6568.  NACA 144, 1st Mach 2 airplane.  NEE - NA&SM, east escalator area.

(xiquinhosilva Photo)

Douglas DC-3 (Serial No. 2000), Reg. No. NC18124, Eastern Airlines.

(xiquinhosilva Photo)

Douglas DC-7, American Airlines, ca 1962.

(Don Ramey Logan Photo)

Douglas DC-7, forward fuselage only (Serial No. 45106), Reg. No. N334AA.  American Airlines.

(350z33 Photo)

Douglas DWC-2 World Cruiser (Serial No. 23-1230, “Chicago”, 146.  1st group aircraft to complete a global circumnavigation, 28 September 1924.

(FlugKerl2 Photo)

Douglas M-2 Mail Plane (Serial No. 244), Reg. No. C150.

(NMNA Photo)

Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers, bombing squadron VB-5 returning to the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) after an attack on Wake Island, 5 October 1943.

Douglas SBD-6 Dauntless (BuNo. 54605), 6119.

(RuthAS Photo)

Ecker Flying Boat (Serial No. 1).

(Pedro Vera Photo)

Extra-Flugzeugbau 260 (Serial No. EA260, No. 001), Reg. No. N618PW.  1st woman national aerobatic champion, September 1991.

(NASA Photo)

Fairchild FC-2W2, NACA, 1930s

(Author Photo)

Fairchild FC-2W2 (Serial No. 139), Reg. No. NC6853.  Pan American Grace Airways.

(Tom Evanson Photo)

Fieseler F- 103 V-1 Flying Bomb.

(Arjun Sarup Photo)

Fokker D.VII, (Serial No. 3533), c/n 4635/18, coded U-10, Jasta 65.  Captured by 1st Pursuit Group at Verdun, France, 9 Nov 1918.

(350z33 Photo)

Fokker T-2 (IV), C/N AS64233.  1st non-stop transcontinental flight, 2-3 May 1923.

(USAAC Photo)

Ford C-4A Tri-Motor, USAAC, ca late 1930s.

(David Bjorgen Photo)

(350z33 Photo)

Ford 5-AT-A Tri-motor (Serial No. 5-AT-39), Reg. No. NC9683.  XH-TAK, AN-AAP, XA-FUE, N9683.

French observation balloon basket.

Gallaudet Hydro-Kite.

(USN Photo)

General Motors FM-2 Wildcat fighters from the escort carrier USS White Plains (CVE-66), Pacific Theatre, 24 June 1944.

General Motors FM-1 Wildcat (BuNo. 15392).  401.  Cowl nose ring from Wake Island Memorial.

(USN Photo)

Grumman JRF-5 Goose, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, ca 1941.

(NACA Photo)

Grumman JRF-5 Goose, Langley Research Center, ca 1945.

Grumman G-21A Goose (Serial No. 1048), Reg. No. NC702A, YV-VOD, HC-AAM, HC-SBA, N14CS, N702A.

(NASA Photo)

Grumman X-29, NASA 049 on a 1990 test flight.

Grumman X-29.  A full scale model, on display in the Mall building until 2011, present location TBD.

(Don Ramey Logan Photo)

(Bzuk Photo)

Hughes H-1 Racer, Reg. No. NR258Y.  Wing sets for cross-country and pylon racing.

(Jaro Nemcok Photo)

Langley Aerodrome No. 5. 1st flight of powered, unmanned heavier-than-air aircraft, 6 May 1896.

(Cliff 1066 Photo)

Lilienthal 1894 Glider.

(Kurgus Photo)

(Mys 721tx Photo)

Lockheed F-104A Starfighter (Serial No. 55-2961),  183-1007. NASA 818, N818NA.  1st production Mach 2 aircraft.  NWE - NA&SM, west escalator area.

(SDA&SM Archives Photo)

(Cliff from Arlington Photo)

Lockheed 8 Sirius “Tingmissartoq”, (Lindbergh) (Serial No. 140), Reg. No. NR211.  Far East survey flights in 1931, Atlantic in 1933.

(Curimedia Photo)

Lockheed 5B Vega (Amelia Earhart) (Serial No. 22 (68)), Reg. No. NC7952, 1st woman to fly the Atlantic, 21 May 1932.

(350z33 Photo)

Lockheed U-2C (Serial No. 56-6680).  347.  CIA aircraft 1956-1974.

(USAAF Photo)

Lockheed XP-80 Shooting Star (Serial No. 44-83020) "Lulu-Bell", aka "Green Hornet", c/n 140-1001.  1st American aircraft to exceed 500 mph in level flight.

(Mr. choppers Photo)

(Cliff Photos)

 (Ingfbruno Photo)

Macchi MC.202 Folgore.  USAAF T2/FE-498, restored as an MM9476.  This aircraft is one of only two remaining in the world.  This Folgore was among many Axis aircraft brought post war to the USA for evaluation at the Army's Air Technical Service Command at Wright Field, Ohio, and Freeman Field, Indiana.

(Laura Bagnel Photo)

MacCready Gossamer Condor.  Won £50,000 Kremer Prize 23 August 1977.

(USN Photo)

McDonnell FH-1 Phantom (BuNo. 111793), USN, ca 1948.

(USN Photo)

McDonnell FH-1 Phantom, USMC,  Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-122, ca 1949.

(350z33 Photo)

McDonnell FH-1 Phantom I (BuNo.  111759).  11.  1st U.S. jet carrier takeoff and landing, 21 June 1946.

(The A-Team Photo)

Mercury Friendship 7 capsule.

(Concord Photo)

(350z33 Photo)

(Concord Photo)

Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/R3 “Gustav”, (Serial No. 160756), KT+LL. III./JG4 “Yellow 4,” T2/FE-496, rest. as “White 2.”

(USAAF Photo)

Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a Schwalbe (Swallow) (Serial No. 500491).  JG7, Werk Nr. 888, “Dennis”, USAAF FE-111.

(USAAF Photo)

Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a Schwalbe (Swallow) (Serial No. 500491).  JG7, Wk Nr. 888, “Dennis”, later “Ginny H”, Reg. No. 29, USAAF FE-111.

(G36 Photo)

(Flapane Photo)

Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a Schwalbe (Swallow) (Serial No. 500491).  JG7, Wk Nr. 888, Reg. No. 29, USAAF FE-111, restored as “Yellow 7.”

(USAAF Photos)

Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen Model 52 (Serial No. 4340), 61-131, (Zero).  Technical Air Intelligence Center, TAIC 7, USAAF T2-130, later FE-130, test flown in the USA.

(350z33 Photo)

Mitsubishi A6M5 Reisen Model 52 (Serial No. 4340), 61-131, (Zero).  TAIC 7, “12,” “Tokyo Rose”, USAAF T2-130, later FE-130.

(USAAF Photo)

North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-13926), 375th Fighter Squadron, USAAF, ca 1945.

(Eddie Maloney Photo)

(Ingfbruno Photo)

North American P-51D-30NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-74939), C/N 122-41479, YJ-E, PF-939,“Willit Run?”.

(Don Ramey Logan Photo)

North American X-15A-1 (Serial No. 56-6670), C/N 240-1.

(350z33)

Northrop 4A Alpha (TWA) (Serial No. 3), Reg. No. NC11Y.

(Cliff from Arlington Photos)

Northrop Gamma “Polar Star,” (Serial No. 3), Reg. No. N12269.

(NASA Photo)

(350z33 Photo)

Northrop M2-F3 Lifting Body (Serial No. 1), Reg. No. N803NA.

(Cliff from Arlington Photo)

Pfalz D.XII, D2558/18, D2630/18, or D2740/18.

(Don Ramey Logan Photo)

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing (Serial No. 1), Reg. No. NC2895.

(USAF Photo)

Rockwell HiMAT, NASA 807.  Highly Manoeuvrable Aircraft Technology.

(LWF Photo)

Rockwell HiMAT, NASA 807.  Highly Manoeuvrable Aircraft Technology.

(RAF Photo)

Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8, ca 1916.

Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8 (replica).

(Jorfer Photo)

Rutan Model 76 Voyager, Reg. No. N269VA.  1st nonstop, global, circumnavigation, 23 Dec 1986.  NA&SM, south lobby area.

(kansasphoto)

(Tim Evanson Photo)

Ryan NYP “Spirit of St. Louis,” (Serial No. 29), Reg. No. NX211.

(Tim Evanson Photo)

Command module for Skylab 4, the fourth manned mission to the Skylab space station. 16 Nov 1973 to 8 Feb 1974.

(RAF Photo)

Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe, RAF (Serial No. E8027), ca 1918.

Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe (Serial No. 926C), Reg. No. E8105, N8737R, E8082.

(Don Ramey Logan Photo)

SpaceShipOne, Reg. No. N328KF.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

SPAD XIII “Smith IV,” (Serial No. 7689), Reg. No. S7689.  Arthur Raymond Brooks, 22nd Aero Sqn.

(USAAF Photo)

Supermarine 351 Spitfire F Mk. VIIc, RAF (Serial No. EN474), c/n 6S/171652.  Built in Eastleigh, Southhampton, England.  This aircraft was first flown on 6 March 1943 and delivered to the RAF.  It was allocated to the USAAF and flew with No. 47 MU, RAF Sealand, on 13 March 1943.  It was shipped to the USA on the SS Glenapp for evaluation purposes on 10 April 1943, and arrived in New York on 2 May 1943.  It was issued USAAF evaluation number 161522, then later FE-400, eventually arriving at Freeman Field, Indiana, in 1945.  This aircraft was delivered to the National Air & Space Museum in 1947.

(Arjun Sarup Photo)

Supermarine 351 Spitfire F Mk. VIIc, RAF (Serial No. EN474), c/n 6S/171652.  Built in Eastleigh, Southhampton, England.  Previously USAAF FE-400, this aircraft has been with the NASM since 1947.

(Central News Photo Service Photo)

Voisin VIII NARA 17342123.

(Author Photo)

Voisin VIII LA.P, Reg. No. 4640.

(Ed Bierman Photo)

Wittman “Buster,” Reg. No. N14855, (No. 20), “Chief Oshkosh” 1931-47, R12047, race No. 111, 101.

(Don Ramey Logan Photo)

Wright 1903 “Kitty Hawk” Flyer.

Wright 1909 Military Flyer.  1st heavier-than-air military aircraft.  Smithsonian Institution Travelling Exhibition (SITE).

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